Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Reviews

Book Review: The Dark Griffin

By Sandy Amazeen Dec 27, 2010, 16:59 GMT

Being chosen as a griffin\'s companion has allowed Arren Cardockson to gain a place of status within the land of Cymria. But Arren can never escape the prejudice that comes with his Northerner slave origins. For chained within the Arena where rogue griffins battle to entertain the crowds, there lies another soul crying out to be freed-a kindred spirit that will allow Arren to fulfill his destiny and release the ...more

A slow moving new series opens as Northerner and Master of Trade Arren Cardockson, companioned with his griffin Eluna thwart a smuggling operation that includes a griffin chick. To pay off a debt incurred during that operation Arren accepts the job of capturing a wild griffin that has been raiding livestock. The seemingly simple task forever changes Arren’s life when the wild black griffin kills Eluna and the tip of an enormous betrayal begins to reveal itself. Arren’s carefully orchestrated downfall, engineered by someone he never expected, results in an alliance with the black griffin as the two are forced to fight for the entertainment of the crowd. Not even death is strong enough to destroy the bonds forged in captivity and together, the blackheart and blackrobe gain their revenge.

This unusually themed fantasy failed to live up to its potential as the griffins while interesting, didn’t form much of the storyline and little evidence of their supposed magic was present. The protagonists aren’t particularly well developed and much of the plot seems overly contrived, the “surprise” announcement of Arren’s love interest at the conclusion is unlikely to be that much of a revelation. The entire story seems to do little more then set up the premise of the next installment which hopefully, will deliver more then this mediocre offering.