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Black River Academy #2
The Black River Chronicles: The Ursvaal Exchange
Student ranger Durren Flintrand had thought he was settling in at the Black River Academy for Swordcraft and Spellcraft. But when rebellious rogue Tia Locke uncovers a horrifying secret in the dungeons beneath the school, Durren quickly realises that the challenges he's faced so far were scant preparation for what lies ahead. Along with magic-averse wizard Arein and blunt but good-hearted fighter Hule, he and Tia find themselves on Black River's first student exchange program: they're being sent to the Shadow Mountain Academy in the dank and dismal land of Ursvaal, and they're going whether they like it or not.
At Shadow Mountain, things are done differently. No longer is Durren a ranger but a bard, despite his lacking the slightest notion of what being a bard involves. And not only that but Tia is acting even more strangely than usual, Hule is taking being a paladin awfully seriously, and Arein has a new party member with ideas very different to her own to contend with, in the shape of irascible cleric Cailliper Ancrux - who wants nothing less than to be involved with Shadow Mountain's unpopular newcomers.
The four Black River students will have to relearn everything they thought they knew; but the threats surrounding them aren't about to wait. Can they hope to survive an uprising of the dead, the winged horror that haunts this desolate land, and an ancient plot risen from the blackest depths of Ursvaal's history? And even if the somehow should, can Durren possibly overcome his tone deafness and learn to play the lute?
At Shadow Mountain, things are done differently. No longer is Durren a ranger but a bard, despite his lacking the slightest notion of what being a bard involves. And not only that but Tia is acting even more strangely than usual, Hule is taking being a paladin awfully seriously, and Arein has a new party member with ideas very different to her own to contend with, in the shape of irascible cleric Cailliper Ancrux - who wants nothing less than to be involved with Shadow Mountain's unpopular newcomers.
The four Black River students will have to relearn everything they thought they knew; but the threats surrounding them aren't about to wait. Can they hope to survive an uprising of the dead, the winged horror that haunts this desolate land, and an ancient plot risen from the blackest depths of Ursvaal's history? And even if the somehow should, can Durren possibly overcome his tone deafness and learn to play the lute?
- GenresFantasy
344 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2017
About the author
David Tallerman
110 books86 followersDavid Tallerman is the author of the comic fantasy novel The Black River Chronicles: Level One and its first sequel The Black River Chronicles: The Ursvaal Exchange, the Tales of Easie Damasco series (Giant Thief, Crown Thief and Prince Thief), and the Tor.com novella Patchwerk. His comics work includes the absurdist steampunk graphic novel Endangered Weapon B and the Lovecraftian horror miniseries C21st Gods.
David's short science fiction, fantasy and horror has appeared in over eighty markets, including Clarkesworld, Lightspeed, Nightmare and Beneath Ceaseless Skies. A number of his dark fantasy tales have been collected as The Sign in the Moonlight and Other Stories.
He can be found online at davidtallerman.co.uk.
David's short science fiction, fantasy and horror has appeared in over eighty markets, including Clarkesworld, Lightspeed, Nightmare and Beneath Ceaseless Skies. A number of his dark fantasy tales have been collected as The Sign in the Moonlight and Other Stories.
He can be found online at davidtallerman.co.uk.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 18, 2017
This was a nice book to get me through the Christmas break. After reading reviews of the first book, there was a lot of comparison to the Harry Potter books. I’m therefore glad that this one doesn’t seem to get as repetitive as some of the earlier Potter books and feels a lot more comfortable in its own world. Here we get a welcome change in location, new characters and our central protagonists are given new roles and duties to flesh them out. Nobody feels underdeveloped or left behind – this is as much Tia, Hule and Arein’s story as Durren’s. There’s also a battle in a cemetery against an army of the dead which was genuinely tense and exciting to read! There were also nice callbacks to the previous book so it did feel like an overarching story rather than just a different adventure with the same people.
So, I really liked this one and really really hope that we get another book in the series. I want to see the return of Blackwing! Or at least a spinoff novel in which Arein and Pootle have their own adventures.
So, I really liked this one and really really hope that we get another book in the series. I want to see the return of Blackwing! Or at least a spinoff novel in which Arein and Pootle have their own adventures.
November 30, 2017
Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman
Durren Flintrand and his three questing team members, Tia, Arein, and Hule have just been promoted to Level Two in their studies at the Black River Academy. In The Black River Chronicles, by David Tallerman, their reward has come for unmasking and defeating a creature thought wiped out centuries ago – a shapeshifter. Rather than basking in the glory of their achievement, the team find themselves unceremoniously transferred to a sister school, the Shadow Mountain Academy, on a student exchange, where they quickly discover things are run very differently at this Academy. Why were they transferred and what secrets is Tia holding out on her friends with? Durren realizes the mysterious and unpredictable Tia is acting even stranger than usual, but he’s loathe to broach the subject knowing her quick temper and sometime violent nature. What is the secret of Ursvaal and what can the quartet do to solve the problems facing the region?
Described as a Young Adult adventure, The Black River Chronicles is a fast-paced story that never lets the reader take a breath, as the characters move from one exciting encounter to the next. I think this book may also be described as an RPG (Role Playing Game) story and although I’ve never been a great gamer, even I could recognize the standard RPG characters; Durren (The Hunter/Scout), Arein (The Mage/Wizard/Healer), Hule (The Fighter/Brute) and Tia (The clever rogue or scoundrel, who nobody really knows what she is capable of), as well, of course, that of the Big Boss, who must be defeated at the end of the game. I think this book would appeal greatly to those interested in fantasy adventures. The characters are well defined and the action fast and furious. Certainly, I found the story impossible to put down and it kept me turning pages well into the night. An excellent novel and one that is clearly the basis for a series involving these young students. Highly recommended!
Durren Flintrand and his three questing team members, Tia, Arein, and Hule have just been promoted to Level Two in their studies at the Black River Academy. In The Black River Chronicles, by David Tallerman, their reward has come for unmasking and defeating a creature thought wiped out centuries ago – a shapeshifter. Rather than basking in the glory of their achievement, the team find themselves unceremoniously transferred to a sister school, the Shadow Mountain Academy, on a student exchange, where they quickly discover things are run very differently at this Academy. Why were they transferred and what secrets is Tia holding out on her friends with? Durren realizes the mysterious and unpredictable Tia is acting even stranger than usual, but he’s loathe to broach the subject knowing her quick temper and sometime violent nature. What is the secret of Ursvaal and what can the quartet do to solve the problems facing the region?
Described as a Young Adult adventure, The Black River Chronicles is a fast-paced story that never lets the reader take a breath, as the characters move from one exciting encounter to the next. I think this book may also be described as an RPG (Role Playing Game) story and although I’ve never been a great gamer, even I could recognize the standard RPG characters; Durren (The Hunter/Scout), Arein (The Mage/Wizard/Healer), Hule (The Fighter/Brute) and Tia (The clever rogue or scoundrel, who nobody really knows what she is capable of), as well, of course, that of the Big Boss, who must be defeated at the end of the game. I think this book would appeal greatly to those interested in fantasy adventures. The characters are well defined and the action fast and furious. Certainly, I found the story impossible to put down and it kept me turning pages well into the night. An excellent novel and one that is clearly the basis for a series involving these young students. Highly recommended!
January 4, 2020
3.5 stars
The adventuring party of Durren, Tia, Hule and Alein (and Pootle) having levelled up in The Black River Chronicles: Level One now find themselves sworn to secrecy.
Fortunately, there is a student exchange program that just happens to get them out of the way as they head to Ursvaal.
Unfortunately, there are just as many strange things happening there. Throw in the fact that the head tutor doesn't seem to like having the group there, and it's another decent read.
The story moves at a good pace, and there's plenty going on, but it's let down by the Durren character being used as the main point of view to move things along. Compared to the others, he doesn't seem to have progressed much, and needs things forced upon him before he reacts. (I know he's only just finished Level 1, but the others seem a bit more competent).
Will be interesting to see what happens to the group next.
The adventuring party of Durren, Tia, Hule and Alein (and Pootle) having levelled up in The Black River Chronicles: Level One now find themselves sworn to secrecy.
Fortunately, there is a student exchange program that just happens to get them out of the way as they head to Ursvaal.
Unfortunately, there are just as many strange things happening there. Throw in the fact that the head tutor doesn't seem to like having the group there, and it's another decent read.
The story moves at a good pace, and there's plenty going on, but it's let down by the Durren character being used as the main point of view to move things along. Compared to the others, he doesn't seem to have progressed much, and needs things forced upon him before he reacts. (I know he's only just finished Level 1, but the others seem a bit more competent).
Will be interesting to see what happens to the group next.
September 25, 2019
Super slow, not nearly as fun as pt 1
I’m sorry this book was really slow in how it developed. I’m not sure I’ve yet to buy into the whole student exchange or Tia breaking into the shapeshifter cell.
Ultimately, I’m not sure I enjoyed Durren’s slow progress as a character. He can be interesting and does offer some interesting narration of the events but he isn’t a character that I love reading about. This is my opinion and I can figure out why.
The ending was by far the best part of the book. The pace picked up and it was definitely interesting. However the boss fight wasn’t nearly as fun as it could be. The escape was hard to swallow considering Durren cut the elevator wire and they didn’t all become flattened pizzas at the top.
I’m sorry this book was really slow in how it developed. I’m not sure I’ve yet to buy into the whole student exchange or Tia breaking into the shapeshifter cell.
Ultimately, I’m not sure I enjoyed Durren’s slow progress as a character. He can be interesting and does offer some interesting narration of the events but he isn’t a character that I love reading about. This is my opinion and I can figure out why.
The ending was by far the best part of the book. The pace picked up and it was definitely interesting. However the boss fight wasn’t nearly as fun as it could be. The escape was hard to swallow considering Durren cut the elevator wire and they didn’t all become flattened pizzas at the top.
January 3, 2018
An enjoyable sequel
I read the first and enjoyed it enough to continue on. I love how fun the book. It struggles in terms of character development but makes up for it in good action and the enjoyable plot. I just hope the writer decide to explore the different characters, races, and the world the story takes place in further in future installments. I want more of the explanations like sudra syn and tia's mother but applied to the other characters and possibly new characters.
I read the first and enjoyed it enough to continue on. I love how fun the book. It struggles in terms of character development but makes up for it in good action and the enjoyable plot. I just hope the writer decide to explore the different characters, races, and the world the story takes place in further in future installments. I want more of the explanations like sudra syn and tia's mother but applied to the other characters and possibly new characters.
February 2, 2018
This was a very well written book with a very good story. If you like D&D related novels then you will like this. All the characters are well thought out and the story has a great twist and turn, and also a great ending. Cannot wait for another book from this author.
March 3, 2018
Good Read
Enjoyed the story... ... ... Would like to read more from this series? ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Enjoyed the story... ... ... Would like to read more from this series? ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
May 30, 2018
Entertaining
Very Good read
I love the leveling based stories and hope to read more on the future.
Thank you very much
Very Good read
I love the leveling based stories and hope to read more on the future.
Thank you very much
September 13, 2019
More please
Fanfuntastic! Not a real word but real emotion behind it!
Thanks for the adventures!!!
Fanfuntastic! Not a real word but real emotion behind it!
Thanks for the adventures!!!
January 18, 2018
Love these Black River books.
Yep, awsome. Gives some good inspiration for my D&D sessions.
Can't wait for the next one! Ugh why do I have to put so many words in my review?
Yep, awsome. Gives some good inspiration for my D&D sessions.
Can't wait for the next one! Ugh why do I have to put so many words in my review?
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews