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The Paladins #1
Night of Wolves
"The humans are weak. Their skin is soft, and their minds dull from years of safety. We are the vicious. We are the destroyers. Come the full moon, when our goddess watches our victory, we will taste of their blood!" ---- Wolf-men, savage creatures given humanoid form in an ancient war, mass along the Gihon River. Led by their packleader Redclaw, they seek to cross the river and claim a land of their own, slaughtering those that would stand in their way. Two paladins, Jerico of the god Ashhur, and Darius of the god Karak, must helm the desperate defense against the invasion. Their friendship will be tested as their gods resume an unending war, and their very faiths call for the death of the other. Together, friend or foe, they must face Redclaw's horde. NIGHT OF WOLVES by David Dalglish Can faith remain when the gods call for blood? ------ About the David Dalglish currently lives in rural Missouri with his wife Samantha, daughter Morgan, and snake, Velixar. He graduated from Missouri Southern State University in 2006 with a degree in Mathematics and currently spends his free time watching Spongebob Squarepants with his daughter.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
June 30, 2011
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
What does friendship mean?
Is it sticking up for your cohorts in time of need? Is it putting aside differences and trying to find a common ground? Is it a solemn smile or a firm slap across the face when the other starts to stray? Is it setting aside your own fears and convictions, even though everything about you says to get away, because deep down you just trust this person, for better or worse?
These are the questions David Dalglish asks in Night of Wolves, the first book in his new Paladins series.
With this series, it seems Dalglish is going down a Memento path when it comes to his characters� stories � aka going backward. This particular book is the tale of Jerico, the paladin of Ashhur we first met (and fell in love with) in The Death of Promises. Wolves takes a few years before the events in the Half-Orc series, and introduces a major plot point that those who’ve digested Dalglish’s work might find unbelievable.
A friendship between paladins of the two polar gods, Ashhur and Karak.
Jerico, it seems, has befriended a young man named Darius while both are stationed in the farming town of Durham, preaching the messages of their particular religions. Theirs is a relationship built upon mutual respect � they learn from each other, protect each other, help each other grow…the gods be damned. And when the wolf-men from the Vile Wedge start crossing the river, threatening the lives of the townsfolk, they must work together even more so than before, which causes just a few moral dilemmas within each of them. But work together they do, because they both realize that without their combined strength, the good men and women of Durham don’t stand a chance.
There are interesting threads all around in this book, such as a new leader rising to lead the pack of wolf-men: Redclaw, a powerful foe with the desire to pull a Moses, bringing his people out of the dead landscape of the Wedge to enter the lush, bountiful forests that lie just out of their reach. There is also the fall of the Citadel, which occurs from afar, the repercussions of which are hinted at, and are haunting. Finally, there is the concluding battle, as the wolf-men gather together and assault the human forces in what is a greatly realized battle sequence.
But none of these threads can compare with Jerico and Darius. They steal the show, and as often happens in Dalglish’s novels, their quiet scenes together are magical. These are two men who grow to love each other over the course of the book, and that brotherly bond is something beautiful to behold. As usual, the author’s asking a philosophical question that not many others do � in this case, can we ever shove the veil of faith out of the way and see our brothers and sisters for what they truly are: fellow human beings, just as deserving of love as any other.
There are many surprisingly tender moments to be seen, and these aspects are what I appreciate the most. On the bad side, some of the battle scenes early on are ho-hum, to the point where I had to fight the desire to skim and turn the page, saying, “Just give me more Jerico and Darius, dammit!� However, I can’t decide if that’s because they really are subpar, or if it’s because the interplay between those two characters is so brilliantly done that everything else seems unimportant. No matter, though, because as I said, Dalglish pulls it out in the end, and the attack (and defense) of Durham is truly a sight to behold, equaling (though not surpassing) those more tender moments
Reading Night of Wolves is a fantastic experience. It’s short and to the point, filled with just about everything I love about the author’s work. It’s dark yet filled with hope, brutal yet compassionate. The words he weaves captivates, pulling us in and making us care about these people. The story is chock-full of metaphor, of the questions of what moral belief is correct, if there’s a correct one at all. This is one point I’m not going to harp on in this review, however, for I’m sure I’ll have plenty of things to say on that very subject when the next book comes out in a couple months.
Once again, I fully recommend Night of Wolves. You’ll enjoy seeing friends and enemies, old and new, and be intrigued by just how the ungodly mess Jerico and Darius have gotten into will resolve itself. It’s an oddity: an edge-of-your-seat fantasy thrill ride and quiet literary piece all rolled into one.
You’d be hard pressed to come up with a better read.
Plot - 9
Characters - 10
Voice - 10
Execution - 8
Personal Enjoyment � 9
Overall � 46/50 (4.6/5)
What does friendship mean?
Is it sticking up for your cohorts in time of need? Is it putting aside differences and trying to find a common ground? Is it a solemn smile or a firm slap across the face when the other starts to stray? Is it setting aside your own fears and convictions, even though everything about you says to get away, because deep down you just trust this person, for better or worse?
These are the questions David Dalglish asks in Night of Wolves, the first book in his new Paladins series.
With this series, it seems Dalglish is going down a Memento path when it comes to his characters� stories � aka going backward. This particular book is the tale of Jerico, the paladin of Ashhur we first met (and fell in love with) in The Death of Promises. Wolves takes a few years before the events in the Half-Orc series, and introduces a major plot point that those who’ve digested Dalglish’s work might find unbelievable.
A friendship between paladins of the two polar gods, Ashhur and Karak.
Jerico, it seems, has befriended a young man named Darius while both are stationed in the farming town of Durham, preaching the messages of their particular religions. Theirs is a relationship built upon mutual respect � they learn from each other, protect each other, help each other grow…the gods be damned. And when the wolf-men from the Vile Wedge start crossing the river, threatening the lives of the townsfolk, they must work together even more so than before, which causes just a few moral dilemmas within each of them. But work together they do, because they both realize that without their combined strength, the good men and women of Durham don’t stand a chance.
There are interesting threads all around in this book, such as a new leader rising to lead the pack of wolf-men: Redclaw, a powerful foe with the desire to pull a Moses, bringing his people out of the dead landscape of the Wedge to enter the lush, bountiful forests that lie just out of their reach. There is also the fall of the Citadel, which occurs from afar, the repercussions of which are hinted at, and are haunting. Finally, there is the concluding battle, as the wolf-men gather together and assault the human forces in what is a greatly realized battle sequence.
But none of these threads can compare with Jerico and Darius. They steal the show, and as often happens in Dalglish’s novels, their quiet scenes together are magical. These are two men who grow to love each other over the course of the book, and that brotherly bond is something beautiful to behold. As usual, the author’s asking a philosophical question that not many others do � in this case, can we ever shove the veil of faith out of the way and see our brothers and sisters for what they truly are: fellow human beings, just as deserving of love as any other.
There are many surprisingly tender moments to be seen, and these aspects are what I appreciate the most. On the bad side, some of the battle scenes early on are ho-hum, to the point where I had to fight the desire to skim and turn the page, saying, “Just give me more Jerico and Darius, dammit!� However, I can’t decide if that’s because they really are subpar, or if it’s because the interplay between those two characters is so brilliantly done that everything else seems unimportant. No matter, though, because as I said, Dalglish pulls it out in the end, and the attack (and defense) of Durham is truly a sight to behold, equaling (though not surpassing) those more tender moments
Reading Night of Wolves is a fantastic experience. It’s short and to the point, filled with just about everything I love about the author’s work. It’s dark yet filled with hope, brutal yet compassionate. The words he weaves captivates, pulling us in and making us care about these people. The story is chock-full of metaphor, of the questions of what moral belief is correct, if there’s a correct one at all. This is one point I’m not going to harp on in this review, however, for I’m sure I’ll have plenty of things to say on that very subject when the next book comes out in a couple months.
Once again, I fully recommend Night of Wolves. You’ll enjoy seeing friends and enemies, old and new, and be intrigued by just how the ungodly mess Jerico and Darius have gotten into will resolve itself. It’s an oddity: an edge-of-your-seat fantasy thrill ride and quiet literary piece all rolled into one.
You’d be hard pressed to come up with a better read.
Plot - 9
Characters - 10
Voice - 10
Execution - 8
Personal Enjoyment � 9
Overall � 46/50 (4.6/5)
May 23, 2022
Wolf-men surround a village, about to slaughter everyone inside. Two paladins of opposing gods set up a desperate defense against the invasion. But when religions clash in a bloody war far away, their blossoming friendship is put to the test.
A short story with a fast pace and intense action. The plot is quite straight forward but solid, it’s the characters that truly steal the show though. Especially the clash of religions with their personal friendship is a very interesting concept.
A short story with a fast pace and intense action. The plot is quite straight forward but solid, it’s the characters that truly steal the show though. Especially the clash of religions with their personal friendship is a very interesting concept.
May 23, 2012
I've been so busy these days it's hard to take the time to read a book, much less give a worthwhile review; even more so when others do such fine rundowns, like this one by :
"Reading Night of Wolves is a fantastic experience. It’s short and to the point, filled with just about everything I love about the author’s work. It’s dark yet filled with hope, brutal yet compassionate. The words he weaves captivates, pulling us in and making us care about these people. The story is chock-full of metaphor, of the questions of what moral belief is correct, if there’s a correct one at all."
David Dalglish is a leader in the ebook movement, and although the industry takes flack these days because one often doesn't know what they're gonna get with self-pub titles, allay your fears when getting one of his books. David knows what he's doing. These here are quality goods.
Fantasy fans and gamers, if you haven't tried an ebook or two by Dalglish, stop futzing around and get one already. This first book of his Paladins series is a good start (or ). David's writing has matured since the first few books of , but after reading NIGHT OF WOLVES, I imagine it will make reading the Half-Orcs all the more fun.
Highly recommended! Four stars.
"Reading Night of Wolves is a fantastic experience. It’s short and to the point, filled with just about everything I love about the author’s work. It’s dark yet filled with hope, brutal yet compassionate. The words he weaves captivates, pulling us in and making us care about these people. The story is chock-full of metaphor, of the questions of what moral belief is correct, if there’s a correct one at all."
David Dalglish is a leader in the ebook movement, and although the industry takes flack these days because one often doesn't know what they're gonna get with self-pub titles, allay your fears when getting one of his books. David knows what he's doing. These here are quality goods.
Fantasy fans and gamers, if you haven't tried an ebook or two by Dalglish, stop futzing around and get one already. This first book of his Paladins series is a good start (or ). David's writing has matured since the first few books of , but after reading NIGHT OF WOLVES, I imagine it will make reading the Half-Orcs all the more fun.
Highly recommended! Four stars.
January 12, 2013
This is free on Amazon at the moment so no investment required to enter into the world of Dezrel and its well worth the trip. Although I would recommend the Half-orc series and Shadowdance trilogy as more significant starting points.
The wolf-men of the wedge are amassing under a new and powerful leader, Redclaw strives to unite the clans and lead them across the river into the world of men. One thing stands in their way, the small farming village of Durham but this village contains two formidable foes in Jericho a paladin of Ashur and Darius a paladin of Karack.
Jericho and Darius preach their wildly opposing religions, despite the differences in their faith they become friends. This in itself is a startling revelation as in other books the paladins of the gods are fierce adversaries. Both the paladins have personnel dilemmas to overcome. Jericho while at the village discovers the followers of Karack have destroyed the citadel, killing all within, leaving Jericho with no where to go and possibly the last of his kind alive. Darius is ordered to kill his friend , something he cannot do, they must remain united to meet the incoming invasion.
The friendship of the paladins is one of the stand out features of the book along with the intense action sequences of which the author is a master at describing. Night of wolves is shorter than Dalglishs other books and the main POV characters not as strong as his other work but its still a highly enjoyable read. I will certainly continue with the series to see what befalls our two protagonists.
The wolf-men of the wedge are amassing under a new and powerful leader, Redclaw strives to unite the clans and lead them across the river into the world of men. One thing stands in their way, the small farming village of Durham but this village contains two formidable foes in Jericho a paladin of Ashur and Darius a paladin of Karack.
Jericho and Darius preach their wildly opposing religions, despite the differences in their faith they become friends. This in itself is a startling revelation as in other books the paladins of the gods are fierce adversaries. Both the paladins have personnel dilemmas to overcome. Jericho while at the village discovers the followers of Karack have destroyed the citadel, killing all within, leaving Jericho with no where to go and possibly the last of his kind alive. Darius is ordered to kill his friend , something he cannot do, they must remain united to meet the incoming invasion.
The friendship of the paladins is one of the stand out features of the book along with the intense action sequences of which the author is a master at describing. Night of wolves is shorter than Dalglishs other books and the main POV characters not as strong as his other work but its still a highly enjoyable read. I will certainly continue with the series to see what befalls our two protagonists.
February 9, 2017
My library is doing "Blind Date with a Book". Basically they wrap a book in red or pink paper with a heart tag with the genre on it. On the back of the tag is the numbers so they can check it out and then you unwrap it when you get home. There's a form inside to fill out after reading, then after Valentine's Day there will be a drawing for a prize from all the completed forms. I'm telling you this because not only do I love this idea but that's how I got this book. It was labeled SciFi or else I wouldn't have picked it up.
While not a big fan of fantasy I really enjoyed this book. I was a little annoyed at the lack of descriptions. I'm still trying to figure out what an Orc is or looks like. Or what are these powers paladins seem to have.
Jericho and Darius are great characters. I loved their friendship even though they're supposed to be enemies. They have no problem with teasing each other.
They're paladins and from what I can figure that's like missionaries. They both happen to end up in a small village where against all odds they become friends.
When werewolf creatures from across the river start attacking they work together to protect the villagers. Even so this is against their rules. As pointed out when a priest comes to visit Darius.
I really liked this book and loved the humor they was able to have through out everything. So while this isn't my typical read I picked up the sequel when dropping this off. I'd have to say the Blind Date with a Book was a success in my case and maybe you should suggest it to your local library.
While not a big fan of fantasy I really enjoyed this book. I was a little annoyed at the lack of descriptions. I'm still trying to figure out what an Orc is or looks like. Or what are these powers paladins seem to have.
Jericho and Darius are great characters. I loved their friendship even though they're supposed to be enemies. They have no problem with teasing each other.
They're paladins and from what I can figure that's like missionaries. They both happen to end up in a small village where against all odds they become friends.
When werewolf creatures from across the river start attacking they work together to protect the villagers. Even so this is against their rules. As pointed out when a priest comes to visit Darius.
I really liked this book and loved the humor they was able to have through out everything. So while this isn't my typical read I picked up the sequel when dropping this off. I'd have to say the Blind Date with a Book was a success in my case and maybe you should suggest it to your local library.
November 22, 2015
4 Stars
Night of the Wolves is a fun, safe, and standard form of the fantasy genre. I became a fan of David Dalglish by reading and then loving his Shadowdance series. I decided to go back to some of his early works and start with this one. I have to confess that I have always act loved the Paladin as a hero. Back in my youth I had my D&D modules and I always found myself drawn to the spiritual, gifted, and often bad ass warrior of God.
This book gives us not one but two Paladins, one of the light (Jerico), and one (Darius) sort of the dark (Ashhur and Karak respectively.) They are sworn enemies that have come to find home in the same town and they formed an abomination of a friendship bond. The story bounces back and forth between the two men and they are both very likable for different reasons. The story and plot are simple yet done well. The differences in the views between the men make this book work. I loved the easy transitions between the men and the Wolves made for a fun read.
This is a safe read that is appropriate for the young adult crowd without ever feeling watered down. The book has an awesome ending which contained two major plot twists that set up the next books. I can't wait to read more of this series and more from the great author Dalglish. Highly recommended!
Night of the Wolves is a fun, safe, and standard form of the fantasy genre. I became a fan of David Dalglish by reading and then loving his Shadowdance series. I decided to go back to some of his early works and start with this one. I have to confess that I have always act loved the Paladin as a hero. Back in my youth I had my D&D modules and I always found myself drawn to the spiritual, gifted, and often bad ass warrior of God.
This book gives us not one but two Paladins, one of the light (Jerico), and one (Darius) sort of the dark (Ashhur and Karak respectively.) They are sworn enemies that have come to find home in the same town and they formed an abomination of a friendship bond. The story bounces back and forth between the two men and they are both very likable for different reasons. The story and plot are simple yet done well. The differences in the views between the men make this book work. I loved the easy transitions between the men and the Wolves made for a fun read.
This is a safe read that is appropriate for the young adult crowd without ever feeling watered down. The book has an awesome ending which contained two major plot twists that set up the next books. I can't wait to read more of this series and more from the great author Dalglish. Highly recommended!
September 23, 2012
This book could have been called The Night of Crickets and involved a swarm of pint sized bugs, but it still would have been a five star for me. The reason: the relationship between Darius and Jerico was the thing that carried the entire story. Don't get me wrong, there were some really cool wolf moments, and I liked how Redclaw was developed, but it was just inconsequential to me in comparison to the two paladins.
I've read some of David's contemporary shorts before, but this was my first in the true "Dalglishian" style. Loved it. If I had one thing to be a critic on, it's some of the foul language. It's not that I'm opposed to foul language, it just seems strange to me to use it in this setting and time period. I know it's another world, but it just seems like a "bitch" would be a "hag", or "shit" would be "blast" or something like that. Not a big deal, just being honest, and I honestly REALLY liked this book. I will definitely continue with the series.
I've read some of David's contemporary shorts before, but this was my first in the true "Dalglishian" style. Loved it. If I had one thing to be a critic on, it's some of the foul language. It's not that I'm opposed to foul language, it just seems strange to me to use it in this setting and time period. I know it's another world, but it just seems like a "bitch" would be a "hag", or "shit" would be "blast" or something like that. Not a big deal, just being honest, and I honestly REALLY liked this book. I will definitely continue with the series.
July 17, 2016
This was a solid read, which is what I've come to expect from Dalglish. I've never been blown away by anything of his I've read, but I've always enjoyed the stories. I see a lot of potential for the series to improve as it goes on. This book (at 218 pages) felt like just a small taste of what's to come.
Rating: 7/10
Rating: 7/10
September 14, 2011
A well-written story with a ton of action. The blood content should make any fantasy warrior thrilled with delight, but not for the squeamish.
I really loved David's attention to the little details, and the world he has created. Very good book.
I really loved David's attention to the little details, and the world he has created. Very good book.
August 20, 2024
Something I wouldn't normally read but a friend recommended it and I actually enjoyed it! The series isn't on Libby though so I'm not sure if I'll read the rest.
October 3, 2024
4 Stars.
Even though this has wolves (not werewolves); it is straight fantasy and not horror. This was actually quite good. I had no idea what to expect, but this was not it, and I loved that. Paladins, wolves, dark magic; yeah, sign me up for book 2!
Even though this has wolves (not werewolves); it is straight fantasy and not horror. This was actually quite good. I had no idea what to expect, but this was not it, and I loved that. Paladins, wolves, dark magic; yeah, sign me up for book 2!
August 6, 2013
This is a good little story. It runs an interesting tale about the faiths of two paladins that follow different gods. There is plenty of action as well, as creatures from the Vile Wedge attempt to cross over the river into human lands to wreak havoc.
This book lays some strong foundations for what I hope will be a great series. I really enjoyed the turmoil within as the paladins struggled between faith and a flourishing friendship that has been forbidden by their orders. Will their loyalties prevail when the odds are stacked against them or will they succumb to the strict law of religion? Have a read and find out!
This book lays some strong foundations for what I hope will be a great series. I really enjoyed the turmoil within as the paladins struggled between faith and a flourishing friendship that has been forbidden by their orders. Will their loyalties prevail when the odds are stacked against them or will they succumb to the strict law of religion? Have a read and find out!
September 13, 2012
This was a fun quick read. I didn't know what to expect going in and was pleasantly surprised by the quality. I may have to continue on with the series.
March 28, 2023
Paladins!!! � Werewolves!!! � Simple and Fun Read �
What is the Book about?
The humans are weak. Their skin is soft, and their minds dull from years of safety. We are the vicious. We are the destroyers. Come the full moon, when our goddess watches our victory, we will taste of their blood!" Wolf-men, savage creatures given humanoid form in an ancient war, mass along the Gihon River. Led by their packleader Redclaw, they seek to cross the river and claim a land of their own, slaughtering those that would stand in their way. Two paladins, Jerico of the god Ashhur, and Darius of the god Karak, must helm the desperate defense against the invasion. Their friendship will be tested as their gods resume an unending war, and their very faiths call for the death of the other. Together, friend or foe, they must face Redclaw's horde.
_______________________
Rating
Plot ★★★☆�
Characters ★★★☆�
Excitement ★★★☆�
Atmosphere ★★★★�
Writing Style ★★★☆�
Favourite Character
Jerico
My thoughts while reading it
Night of Wolves is in some ways immediately accessible because of its simplicity: there are paladins, wolf-men and humans living in a village. Ingenious. I know what all these things are and can just get on with reading the story. The whole thing moves along pretty briskly, and I read it every chance I got.
Unfortunately, while I enjoyed the familiarity that made it an easy read, I would have liked a bit more characterisation for some of the background characters; just to give them a bit more depth and give an impression of someone being torn apart by a rampant wolf man. The same goes for the wolf people. Although the story spends a little time on them, I would have liked to know a little more.
What really makes the book is the friendship between the two paladins. They both live by a different set of beliefs, which is why they shouldn't be friends at all. But despite everything, they are friends, which means that they both have to make difficult decisions again and again - even against their own religion.
This book was simply fun to read. Just right for in-between and fulfils all the checkboxes for the fantasy genre.
Reading Recommendation? �
Favourite? �
What is the Book about?
The humans are weak. Their skin is soft, and their minds dull from years of safety. We are the vicious. We are the destroyers. Come the full moon, when our goddess watches our victory, we will taste of their blood!" Wolf-men, savage creatures given humanoid form in an ancient war, mass along the Gihon River. Led by their packleader Redclaw, they seek to cross the river and claim a land of their own, slaughtering those that would stand in their way. Two paladins, Jerico of the god Ashhur, and Darius of the god Karak, must helm the desperate defense against the invasion. Their friendship will be tested as their gods resume an unending war, and their very faiths call for the death of the other. Together, friend or foe, they must face Redclaw's horde.
_______________________
Rating
Plot ★★★☆�
Characters ★★★☆�
Excitement ★★★☆�
Atmosphere ★★★★�
Writing Style ★★★☆�
Favourite Character
Jerico
My thoughts while reading it
Night of Wolves is in some ways immediately accessible because of its simplicity: there are paladins, wolf-men and humans living in a village. Ingenious. I know what all these things are and can just get on with reading the story. The whole thing moves along pretty briskly, and I read it every chance I got.
Unfortunately, while I enjoyed the familiarity that made it an easy read, I would have liked a bit more characterisation for some of the background characters; just to give them a bit more depth and give an impression of someone being torn apart by a rampant wolf man. The same goes for the wolf people. Although the story spends a little time on them, I would have liked to know a little more.
What really makes the book is the friendship between the two paladins. They both live by a different set of beliefs, which is why they shouldn't be friends at all. But despite everything, they are friends, which means that they both have to make difficult decisions again and again - even against their own religion.
This book was simply fun to read. Just right for in-between and fulfils all the checkboxes for the fantasy genre.
Reading Recommendation? �
Favourite? �
April 15, 2022
I really hope this friendship lasts and Darius and Jerico find each other again soon. This was a quick read with quite a bit of action but not much humor. Can’t wait to begin the next one.
October 26, 2017
Having picked this up quite a while back simply because it was free on Kindle, I finally decided to sit down and give it go. Admittedly I had fairly low expectations from the slightly mixed nature of the reviews but it turns out that this was a damn good read.
The story tells of a village within which reside two paladins, Jerico and Darius, both of whom worship different Gods and should be opposed to one another, yet they have formed a close friendship, with either one willing to lay down their life for the other. Unfortunately for the village's inhabitants, in a nearby stretch of land known as the Wedge the wolf-men are gathering together under a mighty leader named Redclaw in the hopes of taking the land from the humans. And by 'gathering' I don't mean that there's half a dozen or so. There's hundreds of the hairy beasties just waiting for the opportunity to tear someone (everyone) apart and eat them.
Added to this is the possibility of a war brewing between the two factions that he paladin's follow which threatens not only the paladin's friendship, but also their lives.
As I've already stated, I thought that his book was a damn good read. Everything was understandable and easy to follow without getting bogged down in over-elaborate fantasy terminologies and politics as can so easily be done. For me there's nothing worse than diving into a new fantasy novel and reading about how the race of Th'rakuun soldiers for the Tel'av'iri empire are at odds with the race of Dochaar from the Fneeria Badlands, because I have know idea what all that nonsense means. Also sorry if anyone has used those names in any of their stories, I'm not directing it at you, I just typed out the first things that popped into my brain.
Night of Wolves is kept instantly accessible due in a way, to it's simplicity; there's Paladin's, wolf-men and people living in a village. Brilliant. I know what all those things are and I can just crack on with reading the story. The whole thing rips along at a fairly rapid pace and I found myself reading it at every opportunity.
Unfortunately, although I did enjoy the familiarity that made the whole thing an easy read, I would have liked a little more characterisation for some of the background characters; just to give them a little more depth and to make an impact when someone gets torn apart by rampant wolf-man. The same with the wolf-men as well. Although the story does invest a bit of time on them, I would have liked to know a little bit more.
It did seem a little out of place when suddenly an aged wolf shaman was introduced purely for one scene and then never mentioned again. If they had been introduced earlier it would have helped explain a bit about the wolf hierarchy and wouldn't have been such an out-of-place moment for this seemingly random character to appear.
Those are just very minor gripes however; none of them detrimental to the story and I really enjoyed reading Night of Wolves, in fact I enjoyed it so much that I am going to have to purchase the other titles in the Paladins series just to find out what happens next.
If you want a fast paced fantasy story that isn't bogged down in over elaborate exposition then this is definitely worth taking a look at.
The story tells of a village within which reside two paladins, Jerico and Darius, both of whom worship different Gods and should be opposed to one another, yet they have formed a close friendship, with either one willing to lay down their life for the other. Unfortunately for the village's inhabitants, in a nearby stretch of land known as the Wedge the wolf-men are gathering together under a mighty leader named Redclaw in the hopes of taking the land from the humans. And by 'gathering' I don't mean that there's half a dozen or so. There's hundreds of the hairy beasties just waiting for the opportunity to tear someone (everyone) apart and eat them.
Added to this is the possibility of a war brewing between the two factions that he paladin's follow which threatens not only the paladin's friendship, but also their lives.
As I've already stated, I thought that his book was a damn good read. Everything was understandable and easy to follow without getting bogged down in over-elaborate fantasy terminologies and politics as can so easily be done. For me there's nothing worse than diving into a new fantasy novel and reading about how the race of Th'rakuun soldiers for the Tel'av'iri empire are at odds with the race of Dochaar from the Fneeria Badlands, because I have know idea what all that nonsense means. Also sorry if anyone has used those names in any of their stories, I'm not directing it at you, I just typed out the first things that popped into my brain.
Night of Wolves is kept instantly accessible due in a way, to it's simplicity; there's Paladin's, wolf-men and people living in a village. Brilliant. I know what all those things are and I can just crack on with reading the story. The whole thing rips along at a fairly rapid pace and I found myself reading it at every opportunity.
Unfortunately, although I did enjoy the familiarity that made the whole thing an easy read, I would have liked a little more characterisation for some of the background characters; just to give them a little more depth and to make an impact when someone gets torn apart by rampant wolf-man. The same with the wolf-men as well. Although the story does invest a bit of time on them, I would have liked to know a little bit more.
It did seem a little out of place when suddenly an aged wolf shaman was introduced purely for one scene and then never mentioned again. If they had been introduced earlier it would have helped explain a bit about the wolf hierarchy and wouldn't have been such an out-of-place moment for this seemingly random character to appear.
Those are just very minor gripes however; none of them detrimental to the story and I really enjoyed reading Night of Wolves, in fact I enjoyed it so much that I am going to have to purchase the other titles in the Paladins series just to find out what happens next.
If you want a fast paced fantasy story that isn't bogged down in over elaborate exposition then this is definitely worth taking a look at.
July 4, 2013
This book had two five star ratings on Smashwords, and was also Free. I saw that it was the beginning of a series (now up to five books I believe) and I thought I'd give it a shot. I've never been a true fan of paladins, but one of the reviewers said that Dalglish did a good job writing them. Plus, I needed a fantasy book to read, and this seemed interesting enough. I mean, it had wolf people, so that's always a bonus.
First off, the reviewer was right. Dalglish does a fantastic job writing paladins. Anyone who has grown up with any D&D books, be they Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance (with its own brand of holy knights), and the other worlds, will be familiar with this class. They will also be familiar with how annoying they could be, and how boring they were to play. However, Dalglish has done an amazing job making his paladins something more than just holy knights. He made them human, and gave them all the traits you would expect from a human who relies on their faith as a weapon/shield.
However, as well as Dalglish writes the paladins, he does a lesser job on Redclaw I found. Though the Wolf King was a good antagonist, when I reached a point about half way through the book where suddenly Redclaw is plagued with fears, I was surprised. Here was a character that for the first part of the book was portrayed as a fearless leader full of conviction and courage, only to suddenly find out he was riddled with fear. (or so it seemed) This broke me away from his character, and felt like a bid to make him more sympathetic as a villain. Unfortunately, all it did was make him less interesting. Had his character had this trickle of fear throughout the novel, his character would have been wonderfully flawed and easier to relate to.
Another element that caught me off guard was the suddenness of events involving Jerico's order. They seem to suddenly occur and everyone seems fairly quick to assume what they do about Jerico and his people. I found it weird that everyone suddenly seems to know what they do, and even Jerico himself seems partial to believing it himself. True or not, having so many people present the same idea as fact with no one really fighting against it just feels unnatural rather than the normal flow of things.
Dalglish does a great job with the combat scenes in this book. They flow easily, each moment moving seamlessly to the next. They are easy to picture in one's head and don't get bogged down with endless details. Each was filled with the right amount of excitement, bloodshed and the unknown that keeps the reader turning the pages. The spacing between scenes was also handled well and kept the general flow of the novel smooth.
'Night of Wolves' was a fun and enjoyable fantasy novel to read. I have already purchased the second book 'Clash of Faiths' and put the third and forth in my 'to buy' list once I am done the second tale. If you love fantasy, this book is for you. You can't beat the price (and if you don't like it, you lost time and nothing more), and if you like paladins, then that's more of a bonus. I have already recommended this book to my friends that are into fantasy, and I suggest you pick it up as well.
First off, the reviewer was right. Dalglish does a fantastic job writing paladins. Anyone who has grown up with any D&D books, be they Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance (with its own brand of holy knights), and the other worlds, will be familiar with this class. They will also be familiar with how annoying they could be, and how boring they were to play. However, Dalglish has done an amazing job making his paladins something more than just holy knights. He made them human, and gave them all the traits you would expect from a human who relies on their faith as a weapon/shield.
However, as well as Dalglish writes the paladins, he does a lesser job on Redclaw I found. Though the Wolf King was a good antagonist, when I reached a point about half way through the book where suddenly Redclaw is plagued with fears, I was surprised. Here was a character that for the first part of the book was portrayed as a fearless leader full of conviction and courage, only to suddenly find out he was riddled with fear. (or so it seemed) This broke me away from his character, and felt like a bid to make him more sympathetic as a villain. Unfortunately, all it did was make him less interesting. Had his character had this trickle of fear throughout the novel, his character would have been wonderfully flawed and easier to relate to.
Another element that caught me off guard was the suddenness of events involving Jerico's order. They seem to suddenly occur and everyone seems fairly quick to assume what they do about Jerico and his people. I found it weird that everyone suddenly seems to know what they do, and even Jerico himself seems partial to believing it himself. True or not, having so many people present the same idea as fact with no one really fighting against it just feels unnatural rather than the normal flow of things.
Dalglish does a great job with the combat scenes in this book. They flow easily, each moment moving seamlessly to the next. They are easy to picture in one's head and don't get bogged down with endless details. Each was filled with the right amount of excitement, bloodshed and the unknown that keeps the reader turning the pages. The spacing between scenes was also handled well and kept the general flow of the novel smooth.
'Night of Wolves' was a fun and enjoyable fantasy novel to read. I have already purchased the second book 'Clash of Faiths' and put the third and forth in my 'to buy' list once I am done the second tale. If you love fantasy, this book is for you. You can't beat the price (and if you don't like it, you lost time and nothing more), and if you like paladins, then that's more of a bonus. I have already recommended this book to my friends that are into fantasy, and I suggest you pick it up as well.
April 27, 2012
This one is a little tough for me. I liked the concept. I haven't seen enough paladins in my epic fantasy reading. I liked the "competing" faiths ideas, and the beacon of faith details. The wolf-men were interesting. I would have liked more on the history of it all, about how they ended up in the Wedge and so on. I got the idea, but would have liked more. And more on the gods.
Generally speaking, I was enjoying the story pretty well. The writing is smooth and flowed well. I was into the concepts, and I liked Jerico and Darius. The build up was good.
Then something went awry. I felt like he was setting up a scene, that a critical event at the end of the story would go a certain way, and I liked where I thought it was going. I liked the idea. It didn't happen that way and I didn't really like how it did happen. (I can't say too much without giving it away.)
I realize it's the author's choice to do as he likes, and he was clearly setting up the second book... but that didn't make me like it any better.
So, I'm actually rather disappointed, because I wanted to end up liking it better but the ending has just left me with a bit of a bitter taste that makes it hard to say I really liked the story over all. I don't know if I'll read the second book or not. I'd like to see what happens, but I was so disappointed in this one, I fear getting disappointed again.
Thus, even though it all went well up until then, I'm forced to give this a 3 since I just can't get past my disappointment.
Generally speaking, I was enjoying the story pretty well. The writing is smooth and flowed well. I was into the concepts, and I liked Jerico and Darius. The build up was good.
Then something went awry. I felt like he was setting up a scene, that a critical event at the end of the story would go a certain way, and I liked where I thought it was going. I liked the idea. It didn't happen that way and I didn't really like how it did happen. (I can't say too much without giving it away.)
I realize it's the author's choice to do as he likes, and he was clearly setting up the second book... but that didn't make me like it any better.
So, I'm actually rather disappointed, because I wanted to end up liking it better but the ending has just left me with a bit of a bitter taste that makes it hard to say I really liked the story over all. I don't know if I'll read the second book or not. I'd like to see what happens, but I was so disappointed in this one, I fear getting disappointed again.
Thus, even though it all went well up until then, I'm forced to give this a 3 since I just can't get past my disappointment.
January 29, 2013
As the book was free, and the author a best-seller in the independent category, I thought I'd give this a try. To be fair, I was fairly certain I wouldn't like it going in, but I was hoping for some surprises. It's unpretentious, generic fantasy with plenty of action and it's written well enough, so it's ok if you don't ask any questions and want a quick read, but there's much better out there (even in the same category). Just about lives up to the genre he's going for--RA Salvatore-style D&D fodder.
Some books suffer from too much world-building, but this suffers a bit from too little--or, at least, the world is too banal to transport you. It's unclear how this rustic settlement fits into the larger world, except that it is across a poorly-defended river from hordes of generic fantasy monsters, and gets its food delivered by boat(?). It is basically a fronteir tale, with wolf-men substituted for Indians attacking the town, and the paladins for the gunslingers protecting the settlers.
The relationship between the two paladins is half-decent, but throwing in a few minor protagonists distracts things, and I ended up on the side of the wolves...
Oh, and he keeps saying 'platemail'. Pet peeve.
Some books suffer from too much world-building, but this suffers a bit from too little--or, at least, the world is too banal to transport you. It's unclear how this rustic settlement fits into the larger world, except that it is across a poorly-defended river from hordes of generic fantasy monsters, and gets its food delivered by boat(?). It is basically a fronteir tale, with wolf-men substituted for Indians attacking the town, and the paladins for the gunslingers protecting the settlers.
The relationship between the two paladins is half-decent, but throwing in a few minor protagonists distracts things, and I ended up on the side of the wolves...
Oh, and he keeps saying 'platemail'. Pet peeve.
May 6, 2015
A gripping, fast-paced adventure about one of my favorite fantasy elements: Paladins. I've previously read The Weight of Blood in the author's Half-Orc series, so I came into this story expecting to enjoy it. I certainly did. There's nothing overly complicated or tedious to be found. It's just a quick, fun, and sometimes graphic romp in the realm of Dezrel.
The plot occasionally felt juvenile with the sheer amount of violence over other developments, certain combat mechanics were flawed (tons of swinging room in tight door spaces and windows?), and the plot read like a straightforward Dungeons & Dragons quest...but I was entertained. Even though one paladin in particular possessed the role of protagonist, there were several one-off points of view revolving around other characters. This favorably impacted story setup by showcasing their perceptions of the situations. David Dalglish even did a good job humanizing the antagonizing werewolf leader, preventing the reader from holding a trite opinion that the race is violent and savage simply for the sake of being so. There's a greater purpose behind their actions.
Now that I've read two freebies from this author, I think it's time that I continue both his Paladins and Half-Orc series. I'm genuinely curious to see how the character arcs play out.
The plot occasionally felt juvenile with the sheer amount of violence over other developments, certain combat mechanics were flawed (tons of swinging room in tight door spaces and windows?), and the plot read like a straightforward Dungeons & Dragons quest...but I was entertained. Even though one paladin in particular possessed the role of protagonist, there were several one-off points of view revolving around other characters. This favorably impacted story setup by showcasing their perceptions of the situations. David Dalglish even did a good job humanizing the antagonizing werewolf leader, preventing the reader from holding a trite opinion that the race is violent and savage simply for the sake of being so. There's a greater purpose behind their actions.
Now that I've read two freebies from this author, I think it's time that I continue both his Paladins and Half-Orc series. I'm genuinely curious to see how the character arcs play out.
March 17, 2025
Night of Wolves is a epic fantasy book about two paladins investigating the unusual occurances in the vunerable outlying village of Durham which eventually unravels the terrifying threat of savage wolfmen located in the mysterious easterly Vile Wedge. The protagonists of this story are the two paladins Jerico and Darius who belong to different faiths but despite this have developed a strong bond between them.
It was very rewarding to see the two protagonists work together as brothers-in-arms as well as watching the journey between them and their respective gods develop. I also enjoyed learning about the traditions and culture of the wolf-men and especially about their leader Redclaw and his struggles to unite the various wolf-clans and orchestrate the liberation of wolf-kind through the invasion of the human realms. There were also the awesome, well thought out combat segments as well the geniune laugh out loud moments that really made this book shine!
To summarise, I really enjoyed reading this book. So much in fact that immediately after finishing this book I bought and began reading the sequel (a rare occurrence for me). I Look forward to seeing what happens in the next one!
It was very rewarding to see the two protagonists work together as brothers-in-arms as well as watching the journey between them and their respective gods develop. I also enjoyed learning about the traditions and culture of the wolf-men and especially about their leader Redclaw and his struggles to unite the various wolf-clans and orchestrate the liberation of wolf-kind through the invasion of the human realms. There were also the awesome, well thought out combat segments as well the geniune laugh out loud moments that really made this book shine!
To summarise, I really enjoyed reading this book. So much in fact that immediately after finishing this book I bought and began reading the sequel (a rare occurrence for me). I Look forward to seeing what happens in the next one!
November 11, 2014
"Night of Wolves" was really quite good, especially considering I got it for free on my kindle. Always nice when a random book gives you a pleasant surprise.
The plot is fairly straightforward, but I appreciated this--far too many fantasy books seem to think that every story has to have ten subplots and the fate of the whole world in the balance. I liked that this was just about saving one small town from invading wolves.
The two main characters, Darius and Jerico, are good, well-rounded characters. Both are Paladins, warrior-priests of different gods, and both their rivalry and friendship worked well. Even the principle villain, Redclaw, is given realistic motivations and a reasonable amount of characterization for a part wolf, part man creature.
My only real criticism is that I didn't get a great sense of how the political and religious structures that inhabit this world operate. For example, there's obviously two rival religions, but are they both sanctioned by the king? If not, then why are both free to operate, and if so, why could one destroy the other without political consequence?
Overall, though, a entertaining, action-packed read for fans of the genre.
The plot is fairly straightforward, but I appreciated this--far too many fantasy books seem to think that every story has to have ten subplots and the fate of the whole world in the balance. I liked that this was just about saving one small town from invading wolves.
The two main characters, Darius and Jerico, are good, well-rounded characters. Both are Paladins, warrior-priests of different gods, and both their rivalry and friendship worked well. Even the principle villain, Redclaw, is given realistic motivations and a reasonable amount of characterization for a part wolf, part man creature.
My only real criticism is that I didn't get a great sense of how the political and religious structures that inhabit this world operate. For example, there's obviously two rival religions, but are they both sanctioned by the king? If not, then why are both free to operate, and if so, why could one destroy the other without political consequence?
Overall, though, a entertaining, action-packed read for fans of the genre.
August 18, 2015
Having been disappointed by David Dalglish in the past, with the first of his Half Orcs Series, I was hoping that Night of Wolves might be slightly better. Unfortunately, it was not. The story was different, and had potential, but it was hampered by poor character development and some weak writing.
The thing I found worst about this book was that the point of view from which the story was told jumped around a lot, which meant that I struggled to form any kind of emotional attachment to them. The only characters which seemed to have any kind of personality were the two paladins, Jerico and Darius but even then, only when it served the story.
As with The Weight of Blood, the story had the potential to be good, with the plot maintaining a suitable pace throughout, something which made the book readable.
I’ve now read two books by David Dalglish, from two separate series, and enjoyed neither. I’ll not be reading any more of them.
The thing I found worst about this book was that the point of view from which the story was told jumped around a lot, which meant that I struggled to form any kind of emotional attachment to them. The only characters which seemed to have any kind of personality were the two paladins, Jerico and Darius but even then, only when it served the story.
As with The Weight of Blood, the story had the potential to be good, with the plot maintaining a suitable pace throughout, something which made the book readable.
I’ve now read two books by David Dalglish, from two separate series, and enjoyed neither. I’ll not be reading any more of them.
May 17, 2017
Normally, I only read books when they're given to me by my school, yet I read this in 2 days. I read the "gamified" version of this book on my phone. That version has choices every so often which you can choose from, but for me, it only ruined the experience of reading such an amazing. Often times choosing the wrong option ended up in you getting killed and having to repeat the chapter, which I found very annoying because I wanted to read the book like it's supposed to be read. I decided to look into it and found out that the author is actually a legit book author, with 4 books written in this series. I was extremely happy when I first realized, and the fact that even after I finished this beautiful series I would have many more books to read. I instantly ordered all 4 of them. This book is amazing, and so is the second one, although I haven't fully completed that one. DEFINITELY worth a read if you love medieval fantasy universes, werewolves, paladins -duh-, and books which actually follow both sides of the story.
February 7, 2013
Night of the Wolves is the first book in “The Paladins� series, and it features two interesting characters � Jerico a Paladin for Ashhur, and Darius a Paladin for Karak. The two follow rival deities, but they put their differences aside to protect a village from invading wolf-men.
I thought this was a solid fantasy story with lots of action, an interesting look at the two paladins and their gifts of faith, and a unique perspective as the author gives voice to the wolf-men. If possible, I would give this book 3.5 stars because it is better than average, but there were a few jarring things. One was the use of names like Bobby and Gary, which seemed out of place. Also, the story seemed to lack some details in this opening book to explain the two rival deities, and why there are opposed to each other.
The book contains some cussing and battle violence, but it is free from sexual content. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
I thought this was a solid fantasy story with lots of action, an interesting look at the two paladins and their gifts of faith, and a unique perspective as the author gives voice to the wolf-men. If possible, I would give this book 3.5 stars because it is better than average, but there were a few jarring things. One was the use of names like Bobby and Gary, which seemed out of place. Also, the story seemed to lack some details in this opening book to explain the two rival deities, and why there are opposed to each other.
The book contains some cussing and battle violence, but it is free from sexual content. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 14, 2012
This was the first David Dalglish novel I have read and having seen so many of his books in the lists was curious to see if I had been missing something. I am happy to say, I have. I confess in the first few chapters I struggled a little, but as it turned out, it was more down to me than any fault in the writing, which is good. The style is clear and uncluttered and moves along at a good pace.
The story is drew me in, as did the character development. I'm not a huge fan of such detailed combat, which was lengthy at times, but that's personal taste. The action is clear and not lacking in blood and dismemberment.
This was the first of the Paladin books and with any series the real test for me is whether I would read more. I would. Maybe not like when I was younger, in a frenzy, but when I feel like an easy read with guaranteed enjoyment.
The story is drew me in, as did the character development. I'm not a huge fan of such detailed combat, which was lengthy at times, but that's personal taste. The action is clear and not lacking in blood and dismemberment.
This was the first of the Paladin books and with any series the real test for me is whether I would read more. I would. Maybe not like when I was younger, in a frenzy, but when I feel like an easy read with guaranteed enjoyment.
April 19, 2015
Paladins are holy warriors of God (or gods, in the fantasy realm). Typically they are characterized as good and loved. Rarely (and first time in a book I’ve read) are they depicted as antagonists, largely because they are seen as representatives of a good god. But what if there are opposing gods, each with their own paladins? This story explores this scenario in background of their need to work together to face a greater outside threat. The thing I found fascinating about this story is the undertone that good and evil can be relative, depending on the frame of reference.
Interesting to me also was the concept of how the acceptance of one’s faith by a deity, if that could be materially evidenced, changes how we view religion and faith.
Decent first book in the series.
Interesting to me also was the concept of how the acceptance of one’s faith by a deity, if that could be materially evidenced, changes how we view religion and faith.
Decent first book in the series.
May 21, 2014
So I downloaded this because Amazon were offering it for free and started reading it on my tablet during revision period because I didn't have any books with me. I ended up enjoying it a lot. It is a very 'Dungeons and Dragons' fantasy tale and the plot does nothing especially special - werewolves are attacking a colony and just a few heroes stand in their way. But the characters are fun, it is well written and a fantasy blast is just what I need. I'm definitely hoping to pick up more of Dalglish's books in the future, especially because there are hints that two of those heroes, the Paladins, have some interesting stuff coming up, and not just because that is the name of the series.
August 1, 2015
Two Paladins, one working for the god of Good, the other for the god of Evil, form a friendship and work together to rid a town of its Wolfman problem.
As with the half-orcs series by Dalglish, this is about conflicting loyalties, especially when elders from their respective temples are telling them not to befriend the other, and even telling them to kill the other.
The names of the wolfmen are a bit "my first fantasy novel" style - Redclaw, Murdertongue, Bloodbiter etc., but they make interesting adversaries.
Not a bad start for a series, and would be good to see where other books take the main characters.
As with the half-orcs series by Dalglish, this is about conflicting loyalties, especially when elders from their respective temples are telling them not to befriend the other, and even telling them to kill the other.
The names of the wolfmen are a bit "my first fantasy novel" style - Redclaw, Murdertongue, Bloodbiter etc., but they make interesting adversaries.
Not a bad start for a series, and would be good to see where other books take the main characters.
December 4, 2011
I'm not normally a big fantasy reader, but this intrigued me due to the wolf-man aspect (big wolf-character fan) and I was looking to round out my virtual shelves a bit. I'm certainly not sorry I picked this book to start with!
I bought the second book right after I finished this one. The world building is very realistic, the characters intriguing and layered in dichotomy (even on the antagonist side, which I found quite refreshing), and the overall story gripping. I'm definitely looking forward to reading on in this series.
I bought the second book right after I finished this one. The world building is very realistic, the characters intriguing and layered in dichotomy (even on the antagonist side, which I found quite refreshing), and the overall story gripping. I'm definitely looking forward to reading on in this series.
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