The Rise of Malbeck

Cavalier Trilogy

by Jason L. McWhirter

Malbeck the Dark One has returned. An army of darkness marches from the north, crushing all who oppose it under its muddy black boot. The drums of war echo throughout Kraawn as the struggle between light and dark teeters in the balance, fueled on the one hand by the greed of the Forsworn, and on the other by the ultimate desire for all that is good to survive.
Tarsis, the last city in the north, is laid waste, decimated by Malbeck’s army. Kromm, the King of Tarsis, battles for his life as the dark hunters of Malbeck relentlessly pursue him through the Tundren Mountains. His mighty army has been destroyed and its remnants are now scattered throughout the lands.
But he is not alone. He is surrounded by his elite guard, along with Addalis, his court wizard, and Allindrian, the half-elf Blade Singer. But will that be enough to thwart that which hunts him?
The road to Finarth is now open and few are left to stop the Dark One. The hope of the land rests in the combined power of its last remaining heroes. Jonas Kanrene, cavalier to Shyann, has been given his next mission. He must find King Kromm and bring him to Finarth. The bow of Taleen, cavalier to Bandris, and the sword of Fil Tanrey, warrior of Finarth, accompanies Jonas on this perilous task.
Their quest is fraught with death, sacrifice, and courage. But will their courage see them through their mission? Can Jonas and his companions prevail against the Forsworn and protect the king?
These are questions that can only be answered by the strength of their blades, and more importantly, the courage in their hearts.

Genres: Fantasy

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2012

About the author

Jason McWhirter lives in University Place Washington with his wife and two dogs. He has been teaching history for twenty five years and half of those years were filled with coaching wrestling, soccer, and directing drama plays for his school. When he is not working and hanging out with friends and family he enjoys working out, traveling, fly fishing, wine tasting, and of course, writing. His love for fantasy started young and many middle school evenings were spent reading late into the night following adventurers as they tested their courage and strength against evil foes. He played dungeons and dragons, video games, anything where he could lose himself in the wonders of another world. This desire and craving to be immersed in worlds of magic and steel where anything is possible drove him to write his first fantasy book, The Cavalier, part one of The Cavalier series. He hopes to continue to teach and write and maybe one day create heroes and legends full time.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another great fantasy from new author Jason McWhirter! Part two of the Cavalier Trilogy, this book begins where the last one left off. I loaned out my copy of the first book and could not remember to whom, and I did wish I could have reread it to refresh my memory of how it left off. However, the author does a very nice job of seamlessly hinting at previous events so that the current story makes sense in context, without feeling like he is doing the writing equivalent of “Last time, in the Cavalier”… We have all read those awkward attempts!
In my review of the first book, I praised the author’s incredible ability to create vivid scenes and battle portrayals. That skill is portrayed in this book as well. Setting descriptions are detailed without being overbearing, and the reader is able to visualize what is happening very clearly. Admittedly, I am not the greatest fan of battle gore, but I must marvel at the amazing pacing and the sense of turmoil and tension that McWhirter is able to convey with words alone.
The first half of this book had a slower pace as various character groups journeyed towards an eventual convergence. The mood of this section is dark, punctuated by battles and foreshadowing of more darkness yet to come. The last half of the book is absolutely riveting. The pace quickens and as a reader, I was constantly surprised by how the plot was unfolding. I admire this writer for not being afraid to “kill off” main characters. Although it is always disappointing to lose a character you have come to like, it is also extremely refreshing to read an author that crafts an unpredictable storyline.
Like many trilogies, this second installment ends with a cliffhanger, and it is an enormous one. I cannot wait to read the final chapter in the Cavalier trilogy. This is definitely a recommended read!

[Benji · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read. For one I really like the story. It is full of mystery and action, and even a little romance. I love the characters and how strong they are. Not only physicaly, but just as characters themselves. Each one has their strengths and their weaknesses and I feel like they are very well rounded. But I also like the story telling. There are parts where the story slows, to let show in-depth detail and to focus on specific events without the reader getting bored. And then there are the parts where exciting battles and wars play out. I enjoy both of these and am eagerly waiting for the epic conclusion to an epic triliogy!

[Luke Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waited to leave a review for book one until I finished the entire series. I thought it would give me a better perspective on the full story. For me this book was better than book one in the trilogy. It had all the stuff I liked in book one but seemed to improve in the areas that I thought book one lacked. The action and writing continued to be strong. I thought this book was a bit better as the characters were more fully developed, and new ones were introduced that I thought brought new interest to the story. The best part was it wasn't nearly as predictable. The plot continued to develop but the author added some nice twists. This was a fun read.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the re-intro of all the characters it was danger on almost every page. Sword fights, magic, demon dogs, orcs. Glad that the Blade-singer was back. I really like that female elf character. The King and his family were equally awesome. I was surprised by the ending, which doesn't often happen. Can't wait for the next book.