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Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire #4
The Dreaddrac Onslaught
The vile orc and ogre hordes released by the sorcerer-king are surging out of the Ice Mountains in all-out war. With one ally overthrown and the other unprepared, Saxthor, only recently crowned king, faces overwhelming odds. His kingdom's demands and a sudden shift in Dagmar's political situation deny them the happiness in their personal lives he sees so clearly in that of his closest friends, Bodrin and Tonelia. All attention must now focus on the horrendous threat sweeping down and devastating the southern peninsula.
440 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2015
About the author
C. Craig Coleman
14 books34 followersI grew up in a small town, Kinston, in Eastern North Carolina during the golden age of youth. I say golden age, because kids dashed out the door on Saturday morning, took to bicycles, and explored the world around them unrestrained only returning home for dinner in the late afternoon. I scampered over fields and swampy low grounds, investigated and collected anything that moved and half the flora I came across. That gave me the knowledge of the natural world that backgrounds my epic.
I studied mythology and developed my own language that has served me well through life. My most prized names took form in the characters and places of my books all these decades later.
I went to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where I graduated with a BA degree in Ancient and European History. An elective course on castle and cathedral fired up a love of medieval architecture. Little did I know political histories, biographies, art, and architecture would again arise in the fortresses and palaces in my books.
I served my country in the Vietnam War, repairing the display computers on the Air Force's F111 aircraft, though not in Vietnam. Then I audited agriculture courses at NC State University for a year before returning to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduating with a MBA, Masters of Business Administration.
A long career in the textile industry working in materials inventory, computer systems development, and finally, manufacturing operations ended abruptly due to a corporate buyout. The imploding industry left little economic opportunity. I found myself looking 'outside the box' for future options. A seed suggestion to write down some of my stories, planted by a doctor of literature in my youth, germinated. I decided to write a fantasy story. I had no inkling it would lead me on the greatest adventure of my life. Though I didn't know the stern mandates of creative writing before I started, I learned backwards by rewriting my epic over the years correcting the point of view, show don't tell, 'ly' adverb, passive voice, etc. issues until at last I have the story down pat.
My greatest supporter and companion through the years of writing this epic was my little silky terrier, Miss Delia. She passed away after sixteen years just prior to my publishing my first of the four books. This epic is dedicated first and foremost to that precious little girl.
I studied mythology and developed my own language that has served me well through life. My most prized names took form in the characters and places of my books all these decades later.
I went to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where I graduated with a BA degree in Ancient and European History. An elective course on castle and cathedral fired up a love of medieval architecture. Little did I know political histories, biographies, art, and architecture would again arise in the fortresses and palaces in my books.
I served my country in the Vietnam War, repairing the display computers on the Air Force's F111 aircraft, though not in Vietnam. Then I audited agriculture courses at NC State University for a year before returning to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduating with a MBA, Masters of Business Administration.
A long career in the textile industry working in materials inventory, computer systems development, and finally, manufacturing operations ended abruptly due to a corporate buyout. The imploding industry left little economic opportunity. I found myself looking 'outside the box' for future options. A seed suggestion to write down some of my stories, planted by a doctor of literature in my youth, germinated. I decided to write a fantasy story. I had no inkling it would lead me on the greatest adventure of my life. Though I didn't know the stern mandates of creative writing before I started, I learned backwards by rewriting my epic over the years correcting the point of view, show don't tell, 'ly' adverb, passive voice, etc. issues until at last I have the story down pat.
My greatest supporter and companion through the years of writing this epic was my little silky terrier, Miss Delia. She passed away after sixteen years just prior to my publishing my first of the four books. This epic is dedicated first and foremost to that precious little girl.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 3, 2015
I have just finished reading C. Craig Coleman's The Dreaddrac Onslaught, the fourth of his six-volume Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire Series, and I found it to be a rapid-paced tale of love, war, terror, and mysticism. The plot and tone are quite distinct from the first three books, but the abrupt change is totally in character for this, as I call it, "fanto-biography" series. The protagonists have now grown into full adulthood and bear the burden of the responsibilities long reserved for and expected of them since childhood.
Saxthor, the one-time prince and hero of the sagas, now sits the throne of Neuyokkasin and upon his shoulders rests the fate of the entire Powterosian Peninsula. When his long-awaited destiny with the powerful and power-hungry Dark Lord of the northern Kingdom of Dreaddrac flames into all-out war, and when the lesser kingdoms of the peninsula turn to him for salvation, Saxthor discovers his innate penchant for analyzing and developing military strategy. His dawning love for the young queen of a former rival kingdom heightens Saxthor's urgency to shield her and her kingdom from harm and still unite the peninsula's principalities, marshal the meager forces of Neuyokkasin and its neighbor kingdoms, and repel the oncoming super armies of Dreaddrac. Saxthor's deft generalship and a large dose of wizardry slow the emerging onslaught, but the Dreaddrac army boasts superior weaponry and host upon host of creature-soldiers. This volume's events take the reader's tension to high-strain level, but, tantalizingly, resolution awaits the next installment.
Some mention must be made of the perils of Saxthor's aunt-by-marriage, Earwig the witch and dowager Queen of Neuyokkasin. Coleman has little sympathy for her and her sought-after alliance with the Dark Lord of Dreaddrac. Her haughty, slovenly, and pretentious ways send her bumbling through an amusing series of misadventures on her journey to Dreaddrac.
The number, complexity, and spellings of kingdoms, principalities, cities, landmarks, regents, wizards, and supernatural beings involved in the Dreaddrac Onslaught will send the reader scurrying for reference help. Fortunately, each volume of this series contains a detailed map of the Powterosian Peninsula as well as a dictionary describing all the important characters and places. These are indispensable tools for navigating this and the other fantastic Neuyokkasinian tales.
Coleman's gear-shift at the book four juncture is perfect timing and further ignited this reader's involvement with Saxthor and his lifelong adventure. We now anxiously move on to book five.
Saxthor, the one-time prince and hero of the sagas, now sits the throne of Neuyokkasin and upon his shoulders rests the fate of the entire Powterosian Peninsula. When his long-awaited destiny with the powerful and power-hungry Dark Lord of the northern Kingdom of Dreaddrac flames into all-out war, and when the lesser kingdoms of the peninsula turn to him for salvation, Saxthor discovers his innate penchant for analyzing and developing military strategy. His dawning love for the young queen of a former rival kingdom heightens Saxthor's urgency to shield her and her kingdom from harm and still unite the peninsula's principalities, marshal the meager forces of Neuyokkasin and its neighbor kingdoms, and repel the oncoming super armies of Dreaddrac. Saxthor's deft generalship and a large dose of wizardry slow the emerging onslaught, but the Dreaddrac army boasts superior weaponry and host upon host of creature-soldiers. This volume's events take the reader's tension to high-strain level, but, tantalizingly, resolution awaits the next installment.
Some mention must be made of the perils of Saxthor's aunt-by-marriage, Earwig the witch and dowager Queen of Neuyokkasin. Coleman has little sympathy for her and her sought-after alliance with the Dark Lord of Dreaddrac. Her haughty, slovenly, and pretentious ways send her bumbling through an amusing series of misadventures on her journey to Dreaddrac.
The number, complexity, and spellings of kingdoms, principalities, cities, landmarks, regents, wizards, and supernatural beings involved in the Dreaddrac Onslaught will send the reader scurrying for reference help. Fortunately, each volume of this series contains a detailed map of the Powterosian Peninsula as well as a dictionary describing all the important characters and places. These are indispensable tools for navigating this and the other fantastic Neuyokkasinian tales.
Coleman's gear-shift at the book four juncture is perfect timing and further ignited this reader's involvement with Saxthor and his lifelong adventure. We now anxiously move on to book five.
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June 11, 2015https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...
The Dreaddrac host is coming and King Saxthor and his allies must consolidate their forces and prepare for the impending bloodbath. They must anticipate and counter the Dreaddrac King's moves, all while shoring up their own defenses in order to have the tiniest of hope in being able to save the entire continent from widespread destruction.
The Dreaddrac Onslaught (Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire Book 4) successfully conveys the feelings of fear, desperation, and doubt that King Saxthor experiences as he and his allies are hard-pressed to defend against the armies of Dreaddrac. C. Craig Coleman's writing continues to improve in both complexity and style. He is able to craft the perfect portrait of a conflicted, young but confident king, trying to hold together an alliance while faced with decisions that can define the rise or fall of nations. The fourth book of the Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire series highlights the tactical, military, and political events that occur behind the scenes of the impending invasion.
With scenarios like supply line sabotage, fortification weakening, and straight-up assassination, C. Craig Coleman manages to capture the no-holds-barred, gritty and unpredictable aspects of war. The characters are now fully fleshed individuals capable of carrying a chapter on their own. The second to the last book of a series should be the calm before the storm, where characters and events are set up for the final end game. If The Dreaddrac Onslaught was that calm, then I can't wait for the sheer impact the next book in the Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire series will bring.
The Dreaddrac host is coming and King Saxthor and his allies must consolidate their forces and prepare for the impending bloodbath. They must anticipate and counter the Dreaddrac King's moves, all while shoring up their own defenses in order to have the tiniest of hope in being able to save the entire continent from widespread destruction.
The Dreaddrac Onslaught (Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire Book 4) successfully conveys the feelings of fear, desperation, and doubt that King Saxthor experiences as he and his allies are hard-pressed to defend against the armies of Dreaddrac. C. Craig Coleman's writing continues to improve in both complexity and style. He is able to craft the perfect portrait of a conflicted, young but confident king, trying to hold together an alliance while faced with decisions that can define the rise or fall of nations. The fourth book of the Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire series highlights the tactical, military, and political events that occur behind the scenes of the impending invasion.
With scenarios like supply line sabotage, fortification weakening, and straight-up assassination, C. Craig Coleman manages to capture the no-holds-barred, gritty and unpredictable aspects of war. The characters are now fully fleshed individuals capable of carrying a chapter on their own. The second to the last book of a series should be the calm before the storm, where characters and events are set up for the final end game. If The Dreaddrac Onslaught was that calm, then I can't wait for the sheer impact the next book in the Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire series will bring.
September 29, 2016
This review was first published on Kurt's Frontier.
Synopsis:
From his fortress in the Ice Mountains, the sorcerer-king has launched an all-out war. Orc and ogre hordes are on the move, led by goblin and wraith generals. Nor have his dragons been idle. King Saxthor, only recently crowned king, is trying to help his allies face the onslaught. The sorcerer-kings forces are everywhere. With Saxthor’s allies buckling under the strain, it will take all of his skill and that of his friends to stave off annihilation.
Review:
In the fourth installment of the Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire, the forces of Dreaddrac are on the move. The sorcerer-king is attacking on a broad front. All the elements of the original story are still there. However, C. Craig Coleman is tackling one of the most difficult storytelling challenges. He is telling the story of a military leader who is not in the thick of the battle. The story has become a little more diffuse as he must constantly shift points of view while trying shape the work into coherent whole. He has met with some success, but the story telling is not the page turner that the first three were. Never the less, I still consider it superb high fantasy.
Synopsis:
From his fortress in the Ice Mountains, the sorcerer-king has launched an all-out war. Orc and ogre hordes are on the move, led by goblin and wraith generals. Nor have his dragons been idle. King Saxthor, only recently crowned king, is trying to help his allies face the onslaught. The sorcerer-kings forces are everywhere. With Saxthor’s allies buckling under the strain, it will take all of his skill and that of his friends to stave off annihilation.
Review:
In the fourth installment of the Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire, the forces of Dreaddrac are on the move. The sorcerer-king is attacking on a broad front. All the elements of the original story are still there. However, C. Craig Coleman is tackling one of the most difficult storytelling challenges. He is telling the story of a military leader who is not in the thick of the battle. The story has become a little more diffuse as he must constantly shift points of view while trying shape the work into coherent whole. He has met with some success, but the story telling is not the page turner that the first three were. Never the less, I still consider it superb high fantasy.
November 14, 2015
The emotions associated with the weight of the Neuyokassinian Crown on Saxthor's head as war escalates from Dreddrac outwards into the peninsula are building and beginning to wear on the formerly indomitable boy king. The author has nicely contrasted the increasing stress and concern with a distinctly comedic look at the witch Earwig's journey towards the Evil King of Dreaddrac. I especially enjoyed the growth in Saxthor's judgment as a result of the threat to his people. Not all of the Dreaddrac forces can be stopped through magic, either. There will be devastating results if a solid unified defense can't be gathered and initiated quickly.
September 1, 2016
Neukosians
Get that through your spellchecker. Great read. This is / has been a most awesome set of books I recommend these greAt.
Get that through your spellchecker. Great read. This is / has been a most awesome set of books I recommend these greAt.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews