On the Trail of the Ruthless Warlock

by Lynne Armstrong-Jones

Overview

No man can defeat him!

The prophecy states that "no man can defeat the warlock". How can the brave and strong swordsman Nico possibly help the novice sorceress Creda and her instructor Veras to overcome this tyrant, whose powerful magic exceeds their own?

Destruction has been found close--too close--to the city. The little band of warriors--Joul and Ferren of the king's army, Creda, Veras and two youths--must find a way to stop the warlock's exploitation and destruction.

Their only hope is to find the three segments of the warlock's shattered talisman to somehow use these against him. But finding each of these poses three unique and puzzling challenges, in places they've never been before . . . On the Trail of the Ruthless Warlock.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781039103542
Publisher:	FriesenPress
Publication date:	04/19/2021
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	276
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Lynne Armstrong-Jones is the author of 15 stories published in Fantasy Magazine, and the Sword & Sorceress and Darkover anthologies. The sequel to On the Trail of the Ruthless Warlock is On the Trail of the Wind's Tears. Lynne resides in London, Ontario, Canada with three cats and one husband.

Editorial Reviews

2020-05-11
Heroes strive to fulfill a prophecy and defeat an evil warlock in this fantasy debut.

Sister Creda is a sorceress from the Tower of Giefan. While traveling to the Hidden Caves of Abufan for her magical Tests and Completions, she plans to visit Carlida, her sister who lives with a nomadic tribe. On the trail, however, she finds a slain nomad. Using her amulet, she “reads” his blood and learns that raiders attacked Carlida’s tribe and took prisoners. Creda must reach the Tower, in the city of Espri, before dark and before she stumbles on the raiders herself, but her donkey isn’t cooperating. Luckily, a warrior named Fornico (nicknamed “Nico”) approaches and agrees to escort her. At the Tower, the Four Superiors summon the Great Seer for advice on confronting the “ruthless man of magic” who commands the raiders and supposedly drinks his victims’ blood. The Seer says that “No man can defeat this warlock! But there is a One.” Prince Yurmar asks for volunteers to hunt the warlock down. Nico signs up, as does Creda, Superior Veras, and several soldiers, including a young woman named Ferren. From the Witch of the Great East Wood, the group learns that pieces of a talisman must be retrieved to overcome the warlock’s power. But if the One is not a man, who among the heroes can deliver the killing blow? Armstrong-Jones offers a debut fantasy that plays with and subverts the genre’s tropes while never trying to break the mold of heartwarming fantasy classics such as The Hobbit. She wryly portrays Nico, who represents decades of Conan-style heroes, as a “blasted, arrogant man” who’s never wrong. Creda, who’s ostensibly the protagonist, cares little about possibly being the One. She instead develops her power to psychically commune with animals, which brings Baru, a wolf, into the group. Although the prose is suitable for teenagers, much of the action is interior—such as Creda’s and Veras’ energy exchanges—and younger audiences may be rooting for an ending with “Prince Yurmar himself kissing [the One’s] hand in gratitude.” Armstrong-Jones delivers a finale that’s pleasantly unexpected, and the fantastic last line blows readers a final kiss.

A sweet, genuine fantasy novel about finding family in unlikely situations.

Kirkus Reviews