Futility of Defense

by Bryan Cole

Overview

Paladins are nothing but trouble. When Krell, an uneducated nobody with a stubborn streak as wide as the sea, hears the call from ReckNor, the capricious god of the seas and skies, the attention of the rich and powerful turn their gaze toward him. Paladins are notorious for upsetting the balance of power, to the detriment of any who don't worship their deity.

When Krell stands against the might of the sea devils and emerges victorious, concern and interest turn to fear-fear of their secrets and plans being revealed and exposed, of the ruin that often follows in a paladin's wake. Now he stands in defense of a pitiful town at the edge of nowhere, even as the sea devil menace grows more dire for each day that passes.

For as deadly as the sea devils are to Krell, his past choices and the consequences of his actions may be deadlier still . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780228892243
Publisher:	Tellwell Talent
Publication date:	06/30/2023
Series:	A Paladin's Journey , #2
Pages:	576
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.28(d)

About the Author

Bryan is an avid reader, and has loved the fantasy genre since he was a child. His love of stories of mighty knights, terrible dragons, and noble steeds has inspired him for decades.

Editorial Reviews

2023-09-23
In this fantasy sequel, a warrior vows to stop, once and for all, ruthless amphibious creatures from attacking a coastal town.

Krell returns from a voyage and docks in Watford on the Kingdom of Baltorc’s southern coast. Beneath this small town’s waters live the sahuagin, “shark-like sea devils,” which periodically come ashore and gorge on humans. Krell is the paladin of ReckNor, the god of the seas and skies. Krell has returned to Watford to answer ReckNor’s call—to help the townspeople withstand the sahuagin’s latest assault. Krell obeys ReckNor, a deity who can speak to Krell in his thoughts, even when he doesn’t understand the reasoning behind his commands. A battle on sand and surf commences, and Krell valiantly defeats the first wave of the sea devils, although further attacks are probable. In the meantime, Krell watches for Cor, a smuggler who’s probably working with the aquatic predators. Cor may have details on the sahuagin that Krell can use to prevent them from ever terrorizing the southern coast again. But hunting the smuggler puts Krell in the path of Dazguroth, the god of rulership and tyranny, who holds sway over demonic minions. Krell is a skilled swordsman, but he’s still learning how to wield his god-gifted magic, and ReckNor may not be able to protect him from every foe. The hero, however, has many allies, from warriors Dahlia and Sheana to Fortis, a tiny dragon. Together they can take on demons, sea devils and, if need be, a tyrannical god.

Cole, after Beginning of Arrogance(2022), packs this second installment with a big, vibrant cast—including humans, orcs, halflings, and more—primarily from Watford, where the action largely unfolds. Krell makes an admirable hero who enjoys rescuing others and treats Fortis not as a pet but a friend. While he tends to ogle or flirt with the women he meets, he clearly has special connections with three of them, Dahlia and Sheana, both warriors, and Verbena, a wizard. Their intricate relationship gets a riveting boost later in the story. Along with the brutal sahuagin, who leave “partially eaten” victims in their wake, villainous beings include a two-headed giant, big-fanged “humanoid bats,” and bodies twisted into the “fiend-warped.” Chiseled prose keeps the narrative humming, even though combat scenes occur infrequently. The final act, however, amps up the action when Krell’s war against the sea devils explodes. In between the violence, Cole squeezes in some much-welcome humor. Krell’s conversations with ReckNor, for example, often lead to amusing exchanges. He can converse in his head but usually replies to the god aloud, either confusing or annoying the people in his vicinity. Likewise, a standard exclamation, apparently, is yelling “ReckNor’s tears!” or “ReckNor’s balls,” etc. Krell doesn’t thwart all of the diabolical baddies he targets, so a third installment is a definite and welcome possibility.

A dazzling cast brightens this tale of clashing swords and spellcasting.

Kirkus Reviews