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The Bane of Karrak: Ascension II of III
An ominous sense of dread has descended upon the lands that surround the Kingdom of Borell. The very air seems heavier and a permanent gloom has begun to block out the sun, allowing malevolent creatures to roam unchallenged. Once merely a malicious tyrant with limited magical skills, the sorcerer Karrak is at large. His power has now reached a point that makes him appear unstoppable. Those who would stand in his way are finding their goals more difficult, for his location is known only to those willing to follow his insane ideals. Jared, Karrak’s elder brother, accompanied by his faithful companions, searches in vain. The trail has gone cold and events unfold at every turn to hamper all efforts to discover the merest trace of his whereabouts. Karrak’s true intentions, far from altruistic, are a mystery to them. Time is short. They must find him if they are to become… The Bane of Karrak.
The conclusion to the trilogy awaits in The Cessation of Karrak
The conclusion to the trilogy awaits in The Cessation of Karrak
395 pages, Paperback
Published June 21, 2018
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August 18, 2019
The Ascension of Karrak Trilogy by Robert J Marsters
Readers of "Sword and Sorcery" novels are always on the look-out for something new, and The Karrak trilogy from Robert J Marsters fits the bill admirably. There are swords, there is sorcery, there are strange new races and even stranger species. There are friendships, allegiances, and vendettas. There are old wizards and young heroes. There are goodies, baddies, and a whole lot of ambivalent characters with their own agendas.
Like Stephen R. Donaldson before him, Marsters retains his middle initial and creates a whole world to populate with fantastic characters. Unlike Donaldson, however, Marsters manages to keep the plot moving, the characterisation somewhat credible, and the writing light. Also, unlike Donaldson's work, there is no obvious and immediate hero in the Karrak trilogy: rather, there is a loose band of confederates which rises and falls in number and of whom it is never quite clear who leads, who follows, and who will suddenly play a pivotal role. Criticism of Donaldson include that his principal character is unlikeable. But that may be an unfair comment: Thomas Covenant is a rapist and totally loathsome. Now, some works of great literature might feature a leading character that me can't sympathise with, but to do that in a fantasy novel defines the term "ambitious".
Fortunately, Marsters characters have quirks and whims. Little personality features they share with their species of have developed all on their own. Some a kind and generous souls; some are sarcastic and grumpy; some noble and arrogant; some humble and modest.
To be honest, the books feel like a decent game of Dungeons and Dragons. It's teamwork. The characters have their skills and attributes: some are great, some small, but all are necessary if the team is going to succeed on its quest.
And what is this quest? Well it is to witness and attempt to overcome the rise to power of the evil sorcerer Karrak. Correctly, in my opinion, Marsters doesn't spend too much time with Karrak. We have enough scenes to know that he has no scruples and takes pleasure from causing suffering and death, but we don't have to spend too much time reading about his exploits as they happen. Instead, our characters discover the wake of destruction as they try to repair the damage and gather their forces to take him down.
We meet Emnor and Yellodius, ancient wizards, so old that even they get tired by long journeys. We are introduced to Drake, Harley, Alexander, and Xarran, four young apprentice wizards. We discover the kingdom of Thedar with its potty King Koloss and his daughter Faylore, queen by default. We meet the Gerrowliens, Lawten and Poom (my particular favourite), a type of cat-like humanoid. We discover Grubb and Lorden, inveterate friends from vastly different species who curse and swear, berating each other and egging each other on. And, we follow the progress of Jared, brother of the dark sorcerer Karrak, together with his loyal sidekick Captain Hannock.
If I were to criticise these books (and I do love to criticise) it would be for the sheer number of characters species and minor plots that we are expected to keep track of. Sometimes I found myself having to flip back to remind myself who was who. And occasionally I'd be several pages into a sub-plot wondering whether it was relevant to the main thrust of the story of was just an interesting aside. I also wondered why there are so few female characters in the stories - it isn't completely without females, and one is quite important, but they are very much books about males.
I've read a fair few fantasy series in my time. Some of the authors go on a bit and it feels like they are milking their readership: not so much a fanbase as readers who want to know what happens and are strung along into the fourth or fifth book in what was originally a single volume, then a sequel, then a trilogy. The Karrak trilogy is just that and you know what to expect when you buy the first book. So, unlike Donaldson or Julian May, I don't feel cheated as I read on, and since both the story and the writing style are palatable I found myself voluntarily coming back for more. And the books are more palatable, less testosterone-driven (yes, I know Julian May was female), and less jarringly American than many in the milieu.
The books are:
"The Ascension of Karrak" where we meet most of the major characters and see the early events that shape Karrak and reveal him to be a thoroughly nasty piece of work. This book has the challenge of describing Marsters' world, presenting the different personae for the story, and making us believe in the numerous species. That's a big ask even in 400 pages, but it just about copes and, more importantly, carries the storyline forward so that we see Karrak for the threat that he is, witness him ascending (or rather descending) to be a dark force, and meet the alliance that is thrown together by events to contest him.
In "The Bane of Karrak" Marsters is able to spend less time scene-setting and get on with the story. The book flows better as a result and, as Karrak morphs into an unstoppable force of evil, we can enjoy the trials, tribulations, and petty squabbles of the group that is going to try to stop him. This book gets 4 stars: it is a little easier to read than book one (perhaps Marsters had settled into writing, perhaps the reduced complexity makes it better). It is still "just" an easy read and not a literary classic, but it does not set out to be more than a fun read, and that is what it achieves.
The third book is "The Cessation of Karrak" and, while the title may possibly be a hint, spoilers prevent me from saying how it pans out as all of favourite characters must face up to their fears and make sacrifices to oppose Karrak and his vicious bloodline.
Readers of "Sword and Sorcery" novels are always on the look-out for something new, and The Karrak trilogy from Robert J Marsters fits the bill admirably. There are swords, there is sorcery, there are strange new races and even stranger species. There are friendships, allegiances, and vendettas. There are old wizards and young heroes. There are goodies, baddies, and a whole lot of ambivalent characters with their own agendas.
Like Stephen R. Donaldson before him, Marsters retains his middle initial and creates a whole world to populate with fantastic characters. Unlike Donaldson, however, Marsters manages to keep the plot moving, the characterisation somewhat credible, and the writing light. Also, unlike Donaldson's work, there is no obvious and immediate hero in the Karrak trilogy: rather, there is a loose band of confederates which rises and falls in number and of whom it is never quite clear who leads, who follows, and who will suddenly play a pivotal role. Criticism of Donaldson include that his principal character is unlikeable. But that may be an unfair comment: Thomas Covenant is a rapist and totally loathsome. Now, some works of great literature might feature a leading character that me can't sympathise with, but to do that in a fantasy novel defines the term "ambitious".
Fortunately, Marsters characters have quirks and whims. Little personality features they share with their species of have developed all on their own. Some a kind and generous souls; some are sarcastic and grumpy; some noble and arrogant; some humble and modest.
To be honest, the books feel like a decent game of Dungeons and Dragons. It's teamwork. The characters have their skills and attributes: some are great, some small, but all are necessary if the team is going to succeed on its quest.
And what is this quest? Well it is to witness and attempt to overcome the rise to power of the evil sorcerer Karrak. Correctly, in my opinion, Marsters doesn't spend too much time with Karrak. We have enough scenes to know that he has no scruples and takes pleasure from causing suffering and death, but we don't have to spend too much time reading about his exploits as they happen. Instead, our characters discover the wake of destruction as they try to repair the damage and gather their forces to take him down.
We meet Emnor and Yellodius, ancient wizards, so old that even they get tired by long journeys. We are introduced to Drake, Harley, Alexander, and Xarran, four young apprentice wizards. We discover the kingdom of Thedar with its potty King Koloss and his daughter Faylore, queen by default. We meet the Gerrowliens, Lawten and Poom (my particular favourite), a type of cat-like humanoid. We discover Grubb and Lorden, inveterate friends from vastly different species who curse and swear, berating each other and egging each other on. And, we follow the progress of Jared, brother of the dark sorcerer Karrak, together with his loyal sidekick Captain Hannock.
If I were to criticise these books (and I do love to criticise) it would be for the sheer number of characters species and minor plots that we are expected to keep track of. Sometimes I found myself having to flip back to remind myself who was who. And occasionally I'd be several pages into a sub-plot wondering whether it was relevant to the main thrust of the story of was just an interesting aside. I also wondered why there are so few female characters in the stories - it isn't completely without females, and one is quite important, but they are very much books about males.
I've read a fair few fantasy series in my time. Some of the authors go on a bit and it feels like they are milking their readership: not so much a fanbase as readers who want to know what happens and are strung along into the fourth or fifth book in what was originally a single volume, then a sequel, then a trilogy. The Karrak trilogy is just that and you know what to expect when you buy the first book. So, unlike Donaldson or Julian May, I don't feel cheated as I read on, and since both the story and the writing style are palatable I found myself voluntarily coming back for more. And the books are more palatable, less testosterone-driven (yes, I know Julian May was female), and less jarringly American than many in the milieu.
The books are:
"The Ascension of Karrak" where we meet most of the major characters and see the early events that shape Karrak and reveal him to be a thoroughly nasty piece of work. This book has the challenge of describing Marsters' world, presenting the different personae for the story, and making us believe in the numerous species. That's a big ask even in 400 pages, but it just about copes and, more importantly, carries the storyline forward so that we see Karrak for the threat that he is, witness him ascending (or rather descending) to be a dark force, and meet the alliance that is thrown together by events to contest him.
In "The Bane of Karrak" Marsters is able to spend less time scene-setting and get on with the story. The book flows better as a result and, as Karrak morphs into an unstoppable force of evil, we can enjoy the trials, tribulations, and petty squabbles of the group that is going to try to stop him. This book gets 4 stars: it is a little easier to read than book one (perhaps Marsters had settled into writing, perhaps the reduced complexity makes it better). It is still "just" an easy read and not a literary classic, but it does not set out to be more than a fun read, and that is what it achieves.
The third book is "The Cessation of Karrak" and, while the title may possibly be a hint, spoilers prevent me from saying how it pans out as all of favourite characters must face up to their fears and make sacrifices to oppose Karrak and his vicious bloodline.
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