Review Page: Servant of the Dragon by David Drake

Title:	Servant of the Dragon
Author:	David Drake
Format:	Novel
Genre:	Fantasy
Publisher:	Millenium
Date of Publication:	1999
ISBN:	1-85798-950-3

No. of Reviews: 1
Av. Rating: 6/10

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01.11.2000 - Agema - 6/10
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This is nominally the third in the 'Lord Of The Isles' saga; however all books can be read independently with minimal discomfort.

Garric of Haft, now a prince, is attempting to unite the disparate isles. The cyclical millenial cycle is peaking, and magic grows dangerously in power, subjecting the people of the isels to enormous danger. He is assisted by his half sister, Sharina; a noblewoman Liane; the sorceress Tenoctris; and two old friends from the village where they clichedly grew up as peasants, the demihumans Ilna and Cashel. Garric is also supported by his very own Brian Blessed style character, in the form of the shade of his long dead ancestor Carus, who failed to unite the isles a millenium before. In this tale the land is beset by a series of necromancers who have pulled themselves forward a millenium in time to conquer the isles. The friends are split up and each in their own way work towards saving the isles.

I hope Mr. Drake wouldn't be upset by me saying that this is fantasy that doesn't aim too high. Instead of trying for some great multivolume world-spanning epic, Drake goes for a more adventurous approach. Okay, they are saving the world again, but in a more cosy, intimate and less overblown fashion. I suppose this is heroic fantasy as opposed to epic fantasy - for similar styles you could try R.A. Salvatore or the superior David Gemmell.

Thankfully because of this apporach, despite the average characterisation and awful cliches, it's actually quite a pleasing read. Undemanding, quite possibly throwaway, but highly diverting. Not quite as good as either of the first two ('Lord Of The Isles' and 'Queen Of Demons') but a pleasant piece nonetheless.