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A Tournament of Shadows #1
A Guile of Dragons
It’s dwarves vs dragons in this origin story for Enge’s signature character, Morlock Ambrosius!
Before history began, the dwarves of Thrymhaiam fought against the dragons as the Longest War raged in the deep roads beneath the Northhold. Now the dragons have returned, allied with the dead kings of Cor and backed by the masked gods of Fate and Chaos.
The dwarves are cut cut off from the Graith of Guardians in the south. Their defenders are taken prisoner or corrupted by dragonspells. The weight of guarding the Northhold now rests on the crooked shoulders of a traitor’s son, Morlock syr Theorn (also called Ambrosius).
But his wounded mind has learned a dark secret in the hidden ways under the mountains. Regin and Fafnir were brothers, and the Longest War can never be over...
Before history began, the dwarves of Thrymhaiam fought against the dragons as the Longest War raged in the deep roads beneath the Northhold. Now the dragons have returned, allied with the dead kings of Cor and backed by the masked gods of Fate and Chaos.
The dwarves are cut cut off from the Graith of Guardians in the south. Their defenders are taken prisoner or corrupted by dragonspells. The weight of guarding the Northhold now rests on the crooked shoulders of a traitor’s son, Morlock syr Theorn (also called Ambrosius).
But his wounded mind has learned a dark secret in the hidden ways under the mountains. Regin and Fafnir were brothers, and the Longest War can never be over...
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
41 people are currently reading
862 people want to read
About the author
James Enge
42 books158 followersJames Enge lives in northwest Ohio with his wife and a philosophic dog-detective. He teaches Latin and mythology at a medium-sized public university. His stories (frequently featuring Morlock Ambrosius) have appeared in
Black Gate
, in the Stabby-Award-winning
Blackguards
, in
Tales from the Magicians's Skull
, in
F&SF
, and elsewhere. His first novel,
Blood of Ambrose
was nominated for the World Fantasy Award in 2010 and its French translation was shortlisted for the Prix Imaginales in 2011.
Look for more Morlock stories this year in Tales from the Magician's Skull and Old Moon Quarterly .
You can reach James Enge on Twitter (as jamesenge) or, if all else fails, via (jamesenge.com).
Look for more Morlock stories this year in Tales from the Magician's Skull and Old Moon Quarterly .
You can reach James Enge on Twitter (as jamesenge) or, if all else fails, via (jamesenge.com).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 11, 2014
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...
James Enge's A Guile of Dragons is actually the first book of a "prequel" series called A Tournament of Shadows featuring his celebrated character Morlock Ambrosius. Not having read the original books, I'm sure my experience is probably going to differ wildly from that of a reader who is already familiar with the world and character, but knowing beforehand that I was going into an origins-type story was good preparation for what to expect.
Most of the book covers the life of young Morlock. We begin at a point before he is even born, then watch as he is given to the dwarves as an infant. Morlock's real father is Merlin -- yes, that Merlin -- though he is raised among the dwarven folk; as such things go, the character's struggles with his birthright and mixed feelings about his heritage eventually emerge as one of the overarching themes of the story.
But on top of that, the book is also an adventure, with an ancient war between dwarves and dragons at its heart. When the dwarven territories are invaded, their defenders taken prisoner or placed under the corrupted influence of dragonspells, it falls to Morlock to protect his surrogate family and the people who raised him.
This was a good story, well told in its complexity and showing of relationships between different characters, but I have a feeling I'm not clicking with it as much as I should. I'm sure a lot of it had to do with the book and I getting off on the wrong foot, with the introductory chapters throwing me off with its pacing. The sections that take place before Morlock's birth and up to the brief scenes of his childhood with the dwarves feel like they should have been a prologue, separated from the rest of the book.
I understand the importance of including this time of his life as part of his back story, but I don't know if it meshes that well with everything that comes afterward. The first part of the book felt like a running commentary on the circumstances behind Morlock's birth, resulting in a disconnect between myself and the character. Fortunately, the book really gets going once he reaches adulthood and we get into the meat of the story, when we encounter the dragons and their violent confrontations with the dwarves.
What follows is a very intriguing take on the history behind the dwarven-dragon conflict, and the intricacies in the nature of the two societies. The character dynamics also pick up, and as factors like bitter resentment or shifting loyalties start to come into play, things get a lot more interesting. The author throws in a lot of surprising twists, and I have to say one of my favorite aspects of this book is how Enge incorporates elements from legend and Arthurian fantasy into the world lore.
My overall feeling is that you can definitely read A Guile of Dragons on its own, but I have no doubt I'm also missing out on a lot of the subtleties. Yet despite delving into this one without any context, I was on the whole impressed. After seeing how the events of this book has shaped Morlock as a character, I admit I find myself curious about him and his future exploits.
James Enge's A Guile of Dragons is actually the first book of a "prequel" series called A Tournament of Shadows featuring his celebrated character Morlock Ambrosius. Not having read the original books, I'm sure my experience is probably going to differ wildly from that of a reader who is already familiar with the world and character, but knowing beforehand that I was going into an origins-type story was good preparation for what to expect.
Most of the book covers the life of young Morlock. We begin at a point before he is even born, then watch as he is given to the dwarves as an infant. Morlock's real father is Merlin -- yes, that Merlin -- though he is raised among the dwarven folk; as such things go, the character's struggles with his birthright and mixed feelings about his heritage eventually emerge as one of the overarching themes of the story.
But on top of that, the book is also an adventure, with an ancient war between dwarves and dragons at its heart. When the dwarven territories are invaded, their defenders taken prisoner or placed under the corrupted influence of dragonspells, it falls to Morlock to protect his surrogate family and the people who raised him.
This was a good story, well told in its complexity and showing of relationships between different characters, but I have a feeling I'm not clicking with it as much as I should. I'm sure a lot of it had to do with the book and I getting off on the wrong foot, with the introductory chapters throwing me off with its pacing. The sections that take place before Morlock's birth and up to the brief scenes of his childhood with the dwarves feel like they should have been a prologue, separated from the rest of the book.
I understand the importance of including this time of his life as part of his back story, but I don't know if it meshes that well with everything that comes afterward. The first part of the book felt like a running commentary on the circumstances behind Morlock's birth, resulting in a disconnect between myself and the character. Fortunately, the book really gets going once he reaches adulthood and we get into the meat of the story, when we encounter the dragons and their violent confrontations with the dwarves.
What follows is a very intriguing take on the history behind the dwarven-dragon conflict, and the intricacies in the nature of the two societies. The character dynamics also pick up, and as factors like bitter resentment or shifting loyalties start to come into play, things get a lot more interesting. The author throws in a lot of surprising twists, and I have to say one of my favorite aspects of this book is how Enge incorporates elements from legend and Arthurian fantasy into the world lore.
My overall feeling is that you can definitely read A Guile of Dragons on its own, but I have no doubt I'm also missing out on a lot of the subtleties. Yet despite delving into this one without any context, I was on the whole impressed. After seeing how the events of this book has shaped Morlock as a character, I admit I find myself curious about him and his future exploits.
September 8, 2012
High Fantasy often faces the criticism that it is a poor reflection of the works that have gone before it, most notably Tolkien. By employing the same basic mythos with a highly Western European (and generally, British) composition, many chide that too much of fantasy falls into this trap and needs to be refreshed with something edgier, or something more original. The end result is generally a poor facsimile that inevitably fails to shine in comparison.
"A Guile of Dragons" is not some mere copy.
Yes, it employs many of the elements that we might quickly label a High Fantasy trope - dwarves, dragons, ancient terrors, and the name Merlin (or at least his son, Morlock). Its important to remember that it is not what elements a writer uses, but how they use them, that brings distinction. Enge does not treat these elements lightly - the history and culture of the dwarves alone are an integral part of this story, hinting at a depth we never see a bottom to. The shortness of the work (@300 pages) is belied by the depth and fullness of the characters that populate it. These are thick characters, populating the pages not because they fill a need but because it is their story to tell.
Set as a prequel for Enge's character, Ambrosius, aka Morlock syr Theorn, "A Guile of Dragons" introduces us to a small cast of recurring characters, each of whom demonstrates a depth and fullness usually reserved for the titular character. Not having read the other books in this milieu proved to not be a problem - as a prequel, it is a well contained volume, beginning with the birth of Morlock, son of Merlin, and the circumstances that place young Morlock in the care of the dwarves of Thrymhaiam to the north. This is also the story of Morlock's first real adventure (other feats are alluded to, but nothing so grand), following a metre and pace that is reminiscent of a classic saga even when the story telling is modern.
For in the Northold, the dwarves find themselves cut off from the Graith of Guardians as a guile of dragons invades, reigniting the Longest War from before the dawn of history. Morlock, a thaen of the Graith, adopted son of the dwarves, trapped between both worlds, faces the failings of each as he is thrust into battling the dragons themselves.
Enge, who's unsecret real world identity is a classics professor, demonstrates that a writer is influenced by the books and life you lead. "A Guile of Dragons" is a worthy epic for any fantasy reader, containing a surprising depth and fullness that is rarely found in so short a book. I cannot say more about this book without spoiling it, so I will just say that I wholly and heartily recommend that it be read.
"A Guile of Dragons" is not some mere copy.
Yes, it employs many of the elements that we might quickly label a High Fantasy trope - dwarves, dragons, ancient terrors, and the name Merlin (or at least his son, Morlock). Its important to remember that it is not what elements a writer uses, but how they use them, that brings distinction. Enge does not treat these elements lightly - the history and culture of the dwarves alone are an integral part of this story, hinting at a depth we never see a bottom to. The shortness of the work (@300 pages) is belied by the depth and fullness of the characters that populate it. These are thick characters, populating the pages not because they fill a need but because it is their story to tell.
Set as a prequel for Enge's character, Ambrosius, aka Morlock syr Theorn, "A Guile of Dragons" introduces us to a small cast of recurring characters, each of whom demonstrates a depth and fullness usually reserved for the titular character. Not having read the other books in this milieu proved to not be a problem - as a prequel, it is a well contained volume, beginning with the birth of Morlock, son of Merlin, and the circumstances that place young Morlock in the care of the dwarves of Thrymhaiam to the north. This is also the story of Morlock's first real adventure (other feats are alluded to, but nothing so grand), following a metre and pace that is reminiscent of a classic saga even when the story telling is modern.
For in the Northold, the dwarves find themselves cut off from the Graith of Guardians as a guile of dragons invades, reigniting the Longest War from before the dawn of history. Morlock, a thaen of the Graith, adopted son of the dwarves, trapped between both worlds, faces the failings of each as he is thrust into battling the dragons themselves.
Enge, who's unsecret real world identity is a classics professor, demonstrates that a writer is influenced by the books and life you lead. "A Guile of Dragons" is a worthy epic for any fantasy reader, containing a surprising depth and fullness that is rarely found in so short a book. I cannot say more about this book without spoiling it, so I will just say that I wholly and heartily recommend that it be read.
December 23, 2020
Some of the best fantasy I've read in ages!
I was introduced to Enge's Morlock Ambrosius stories through "Tales From the Magician's Skull," a collection of sword-and-sorcery short stories published by Goodman Games. Now I'm working my way through all the Morlock stories available, only I'm doing it fairly slowly, because Enge's stuff is too good to rush - I tend to read slowly and savor them, which is a regrettably rare quality to find. I highly recommend this book, and Enge's work in general!
I was introduced to Enge's Morlock Ambrosius stories through "Tales From the Magician's Skull," a collection of sword-and-sorcery short stories published by Goodman Games. Now I'm working my way through all the Morlock stories available, only I'm doing it fairly slowly, because Enge's stuff is too good to rush - I tend to read slowly and savor them, which is a regrettably rare quality to find. I highly recommend this book, and Enge's work in general!
September 13, 2012
Okay, this was a weird book. *Damn* weird. It covers the birth, childhood, and young-adulthood of Morlock Ambrosius, so it acts as (part one of) a prequel to the previous Morlock books. But, here's the thing, it turns out Morlock was raised by dwarves. (Maybe this was mentioned earlier, but I forgot.) Dwarves have a complex culture and history, and the humans in that world *also* have a complex culture and history, and none of this history overlaps ours at all, and the upshot is that we're reading the foundation legends of a mythology that we're not familiar with.
Okay, when I put it that way, you reply (a) "You read the mythology, it's all in the three earlier books" and (b) "Doesn't all high fantasy do this? Drop you into an unfamiliar mythology?"
Yes and yes. But Enge is playing the game way farther into the outfield than I'm used to. Not only are the cultural assumptions obscure, but the story beats that he's hitting *with* those cultural assumptions are obscure. It's that "I can tell this is an in-joke, but I don't know what about" feeling.
On top of that, dwarf society is taciturn -- this is where Morlock gets his habit of talking in grunts -- and *then* half the characters spend half the book being mind-controlled by dragons. So there's a very great deal of people having silent realizations which turn out to be lies. Infer cultural assumptions from *that*. I'm not saying I don't enjoy the challenge, mind you.
In frame, we also get a little more detail about the multiverse: Merlin *is* the Merlin from our world, for example. Good to know. Also, Enge read my previous reviews and explains the business of the sun coming up in the west. Okay, not so much "explains" as "offers a steely-eyed line of bafflegab designed to make me shut up and enjoy the goddamn story already", which, fair enough.
Okay, when I put it that way, you reply (a) "You read the mythology, it's all in the three earlier books" and (b) "Doesn't all high fantasy do this? Drop you into an unfamiliar mythology?"
Yes and yes. But Enge is playing the game way farther into the outfield than I'm used to. Not only are the cultural assumptions obscure, but the story beats that he's hitting *with* those cultural assumptions are obscure. It's that "I can tell this is an in-joke, but I don't know what about" feeling.
On top of that, dwarf society is taciturn -- this is where Morlock gets his habit of talking in grunts -- and *then* half the characters spend half the book being mind-controlled by dragons. So there's a very great deal of people having silent realizations which turn out to be lies. Infer cultural assumptions from *that*. I'm not saying I don't enjoy the challenge, mind you.
In frame, we also get a little more detail about the multiverse: Merlin *is* the Merlin from our world, for example. Good to know. Also, Enge read my previous reviews and explains the business of the sun coming up in the west. Okay, not so much "explains" as "offers a steely-eyed line of bafflegab designed to make me shut up and enjoy the goddamn story already", which, fair enough.
June 11, 2013
Morlock Ambrosius, son of Merlin and Nimue from the Arthurian legends, has a crooked shoulder, a resistance to fire and a dark pysche that probably would result in a 21st century prescription for Welbutrin.
He returns in “Guile of Dragons” (Pyr, $17.95, 278 pages), which is book one of the Tournament of Shadows, and which appears to be James Enge’s backstory for the Morlock readers have encountered in three previous books. This is all good news, for Enge is a more than capable writer and Morlock is one of the more intriguing antiheroes out there right now, given his struggles to survive in a bleak pre-industrial world.
In “Guile of Dragons,” Morlock is a young soldier, of sorts, who gets involved when dragons invade the territory he must protect. At the same time, Morlock must deal with revelations regarding Merlin, his arrogant father who was imprisoned by another wizard before Morlock was born, as well as his surrogate father, the leader of the dwarves who raised him.
But don’t think that means readers must plow through long passages of Freudian patriarchy issues – the action is constant, the writing crisp and the extra depth added to the narrative by those paternal issues only adds to the book. So if you haven’t yet read any of Enge’s books, this is the place to start – and you have a lot of good reading ahead of you.
He returns in “Guile of Dragons” (Pyr, $17.95, 278 pages), which is book one of the Tournament of Shadows, and which appears to be James Enge’s backstory for the Morlock readers have encountered in three previous books. This is all good news, for Enge is a more than capable writer and Morlock is one of the more intriguing antiheroes out there right now, given his struggles to survive in a bleak pre-industrial world.
In “Guile of Dragons,” Morlock is a young soldier, of sorts, who gets involved when dragons invade the territory he must protect. At the same time, Morlock must deal with revelations regarding Merlin, his arrogant father who was imprisoned by another wizard before Morlock was born, as well as his surrogate father, the leader of the dwarves who raised him.
But don’t think that means readers must plow through long passages of Freudian patriarchy issues – the action is constant, the writing crisp and the extra depth added to the narrative by those paternal issues only adds to the book. So if you haven’t yet read any of Enge’s books, this is the place to start – and you have a lot of good reading ahead of you.
August 8, 2012
The plot is quick moving; readers might just have to swallow some confusion along the way. Coupled with Enge’s fantastic prose, the pages will probably turn themselves. A Guile of Dragons isn’t long, but it is quite amazing to see how much the author packed into its pages – from incredible world building, to fantastic (if haunted) characters, complex history and some traditional fantasy elements that will put readers in the mind of the fantasy greats. A Guile of Dragons truly proves that a book doesn’t need to be so heavy it breaks your floorboards to be epic. A Guile of Dragons is a promising start to a complex new epic fantasy series.
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2012/08/...
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2012/08/...
September 12, 2012
This book was reviewed by Michael Cummings, senior reviewer with the Fantasy Book Addict.
High Fantasy often faces the criticism that it is a poor reflection of the works that have gone before it, most notably Tolkien. By employing the same basic mythos with a highly Western European (and generally, British) composition, many chide that too much of fantasy falls into this trap and needs to be refreshed with something edgier, or something more original. The end result is generally a poor facsimile that inevitably fails to shine in comparison.
“A Guile of Dragons” is not some mere copy.
You can read the full review here:
http://www.fantasybookaddict.com/2012...
High Fantasy often faces the criticism that it is a poor reflection of the works that have gone before it, most notably Tolkien. By employing the same basic mythos with a highly Western European (and generally, British) composition, many chide that too much of fantasy falls into this trap and needs to be refreshed with something edgier, or something more original. The end result is generally a poor facsimile that inevitably fails to shine in comparison.
“A Guile of Dragons” is not some mere copy.
You can read the full review here:
http://www.fantasybookaddict.com/2012...
November 1, 2013
James Enge's Morlock stories are fantastic. If you're not reading them yet, you should correct that oversight as soon as possible. A Guile of Dragons marks the beginning of a prequel series telling of Morlock Ambrosius's early life (and as a side note, I think you could start either with Guile or the previous trilogy). It takes place in a rich, complex world, and Enge is a master stylist. In some ways, his stories are reminiscent of classic fantasy novels, but there's a unique sensibility to them. If you're looking for something that harks back to the books that first got you into the fantasy genre, or if you want to offer something rich and strange to a teenager who loves speculative fiction, the Morlock books are a wondrous read.
Read
July 7, 2019Dnf at 14%. I didn’t know this was a prequel until after I was bored/lost. I miiiight come back after I’ve read the other Morlock books, but I’m not sure I’ll even get to that point.
September 3, 2022
In this first book of his Morlock Ambrosius origin story, James Enge provides us with a 'classic' epic fantasy tale, centered around the clash between dwarves and dragons, augmented with a little alternative history, a story of parallel worlds, and a really interesting take on the Arthurian legends. It's an odd mix of storytelling elements, but A Guile of Dragons works quite well, despite a few awkward passages.
The opening chapters certainly felt a bit rushed, as if Enge were impatient to have Ambrosius grow up, without getting into the whole coming-of-age storytelling mess. Don't get me wrong, there are some authors who have done the coming-of-age thing well (Tad Williams immediately comes to mind), but all too often it feels like padding, so I'm not disappointed that Enge passed it by.
Fortunately, once we get outside the city and meet back up with Earno, the man responsible for Merlin's exile, the story really begins to pick up. There's a subtle antagonism between the two men that you can feel, and enough conflicted loyalties on both sides to really add some tension to the tale. Neither are particularly likable as protagonists, which does present a bit of a challenge - especially when the dwarves so often steal the show - but they're interesting, and admirable in their own way.
It's with the first appearance of the dragons, however, that Enge completely won me over.
The dragons broke through the clouds in groups of three, casting distorted shadows behind them by their own light. There were perhaps a dozen groups. Most of them soared steeply out of the range of sight, but three dragons flew directly to the windows of the High Hall of the East. One roosted directly before the windows (the mountain shook beneath them) and peered within: smoke and fire trailing from his jaws, his bright scales shedding red light at their edges, his slotted eyes as red and gold as molten metal.
It seems as if dragons have become somewhat passé in recent years, as gritty realism and militaristic tales have come to dominate much of the market, so it was refreshing to encounter real dragons again - intelligent, greedy, treasure-seeking, malevolent creatures, full of magic and fire. Add to that the idea of a guile, of a collared dragon claiming mastery over a group of its kin, herding them and marshaling them into a sort of army, and you've got one hell of a great story.
The writing is crisp, and flows well; the battle scenes are played out beautifully; and the characters are both complex and engaging. A Guile of Dragons isn't a particularly deep fantasy tale, although I can sense a great story waiting to be told. Perhaps readers already familiar with the character will find more nuances to the tale than I, but it's still more than adequate as an introduction to Ambrosius' world, and strong enough to make me want to read Wrath-Bearing Tree, the second book of A Tournament of Shadows.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
The opening chapters certainly felt a bit rushed, as if Enge were impatient to have Ambrosius grow up, without getting into the whole coming-of-age storytelling mess. Don't get me wrong, there are some authors who have done the coming-of-age thing well (Tad Williams immediately comes to mind), but all too often it feels like padding, so I'm not disappointed that Enge passed it by.
Fortunately, once we get outside the city and meet back up with Earno, the man responsible for Merlin's exile, the story really begins to pick up. There's a subtle antagonism between the two men that you can feel, and enough conflicted loyalties on both sides to really add some tension to the tale. Neither are particularly likable as protagonists, which does present a bit of a challenge - especially when the dwarves so often steal the show - but they're interesting, and admirable in their own way.
It's with the first appearance of the dragons, however, that Enge completely won me over.
The dragons broke through the clouds in groups of three, casting distorted shadows behind them by their own light. There were perhaps a dozen groups. Most of them soared steeply out of the range of sight, but three dragons flew directly to the windows of the High Hall of the East. One roosted directly before the windows (the mountain shook beneath them) and peered within: smoke and fire trailing from his jaws, his bright scales shedding red light at their edges, his slotted eyes as red and gold as molten metal.
It seems as if dragons have become somewhat passé in recent years, as gritty realism and militaristic tales have come to dominate much of the market, so it was refreshing to encounter real dragons again - intelligent, greedy, treasure-seeking, malevolent creatures, full of magic and fire. Add to that the idea of a guile, of a collared dragon claiming mastery over a group of its kin, herding them and marshaling them into a sort of army, and you've got one hell of a great story.
The writing is crisp, and flows well; the battle scenes are played out beautifully; and the characters are both complex and engaging. A Guile of Dragons isn't a particularly deep fantasy tale, although I can sense a great story waiting to be told. Perhaps readers already familiar with the character will find more nuances to the tale than I, but it's still more than adequate as an introduction to Ambrosius' world, and strong enough to make me want to read Wrath-Bearing Tree, the second book of A Tournament of Shadows.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
September 5, 2021
Enge presents a fascinating world with slowly revealed secrets. The pacing and world-building, unfortunately, are often uneven. Most of the characters are rather flat, with the exception of Morlock, Tyr, Deor, and Earno. Unfortunately, I find Earno consistently tedious. The character development is deeply uneven with many characters only popping up for plot purposes. Enge’s named female characters with any type of significant role are poorly written with a fixation on men. I was disappointed with the lack of female characters- until we met Aloe. Then I wanted him not to write female characters at all if he can’t do it well. All criticism aside, the plot is intriguing and well-orchestrated, the setting is utterly fascinating, and Morlock has a fulfilling character arc by the end.
September 7, 2025
Enge tackles Morlock Ambrosius's early years and the traumas and conflicts that shape the later stories, revealing that his problems predate alcoholism, and may contribute to it in ways that are yet to be explored.
But his problems are partially subordinate of the rest of what goes on. This is yet another culture for Enge to flesh out in interesting ways, filled with people whose motivations pull them in different directions. And like in _The Wolf Age_, this deconstructs some fantasy tropes to arrive at intriguing ideas: what is it about dragons and dwarves, anyways?
But his problems are partially subordinate of the rest of what goes on. This is yet another culture for Enge to flesh out in interesting ways, filled with people whose motivations pull them in different directions. And like in _The Wolf Age_, this deconstructs some fantasy tropes to arrive at intriguing ideas: what is it about dragons and dwarves, anyways?
September 26, 2021
The book is well written - at some points serious, at others complete with a Pratchett-esque humor - with an interesting mythos.
Unfortunately it doesn't quite work as a stand alone- there are too many in-references to a world i don't know much about; it's a bit like having captain marvel as your intro to the MCU.
So I can't really say I *loved* it, but I wouldn't be opposed to reading one of the previously published books in the series.
Unfortunately it doesn't quite work as a stand alone- there are too many in-references to a world i don't know much about; it's a bit like having captain marvel as your intro to the MCU.
So I can't really say I *loved* it, but I wouldn't be opposed to reading one of the previously published books in the series.
July 7, 2017
++++++++++
Masterpiece **
Masterpiece **
February 13, 2017
This novel absolutely lived up to the standard set by the books in the original Morlock the Maker series. There’s something unique about Enge’s writing that I still can’t quite put my finger on – something that marks it as distinctly different from any of the other books (fantasy or otherwise) that I’ve ever read. I wasn’t sure I liked it when I first cracked the spine on The Wolf Age, but it didn’t take long for me to lose myself in it. Enge isn’t the most verbose or descriptive writer, but he always includes the details that make his characters and setting as markedly unique as I have come to expect from him. A certain tacit quality to the writing only adds to the experience, since it adds to the atmosphere of the story and Morlock himself.
Before I began the book, I had a certain apprehension that these new novels about Morlock’s backstory wouldn’t satisfy my curiosity.
My worries were completely unfounded.
Enge chose to begin AGoD before Morlock was even born, and explore the relationship between Nimue and Merlin. Honestly, I didn’t expect to be as drawn into those two as I was; finally learning just exactly how the world of Laent is connected to Arthurian mythology piqued my curiosity quite a bit, but I found myself enjoying Nimue’s perspective in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
Even though the first part of the novel isn’t from Morlock’s perspective, I don’t think it suffered for it. Enge has this interesting dynamic in his books of trading off between Morlock’s POV and that of other characters seamlessly, offering different angles through which to view the players in his story that reveal both their internal motivations and the dramatic irony of knowing whether or not they are reliable narrators. Unfortunately, one of the POV characters in AGoD frustrated me a considerable amount; Summoner Earno perturbed me from the beginning, as he possesses a certain brand of self-righteousness that I can’t stand. My opinion of him didn’t improve as the book continued. His suspicions that Morlock would conspire with his exiled father were just laughable since I already know how they feel about each other later in life, which made it difficult to take Earno’s fears seriously. I ended up just being annoyed with him on Morlock’s behalf. But I think that fault might be more with me than Enge’s writing, since I read the later-chronology books before this one.
That being said, Enge more than made up for Earno’s annoying qualities. I can honestly say that this is the first author who has genuinely made me not hate dwarves – perhaps because this is the first setting I can remember reading in which they aren’t quite the stereotype they’re always portrayed as. He took the time to do worldbuilding that explained why they act how they do, and changed some key details that made them unique and engaging. Their connection to the dragons in particular made me even more excited about their race and culture.
Morlock, as usual, is his typical self. Though he’s much younger here, I can see the framework from which he becomes the man he is later in life. And though his interactions with his future wife Aloe were rare, Enge successfully set up a hint of how they get to know each other much better down the road. Not to mention that the sections from her perspective made me dislike her less – she no longer seems to simply be the “bad ex-wife” stereotype, which was one of my few criticisms of the later novels. Now that we can see inside her motivations a bit more, her actions make much more sense and she’s revealed as a female character with actual dimensions that go beyond “she’s kind of mean and selfish”. Roundabouts, what I’m trying to say, is that she’s a well-written character, and doesn’t fall into the stereotypical traps many female characters sadly get pigeon-holed into. Nor is she a woman to underestimate.
Before I began the book, I had a certain apprehension that these new novels about Morlock’s backstory wouldn’t satisfy my curiosity.
My worries were completely unfounded.
Enge chose to begin AGoD before Morlock was even born, and explore the relationship between Nimue and Merlin. Honestly, I didn’t expect to be as drawn into those two as I was; finally learning just exactly how the world of Laent is connected to Arthurian mythology piqued my curiosity quite a bit, but I found myself enjoying Nimue’s perspective in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
Even though the first part of the novel isn’t from Morlock’s perspective, I don’t think it suffered for it. Enge has this interesting dynamic in his books of trading off between Morlock’s POV and that of other characters seamlessly, offering different angles through which to view the players in his story that reveal both their internal motivations and the dramatic irony of knowing whether or not they are reliable narrators. Unfortunately, one of the POV characters in AGoD frustrated me a considerable amount; Summoner Earno perturbed me from the beginning, as he possesses a certain brand of self-righteousness that I can’t stand. My opinion of him didn’t improve as the book continued. His suspicions that Morlock would conspire with his exiled father were just laughable since I already know how they feel about each other later in life, which made it difficult to take Earno’s fears seriously. I ended up just being annoyed with him on Morlock’s behalf. But I think that fault might be more with me than Enge’s writing, since I read the later-chronology books before this one.
That being said, Enge more than made up for Earno’s annoying qualities. I can honestly say that this is the first author who has genuinely made me not hate dwarves – perhaps because this is the first setting I can remember reading in which they aren’t quite the stereotype they’re always portrayed as. He took the time to do worldbuilding that explained why they act how they do, and changed some key details that made them unique and engaging. Their connection to the dragons in particular made me even more excited about their race and culture.
Morlock, as usual, is his typical self. Though he’s much younger here, I can see the framework from which he becomes the man he is later in life. And though his interactions with his future wife Aloe were rare, Enge successfully set up a hint of how they get to know each other much better down the road. Not to mention that the sections from her perspective made me dislike her less – she no longer seems to simply be the “bad ex-wife” stereotype, which was one of my few criticisms of the later novels. Now that we can see inside her motivations a bit more, her actions make much more sense and she’s revealed as a female character with actual dimensions that go beyond “she’s kind of mean and selfish”. Roundabouts, what I’m trying to say, is that she’s a well-written character, and doesn’t fall into the stereotypical traps many female characters sadly get pigeon-holed into. Nor is she a woman to underestimate.
December 17, 2012
A Guile of Dragons by James Enge features the return of Morlock Ambrosius though not in quite the same way as the previous novel, The Wolf Age. I rather loved the The Wolf Age with the fantastic character of Morlock and an original and fascinating setting it was a high water mark for the first three Morlock novels. A Guile of Dragons takes things back to the start detailing the birth and rise of Morlock Ambrosius and marks the beginning of a new serious of Morlock novels.
Of course, given that I really enjoyed Blood of Ambrose and The Wolf Age going backwards in time for A Guile of Dragons offers a tricky proposition. It is definitely difficult to filter my disappointment that we won’t be seeing another “present day” adventure with Morlock out of my actual reaction to A Guile of Dragons. Rest assured this novel is textbook Enge with crisp prose and a fascinating world leavened by frequent humor and high action. Whereas the previous Morlock novels delivered readers a man already set in his ways A Guile of Dragons seems to set in motion of more in depth study of how the youth we meet becomes the man seen in those earlier novels.
The opening of the novel provides readers with a glimpse at the birth of Morlock and actually gives readers a better understanding of his father, Merlin. Absent in the previous series seeing Merlin here completely divorced of Morlock’s opinion of his father, paints the famous magician in a new light while the circumstances of Morlock’s birth offer new insight into the role he plays in A Guile of Dragons as well as The Wolf Age. As in The Wolf Age, A Guile of Dragons also exhibits the casual manipulation of the mortal world via divine hands and as in the previous novel Enge uses these characters in a way similar to a Greek chorus.
As he did with the werewolves of his previous novel Enge takes a fantasy staple and manages to give it a unique and fascinating twist. While the dwarves seen in A Guile of Dragons definitely resemble your typical fantasy dwarves Enge plays upon reader expectations as the novel delves into the history of this race offering up some fascinating and surprising morsels as novel moves forward towards its conclusion. Of course at the center of this all is Morlock himself and Enge shows a deft hand at differentiating this younger Morlock from the Morlock of the previous novels. This is a Morlock whose outsider nature, even among his adopted family, has still left him raw around the edges. A Morlock who hates his birth father deeply and a Morlock desperate to prove himself to the world. Having read the previous novels you can see the skeleton of the man he would become and his portrayal in A Guile of Dragons as someone who even at a young age carried a rather hefty emotional burden.
While A Guile of Dragons offers a self-contained story it definitely feels like it is building to a more unified and connected story than the previous novels (which were very episodic). A Guile of Dragons further fleshes out the world of Morlock while leaving ample room to build even further detail. A Guile of Dragons also seems to tone back some of the more magical elements seen in the previous novels. While magic is definitely alive and present in the novel it is a far subtler affair and completely absent are airships or giant mechanical spiders. Enge definitely seems to going for a slower burn with A Guile of Dragons but that isn’t to say there isn’t action. Enge offers up threats, mysteries, and battles aplenty to keep the pace flowing and there were definite moments where I didn’t want to stop turning the pages. I’ll definitely be looking for more of Morlock Ambrosius.
Of course, given that I really enjoyed Blood of Ambrose and The Wolf Age going backwards in time for A Guile of Dragons offers a tricky proposition. It is definitely difficult to filter my disappointment that we won’t be seeing another “present day” adventure with Morlock out of my actual reaction to A Guile of Dragons. Rest assured this novel is textbook Enge with crisp prose and a fascinating world leavened by frequent humor and high action. Whereas the previous Morlock novels delivered readers a man already set in his ways A Guile of Dragons seems to set in motion of more in depth study of how the youth we meet becomes the man seen in those earlier novels.
The opening of the novel provides readers with a glimpse at the birth of Morlock and actually gives readers a better understanding of his father, Merlin. Absent in the previous series seeing Merlin here completely divorced of Morlock’s opinion of his father, paints the famous magician in a new light while the circumstances of Morlock’s birth offer new insight into the role he plays in A Guile of Dragons as well as The Wolf Age. As in The Wolf Age, A Guile of Dragons also exhibits the casual manipulation of the mortal world via divine hands and as in the previous novel Enge uses these characters in a way similar to a Greek chorus.
As he did with the werewolves of his previous novel Enge takes a fantasy staple and manages to give it a unique and fascinating twist. While the dwarves seen in A Guile of Dragons definitely resemble your typical fantasy dwarves Enge plays upon reader expectations as the novel delves into the history of this race offering up some fascinating and surprising morsels as novel moves forward towards its conclusion. Of course at the center of this all is Morlock himself and Enge shows a deft hand at differentiating this younger Morlock from the Morlock of the previous novels. This is a Morlock whose outsider nature, even among his adopted family, has still left him raw around the edges. A Morlock who hates his birth father deeply and a Morlock desperate to prove himself to the world. Having read the previous novels you can see the skeleton of the man he would become and his portrayal in A Guile of Dragons as someone who even at a young age carried a rather hefty emotional burden.
While A Guile of Dragons offers a self-contained story it definitely feels like it is building to a more unified and connected story than the previous novels (which were very episodic). A Guile of Dragons further fleshes out the world of Morlock while leaving ample room to build even further detail. A Guile of Dragons also seems to tone back some of the more magical elements seen in the previous novels. While magic is definitely alive and present in the novel it is a far subtler affair and completely absent are airships or giant mechanical spiders. Enge definitely seems to going for a slower burn with A Guile of Dragons but that isn’t to say there isn’t action. Enge offers up threats, mysteries, and battles aplenty to keep the pace flowing and there were definite moments where I didn’t want to stop turning the pages. I’ll definitely be looking for more of Morlock Ambrosius.
January 10, 2013
Normally, I'm all for reading novels in chronological order, even if they weren't written that way. But this book (as I assume subsequent prequels will be) would be far less comprehensible and interesting if I had not already read Blood of Ambrose, This Crooked Way, and The Wolf's Age. Enge's fiction has deep roots; these are stories that feel like they go on forever (in the sense that there's always more to them than is being said, not in the sense that they are boring). This book reveals things that are only hinted at in the other books, and so would not be nearly as enticing if I did not know the shape of future events.
Morlock is...still cooking in this story. Not yet who he will be, but definitely recognizable. The characters are less relatable than in the first three books, especially at the beginning, but there are very good reasons for that. The characters aren't clearly divided into good guys and bad guys, for one thing.
Hmm, what else? Lots of really fascinating depictions of dwarf culture, Morlock's connection to the dwarves, and the dwarves' history. There's a significant chunk of backstory leading up to the main action of the book, which is satisfyingly exciting and revelatory. And dragons, of course. Enge's dragons are very interesting, intelligent in an animalistic sort of way, and very old-school, all smoke and fire.
I'm a bit fuzzy on what sorts of activities count as Making, but this story seems to take place before Morlock learned that art. If one of the things you like most about Enge's work is this unique and fascinatingly quasi-scientific magic system, you should be warned that there isn't much of that here.
The last thing I'll say is that all of Enge's work is very attentive to language. I don't know exactly how to describe it. It's something that Tolkien and le Guin have. I think it comes from a scholarly interest in mythology and linguistics.
Morlock is...still cooking in this story. Not yet who he will be, but definitely recognizable. The characters are less relatable than in the first three books, especially at the beginning, but there are very good reasons for that. The characters aren't clearly divided into good guys and bad guys, for one thing.
Hmm, what else? Lots of really fascinating depictions of dwarf culture, Morlock's connection to the dwarves, and the dwarves' history. There's a significant chunk of backstory leading up to the main action of the book, which is satisfyingly exciting and revelatory. And dragons, of course. Enge's dragons are very interesting, intelligent in an animalistic sort of way, and very old-school, all smoke and fire.
I'm a bit fuzzy on what sorts of activities count as Making, but this story seems to take place before Morlock learned that art. If one of the things you like most about Enge's work is this unique and fascinatingly quasi-scientific magic system, you should be warned that there isn't much of that here.
The last thing I'll say is that all of Enge's work is very attentive to language. I don't know exactly how to describe it. It's something that Tolkien and le Guin have. I think it comes from a scholarly interest in mythology and linguistics.
April 11, 2014
Posted on The Qwillery first.
A Guile of Dragons is not your everyday fast-food fantasy book. James Enge writes full-course meal fantasy, and it should be appreciated as such. For anyone looking for a quick and easy hack and slash story, don't be fooled by the page count. Enge packs in a lot of depth and care in a short amount of pages. Now, please don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to frighten anyone off from reading this engaging and thoughtful book. In fact, I think it's the perfect blend of original ideas, beautiful prose and action. It's a book I found myself taking my time feasting on.
Even though this is not the first book we find Morlock Ambrosius in, it is the beginning of Morlock's story, so don't worry if you haven't read the first series by Enge. Enge excels in the way he gives familiar races an interesting connection and/or twist from the run-of-the-mill fantasy. He also likes to play with the idea of magic and spirituality that I found captivating. I also appreciated the fact that the book feels complete after reading it. A lot of series treat the first book as a tease to the main story, leaving too many unanswered questions as a tool to get the reader to buy the next book, but Enge leaves the reader fulfilled. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
A Guile of Dragons is a solid foundation to the origins of Morlock Ambrosius. It is well suited for a reader that enjoys taking their time reading a book and thinking about the questions the author raises. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a quick easy book to read on the beach. I would recommend it to young adults and adults. It's perfect for fantasy fans that like to read a series story with new ideas. I'd also recommend it to anyone that likes literary fiction as a bridge to the fantasy genre.
A Guile of Dragons is not your everyday fast-food fantasy book. James Enge writes full-course meal fantasy, and it should be appreciated as such. For anyone looking for a quick and easy hack and slash story, don't be fooled by the page count. Enge packs in a lot of depth and care in a short amount of pages. Now, please don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to frighten anyone off from reading this engaging and thoughtful book. In fact, I think it's the perfect blend of original ideas, beautiful prose and action. It's a book I found myself taking my time feasting on.
Even though this is not the first book we find Morlock Ambrosius in, it is the beginning of Morlock's story, so don't worry if you haven't read the first series by Enge. Enge excels in the way he gives familiar races an interesting connection and/or twist from the run-of-the-mill fantasy. He also likes to play with the idea of magic and spirituality that I found captivating. I also appreciated the fact that the book feels complete after reading it. A lot of series treat the first book as a tease to the main story, leaving too many unanswered questions as a tool to get the reader to buy the next book, but Enge leaves the reader fulfilled. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
A Guile of Dragons is a solid foundation to the origins of Morlock Ambrosius. It is well suited for a reader that enjoys taking their time reading a book and thinking about the questions the author raises. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a quick easy book to read on the beach. I would recommend it to young adults and adults. It's perfect for fantasy fans that like to read a series story with new ideas. I'd also recommend it to anyone that likes literary fiction as a bridge to the fantasy genre.
April 30, 2013
I finished it. Read the whole thing. But... meh.
Would have liked it better had it been either a story steeped in the Merlin/Arthurian legend, OR a completely unique fantasy story. But as it was, the whole Merlin/Nimue angle seemed lazy, a cop-out. This was fanfic, starting with existing, well known characters so the author didn't need to bother creating his own backstory for his world.
And it could have been such a good world! But... trying to keep tying in the Merlin story just held it back. Disappointing. And the constant hints at something more, other, modern, crazy with Merlin & Nimue? Annoying and frustrating.
Would have liked it better had it been either a story steeped in the Merlin/Arthurian legend, OR a completely unique fantasy story. But as it was, the whole Merlin/Nimue angle seemed lazy, a cop-out. This was fanfic, starting with existing, well known characters so the author didn't need to bother creating his own backstory for his world.
And it could have been such a good world! But... trying to keep tying in the Merlin story just held it back. Disappointing. And the constant hints at something more, other, modern, crazy with Merlin & Nimue? Annoying and frustrating.
September 12, 2021
Retroactive Review (12 Sep 2021): The first in a prequel trilogy to Enge's Morlock Ambrosius trilogy. I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this, since there were a part or two that really confused me narrative-wise, but I really enjoyed the original Morlock trilogy when I read it 5+ years ago, so I will continue with this. I definitely recommend the original trilogy, starting with Blood of Ambrose. Sort of an old-school sword & sorcery tale.
September 17, 2012
I wouldn't call James Enge unknown or unsung among fantasy authors these days. Clearly he is known and must sell fairly well, or Pyr wouldn't keep taking chances on him. We seem to be rich with talent in this age, given the Rothfusses and Weekses and Abercrombies, but I still feel that Enge doesn't get the recognition or fame he richly deserves. The tales of Morlock the Maker get better with each book that is released, and this latest - A Guile of Dragons - is no different. Do yourself a favor and go forth and read these and be amazed at his ability.
December 19, 2012
In this, Enge goes back to tell a story of the young Morlock Ambrosius we've met as a much older man in this earlier books. Those are written as a series of stand-alones, but this one is the start of a named series so I'm assuming it's going to be an extended story meant to be read in sequence. For those who haven't read the earlier three, A Guile of Dragons might be just as good a starting point with the character as Blood of Ambrose, though I found that knowing where Morlock ends up later cast interesting shadows on his younger self. Not your average young hero at all.
October 24, 2013
Only later realized this is a prequel, and I can see now why the beginning was so hard for me to understand. As an Enge-naive reader, I know some Arthurian legends, and the name Morlock, but nothing of the latter's exploits. I am more interested in reading more of this line, but also the books that came before the prequel. Definitely a good, intense and character-depth "quick" read. Lot of ground covered in 300 pages, and lots of story lines that left me scratching my head (refer to my first sentence).
May 19, 2014
I really liked this one, its hard to estimate what's going to be happening and it has an original story idea who is good maintained throughout the book.
just the dragon vs dwarfs is not a new theme but its done with a new touch and a blend of old Norse tales. Then add some stuff like undeads, a magicians son and an expedition that are lost together with deadly dragons that are cunning and smart and dwarfs and yov get this book.
just the dragon vs dwarfs is not a new theme but its done with a new touch and a blend of old Norse tales. Then add some stuff like undeads, a magicians son and an expedition that are lost together with deadly dragons that are cunning and smart and dwarfs and yov get this book.
July 29, 2013
I hadn't realized this was a prequel, which explains perhaps why the book felt so distracted. Characters were introduced for no apparent purpose; the characters of Merlin and Nimue (who occupy the first and last chapters of the book) are completely absent through most of the book. As a standalone book, it's rocky.
July 22, 2014
A surprise read for me and a happy surprise it is! This was a great book showcasing a talent I'd yet to hear of till now, James Enge. I nabbed this book as a last thought at the library and was thrilled with his characters as well as his take on dragons. Something new in my world and I'd felt tired of reading about dragons for a while and now there's a series that brought me back. Yay!
June 12, 2015
Did not finish.
This book was recommended to me and sounded interesting. I began reading it and then found out that it is a prequel. I found the writing style disjointed and I kept trying to remember the Arthurian legends because of the names Merlin and Nimue, but what was written made no sense.
Not a book I'd recommend.
This book was recommended to me and sounded interesting. I began reading it and then found out that it is a prequel. I found the writing style disjointed and I kept trying to remember the Arthurian legends because of the names Merlin and Nimue, but what was written made no sense.
Not a book I'd recommend.
Want to read
January 1, 2013Moving this off of my currently reading shelf for now. The first 100 pages didn't really grab me, but it's usually not a great idea to start a series with a prequel, so I'll begin at the proper beginning in 2013 and see if I want to come back to this.
May 31, 2013
Just finished this book & really liked it. I loved the dwarf culture - complex and believable. Really absorbing. I didn't realize that it was a prequel. It stands alone as an intriguing book. I can't wait to read the other books in the series.
August 29, 2013
I've only given up on a handful of books in my life. I really wanted to like this book, because it smacks of Arthurian legend and Tolkein and dragons all in one book, and I even read the end, which was dramatic, but I couldn't force myself to slog through the middle to get there.
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