Description
Inspired by the classical world of Ancient Rome and authors such as C J Sansom, Drakenfeld marks the start of the thrilling fantasy crime series by Mark Charan Newton.
They'll kill to hide the truth. He'll kill to find it.
The monarchies of the Royal Vispasian Union have been bound together for two hundred years by laws maintained and enforced by the powerful Sun Chamber. Nations have flourished as a result, but corruption, deprivation and murder will always find a way . . .
Following his father's death, Sun Chamber Officer Lucan Drakenfeld is recalled home to the ancient city of Tryum and rapidly embroiled in a mystifying case. The King's sister has been found brutally murdered - her beaten and bloody body discovered in a locked temple. With rumours of dark spirits and political assassination, Drakenfeld has his work cut out to separate superstition from certainty. His determination to find the killer quickly makes him a target, as the underworld gangs of Tryum focus on this new threat to their power.
Embarking on the biggest and most complex investigation of his career, Drakenfeld soon realizes the evidence is leading him towards a motive that could ultimately bring darkness to the whole continent. The fate of the nations is in his hands.
Meet investigator Lucan Drakenfeld in the first title of the urban fantasy series by Mark Charan Newton.
About the Author
Mark Charan Newton was born in 1981, and holds a degree in Environmental Science. After working in bookselling, he moved into publishing, working on film and media tie-in fiction, and later, writing science fiction and fantasy including the Legends of the Red Sun and Drakenfeld series. He currently lives and works in Derbyshire.
Reviews
A fast-paced fantasy thriller which should appeal to readers of CJ Sansom. * Independent on Sunday *
A richly written, always engaging work, with well-developed characters and a nice mystery to get stuck into * SciFiNow *
Drakenfeld is an interesting blend of Historical Fantasy and Crime Fiction, set in a beautifully imagined world that seems to have been inspired by Ancient Rome . . . a novel that became more and more interesting as the depths of its groundwork became clear * The Book Smugglers *
Charan Newton's new novel Drakenfeld shares more with the historical fiction and detective fiction novels than it does with traditional epic fantasy, but there's just enough to his world that will make this feel just at home with most epic fantasy readers. The result is a deliberate, interesting novel that grows in scale from beginning to end * io9.com *
Not every story has to have its own completely unique and original world. Sometimes taking inspiration from a past era works out better than creating a new world, and Mark Charan Newton proves that he can do both * Fantasy Literature *
This is a grounded and realistic example of secondary world-building that works well as an intelligent locked-room mystery and also gives us a cerebral, multi-layered protagonist . . . a world that's challenging and provocative without falling into grimdark cliches. * SFX *
Richly written and always engaging work. * SciFi Now *
Book Information
ISBN 9781447219293
Author Mark Charan Newton
Format Paperback
Page Count 448
Imprint Tor
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Series Drakenfeld
Weight(grams) 485g
Dimensions(mm) 203mm * 127mm * 25mm
