The novel follows Zachareth, first as a young boy living in his father’s castle, Castle Talon. Moving into his teens, Zachareth is like a lot of boys his age – he doesn’t get along with his father, he hates his studies, and, in Zachareth’s case, he doesn’t trust his father’s advisor – the elf Leanna. It is this distrust that drives him as he craves the knowledge and power of Runemagic in order to remove the connection between his father and advisor. Although he plans to study Runemagic, Zachareth is introduced to a powerful, forbidden magic. But taking on this forbidden magic would put him on a dark path that he wouldn’t be able to come back from. He is on the crossroads of a major decision when he returns to his home to find his community about to begin a rebellion and is attacked by an enemy from beyond the grave.
The line between being a hero and being a villain is a fine one and Zachareth is about to make his decision.
I did not realize, when I requested this book to review, that this was a tie-in novel based on a game. Had I known, I would not have requested the book because I generally don’t find game-based novels particularly interesting. That was the case here.
I was looking for a new, interesting fantasy novel, and there is some of that here, but I was never caught up in what was happening. Is that because I don’t know the background because I don’t know the game? Probably.
I did enjoy the first part of the book – following the young Zachareth, understanding what was expected of him, was a great set-up. The middle portion of the book, with Zachareth spending way too much time getting his magic, seemed to drag on. I wasn’t interested, and I think this is where not knowing the background of the world hurt my reading of the book. There was some excitement at the end of the book that was lively and energetic, but I’d already become rather lost.
I’ve looked at some of the other reviews (there aren’t very many) and most identify either with the gaming world, or author Robbie MacNiven. I’ve never read MacNiven and I don’t know the game, so this definitely wasn’t a book for me, and I don’t think it’s book that will appeal to the general fantasy reading audience.
Looking for a good book? Zachareth: A Villains Collection Novel by Robbie MacNiven is a fantasy based on a game and unless you know the specific game world, the book doesn’t have a lot to offer.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
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Zachareth: A Villains Collection Novel
author: Robbie MacNiven
series: Descent: Legends of the Dark
publisher: Asmodee
ISBN: 9781839081446
paperback, 352 pages
Looking For a Good Book 
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