Spy for a Dead Empire

Adventures of Grant Scotland #1

by Dan McClure

AELFA, THE GRAND CAPITAL of the once mighty Aelfan Empire, has fallen. Barbarian war parties and nomadic tribes harass the retreating and broken legions that once overawed them. All that stands against them now is the city of Zyren, the last bastion of Aelfan rule. Acting as a spy for Zyren is Grant Scotland, a man leading a double life because his own had been taken away from him by the very people he serves. An unwilling recruit into the business of clandestine missions and deceit, he searches for anything real to cling to as the world around him devolves into insanity. And when an old friend shows up asking him to help save his family by delivering a mysterious book to a shadowy figure, Grant's two lives collide and he is thrust into an even stranger world than he had known; one where ancient magic is wielded by deadly players who compete against one another for a prize greater than simply the rotting carcass of a dead empire.

Genres: Fantasy

232 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2014

About the author

After 15 years of being a book store manager turned computer game designer turned health care software developer, I finally decided to stop wasting time and write books. I live in Arlington, Massachusetts, USA.

Reviews

[Shannon Green DesRoche · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great adventure to start off a series

The part of Grant Scotland was played in my head by Bruce Campbell, a.k.a. Sam Axe. This was a great introduction to a good cast of characters. Lots of twists to the story that kept the pace moving. Looking forward to the next chapter!

[Éric Kasprak · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good spy story in a low fantasy setting will always be to my liking. This one was very entertaining and very easy to follow and not to over-the-top (which for me is a great quality in this case). The characters react the way I would envisioned myself reacting to the same situations. Grant Scotland his a great main character and his ever-present remarks are fun and colorful. The secondary characters where also very well presented and shown depth that was surprising and contribute to the story. I have the first 3 books already and I will gladly follow the further adventures of Grant Scotland in the future.

[Andrew Ferrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a real treat for you today Gentle Readers. Dan McClure's debut novel is a fantasy delight. Adventure, danger, magic, love and betrayal. Oh, and a book that could reshape the world.

Grant Scotland is a an operative for Zyren's equivalent of the CIA or MI6, maybe not as smooth as James Bond though. When an old friend comes to town looking for help, Grant springs into action the only way he knows how. Full steam ahead and little regard for his own safety.

Double crossed by a former lover, Grant's on a mission that just keeps getting murkier as he goes. Throw in an almost honorable gangster with a nearly criminal general and you get a massive tug of war over a magical book with the powers of Gods.

Run headlong with Grant as he tries to rescue his friend's family and recover the magical tome. This great read will certainly keep you racing along to its conclusion.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a light, entertaining fantasy read and Spy for a Dead Empire delivered. Grant Scotland is an entertaining protagonist with a devil-may-care attitude hiding a heart of gold. While he doesn't actually do a whole lot of spying in this first novel, he does get up to some exciting adventures (although he does have the fantasy protagonist problem of constantly getting beat up and bouncing back soon after). My biggest criticism of the book was how, since this was the first in the series, the author frequently felt the need to develop an aspect of Grant's backstory so that they could use it immediately in the next scene. As criticisms go, though, that is a minor one. I look forward to learning more about the world and about the further adventures of Mr. Scotland.

[Angela Grosheim · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars. Good Story but the voice was just too modern and didn't seem to fit the setting.

[Tony Duxbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

A medieval type spy/detective, hard boiled and hapless at the same time.A very good read

[Angi Plant]

Review to follow