Cloak of Coal A-Scheming

Welcome there weak mortal whose flesh will fold and sag. This twisted tome you're touching contains a horrid hag. Demented in her death pact she seeks Salaiken end. Claws and flame are rampant, religion's role to rend. Add here a tool of terror: there is an evil axe, That slices through the story and leaves its bloody tracks. And demon dire is hungry that came from another plane. Where is his allegiance? What flesh has monster slain? Here comes a prentice average: a hero he must be. And he does face a question: will humans still be free? Echoes of Wagner's 'Ring', of medieval romance and Middle Earth battles resound in S G Dann's poetic foray into the land of demons, dragons, knights in armour, well-tempered weapons and sinister priests. Terse, graphic language underpins the central themes of heroism, redemption and abuse of power. Throughout the scenes of vivid action, readers will detect a running fable on the shadowy divide between good and evil, and the way language is perverted by zealots for their own purposes. A twist in the tale draws us into sympathy with the central 'bad' character - the dragon Ashmantle... and who is then the hero?