Dark Solus: An Assassin’s Tale

The opening pages of “Dark Solus: An Assassin’s Tale” introduce us to Demon and Leynorr as they are trying to flee from the City of Duergar as a spell of animation has been put upon the area.  Stone gargoyles and others are beginning to become alive.  “Demon turned back to Leynorr as drops of fire fell all around them.  Leaning over, he held the slender half-elf in his scaled arms and placed a claw-like gauntlet on her abdomen.  ‘You carry our son,’ he said, gently rubbing in a circular motion on her stomach. ‘Your safety and his are all that matters.’” (p. 3)

Following this opening chapter the book fast-forwards to their son, Dark Solus’, childhood and how his parents are ruthlessly murdered and taken from him.  The being behind this execution is a wizard named Kalifen.  Dark is then trained as an assassin to return to the City of Duergar in an attempt to destroy them all to avenge the murder of his family.

The book is packed with action and is quite a fast paced read.  I think that much of the dialogue in the book would appeal to a younger generation of readers as well as the fact that the main character is a young boy.  The story is imaginative and flows well from start to finish.  The ending is most definitely left open for a sequel which I expect is in the works.    I recommend “Dark Solus: An Assassin’s Tale” for younger readers who enjoy fantasy, science fiction novels.


Dark Solus: An Assassin’s Tale
David Andrew Crawford
Strategic Book Group (2011)
ISBN 9781609113391
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (11/11)