Darkwalker on Moonshae is a fantasy novel by Douglas Niles and the first novel written for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Published originally as a standalone novel, it is also the first part of The Moonshae Trilogy.[1]
 Front cover, art by Keith Parkinson | |
| Author | Douglas Niles |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | The Moonshae Trilogy |
| Genre | Epic fantasy |
| Publisher | TSR, Inc. |
Publication date | May 1987 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 380 |
| ISBN | 0-88038-451-4 |
| OCLC | 16320331 |
| Followed by | Black Wizards |
Major characters
editThe Earthmother - the goddess venerated by the Ffolk, the native human inhabitants of the islands.
Kazgoroth, the Beast - the ancient enemy of the Earthmother, come to walk the Moonshae Isles to banish her from her domain.
Tristan Kendrick - a prince and heir of the kingdom of Corwell, on the Moonshae island of Gwynneth. Deemed immature and irresponsible by his father.
Robyn - a ward to the king of Corwell, Tristan's childhood friend, and now - his love interest, and druid of great potential.
Plot summary
editThe novel and its trilogy use the Moonshae Isles as its setting.[2]
Kazgoroth, the Beast, has come into the world to destroy the power of the Earthmother. Changing its shape as needs be, the Beast goes across the island of Gwynneth, corrupting everything in its way. Its destination is a large gathering of Northmen raiders at Oman's Isle, in the middle of the Moonshaes, where they are preparing an assault on the kingdom of Corwell. The Northmen don't realize yet that this is going to be more than just a plundering raid. They don't know that their leader isn't King Thelgaar Ironhand, but the Beast, who has killed the king and assumed his shape.
Meanwhile, the Earthmother, aware of the danger and hurting from the corruption brought to the land, her body, by the vile presence of the Beast, awakes her children - the Leviathan, the Pack, and Kamerynn, the Unicorn. They will try to stop Kazgoroth in different ways, but that won't be enough.
At Caer Corwell, the seat of the king of Corwell, rumour brings word of war coming to the kingdom. Preparation is under way, but the Ffolk don't know where the enemy will strike. It is up to Tristan to organize the Ffolk against this both human and demonic threat. In his fight against the odds, helped by Robyn, he will grow into the responsible leader that should inherit his father's kingdom.
Reception
editIn the Io9 series revisiting older Dungeons & Dragons novels, Rob Bricken commented that "as the first Forgotten Realms novel, it deserves some slack. I know a lot of people loved it back in the day, including myself, probably. Niles describes settings and action very well, which is no small feat."[3]
Reviews
edit- Backstab #6[4]
- Kliatt[5]
- Australian Realms #5[6]
References
edit- ^ Darkwalker on Moonshae (Forgotten Realms; Moonshae, book 1) by Douglas Niles at fantasticfiction.co.uk. Retrieved November 18th, 2008.
- ^ Bambra, Jim (December 1988). "Role-playing Reviews". Dragon (#140). Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: TSR: 84–85.
- ^ Bricken, Rob (August 28, 2020). "Dungeons & Dragons & Novels: Revisiting Darkwalker on Moonshae". io9. Archived from the original on 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
- ^ "Backstab Magazine (French) Issue 06".
- ^ "Kliatt Young Adult Paperback Book Guide 1988-01: Vol 22 Iss 1". Kliatt Paperback Book Guide. January 1988.
- ^ "Australian Realms Magazine - Complete Collection". June 1988.
External links
edit- von Ruff, Al. "Bibliography: Darkwalker on Moonshae". ISFDB Engine. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
- Krusche, Olaf. "The Moonshae Trilogy - Forgotten Realms novels". Forgotten Realms: The Library. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
- Niles, Douglas (2004). Darkwalker on Moonshae (Forgotten Realms: Moonshae Trilogy). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 078693560X.