Synopsis
War Threatens – Faith is Challenged – Darkness Rises
The Clouws must choose to destroy or unlock the Dread Plate armor before the looming specters of their past make the choice for them.
Jined grapples with the weight of his fate as enemies promise to destroy everything he holds dear.
Daughter of dark lineage, Ophedia carves her own path through the annals of history, her fate entwined with her family’s legacy.
Lost amidst the many twining branches of her path, Seriah is forced to choose between her sworn duty and the siren call of despair.
Waking darkness besets the world from every angle as nations and orders vie for influence over the world of Kallattai.
For those who seek the heroes path,
Fate takes more than bargained for.
Hubris breeds a deathless wrath,
That always hungers after more.
Dread Knight completes the first arc as Volume Four of The Kallattian Saga, the Epic Fantasy series from Andrew D. Meredith.
Review
Andrew D Meredith has now completed the first arc of the story of Kallattai—gods, mercenaries, hope, despair, and deep theological connections abound in this, the final installment.
When I started book 1, Deathless Beast, Andrew was barely an acquaintance. I had read Thrice, his SPFBO semi-finalist entry, and loved it. I jumped at the chance to get a review copy of his new series. That was about 2.5 years ago, and things have changed. Andrew and I are close friends. More books are out. The world itself is different. But one thing has not changed: the overarching challenging allegory of this series.
Set in the world of Kallattai, Dread Knight is the answer to questions that have plagued us for years in this series. Characters that have struggled with identity and purpose have seemingly found their footing in surprising ways. Without spoilers, I found myself empathizing with Seriah. The underlying message of this work to me has always been “You can’t choose your exact path, but you are the only one to determine how you take it.”
This is especially true for the Clouws. The siblings became standout characters and their paths show that no one is beyond redemption and that it is always possible to change the way you look at the world. Rallia really came into her own in this book and stared into her own interesting storyline while Hanen continued down the path he was set upon at the end of Bone Shroud.
And yet, once again my favorite part of the book was Jined and his interactions with his god. As a believer myself, it is impressive the amount of spiritual insight Meredith is able to pack into this work. I’ve joked a few times I’d like a devotional featuring those two characters, but I mean it in earnest. The best books challenge you in some way. And this challenges me in a way that is right at home with giants like C.S Lewis.
Perhaps the best part of this book was that the storylines that worked for me less in Gloves of Eons—the Veld, the Rotha—were present but built upon the previous book in a way that made them not just tolerable, but enjoyable. Kattiam and the Rotha became a bright point for me, and I enjoyed how their interactions evolved into something warm and pleasant (cozy, some might say).
Leader of the Paladins, Dorian was another standout character and I felt myself making connections between him and Obi-Wan Kenobi which I refuse to elaborate on at the risk of spoilers.
My only real criticism is that there were times when tension was broken by worldbuilding, but I recognize that other readers who are more interested in sprawling epics like The Wheel of Time or Stormlight Archive might find themselves at home with this. And if you like those books? This series is dense with symbolism, worldbuilding, and a wide and diverse cast of characters.
I know this is the fourth book in the series by my first review on FanFi of the Kallattian Saga, so I will end with this: who is this series for? If you want something less gritty and dark but full and still with teeth, this book is for you. If you are a fan of realistic and expansive worldbuilding, this book is for you. At the very least, give this a try. Andrew has been in this indie game for a while and his books are only getting better.
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