Dark Moon - David Gemmell's book

The story

Four duchies are in a war no one can win nor can it be stopped. Since the mystical Eldarins have disappeared plague, famine and despair filled the land. Most of the people don't know anything else than war and even stories about invincible Daroth seems like a fairy tales. Until Dark moon roses above the dessert and grass returns to the desert land. But with the fresh vegetation return the Daroths, warriors without compare with only dream - the annihilation of everyone else.

And in this time a mercenary warrior possessed with a daemon joins the company of Karis a warrior queen who never lost a battle. Both are exceptional and both have their own dark history. But can two people stop a wave of death which took war torn land unprepared.

In the same country Duvodas trained by Eldarins in the arts of magic finds his love. He's one of a few who remembers that it was Eldarins who removed sadistic Daroth from the face of Earth. But they decided to live in a magical prison than to be taken into the war. Now it seems magicians are lost while unbeatable creatures flood the land. The magical music of one man can not save human. Unless one of the Oltor, people who know no hatred returns from death.

About the book

Dark moon is the book like no other written by David Gemmell. The story follow traditional plot we know from him but the nations and the characters are somewhat special. Main hero is schizophrenic and it's fascinating to see the communications between the two persons. While one is killer without compare other is good tactic and intellectual. Where one becomes easily bored others keeps morale and standards of humanity. Nevertheless they share one body.

The story is about a nation facing overwhelming force of an enemy but in this book we're not talking about a tribe attacked by more developed opponent. Here the main role plays four races and we human are the last one on the evolution path. Gemmell describes 4 different and still believable races. Oltors which gave up violence in the pursuit of knowledge and harmony. Elarins who were their students and whose magics keeps world in peace. And Daroths, mighty warriors with two hearts and two sets of lungs who communicates telepathically and have inpierceable skin. They are the creatures of the nightmare.

It's wonderful how Gemmell tell whole legends about 4 races within the story of a city awaiting war. We learn about Oltors opening the Curtain of time to Daroth and Eldarins. How the white hair creatures felt shame about removing devourers into the magical prison so that's why brought us human to counter our love to war and find another solution. Even the short inside stories about investigation who steals food supply, how two Casnovas fell in love or about difficulties facing a convoy of refugees are interesting inputs which complete the masterpiece. Gemmell plays with people, legends and through the story of war brings freedom, heroism and love into our hearts.

Characters

• Karis - lady general
• Tarantio and Dace - schizophrenic warriors
• Duvodas - Eldarin trained magician-musician who fell in love
• Shira - Wife to Duvodas
• Bruce - Slow wit who Dace found amusing and who will become a host for the soul of Oltor prime
• Pooris - A loyal clerk who's kind a bailiff in Corduin
• Niro - A loyal clerk who is unshakable optimist
• Sirano - Duke who releases the Daroths
• Albreck - Duke of Corduin where main battle is fought

The world

We hear about four duchies in the book. Duke Sirano of Romark rules from the city of Morgallis which is the first destoied by the Daroths. Close by lies Prentius of the Duke of Marches. Corsair Duke dwells in Loretheli and Duke Albreck a trader who don't like the holds Corduin.

The timeline

• Oltor opens timespace portal and invite in Daroths and Eldarins
• Daraths claim more land for the original was was exhausted and are refused
• Oltors are exterminated by Daroths
• Eldarins remove Daroths and contain them to the prison of the Pearl
• Eldarins bring human to learn how to handle violent nature and because they were ashamed with what they did to Daroths
• Duke Sirano desires the power of the Eldarins and he attacks their land
• Eldarins hides into the magic of Pearl
• War, plague and famine torn the land
• The story of the book Dark moon starts
• Duke Sirano is trying to get the secrets of the Pearl and releases Daroths from their prison