It’s not every day that you come across a book such as The Black Crown.
Indeed, it seems that a lot of people have been echoing the sentiment as of late. Call it a certain feeling of electricity in the air, but something has clearly drawn everyone’s attention to this tale of epic fantasy, penned by author John A. Douglas.
So what did I think of it?
Well before I answer that, it’s probably best that I give a basic synopsis of the plot. Taking place in the dying years of the Age of Adventures, an era where many of the world’s ruins have been plundered by travelers, treasure seekers, and the like, what remains is but a shadow of that former zeitgeist. Many ancient tombs now lie decrepit and abandoned, and the world at large is beginning to feel the after-effects of such a phenomenon.
Meanwhile, we follow a young half-orc prince named Ragoth, whose origin to the wider human public remains a secret. By most accounts, life is pretty good if a little boring. Occasionally we find him receiving the odd bit of bullying from his half-siblings, but it’s not until one fateful night with a dark necromancer that his journey begins in earnest.
Following the encounter, we soon find Ragoth fleeing his home and avoiding those who would recognize his orcish heritage. It’s then that he must take to the road under the alias of “Rags.” His destination: the orc city of Dreadmour, a place that’s rumored to hold a relic which emanates mysterious powers.
I’ll omit the remaining details for your own curiosity. What follows is largely a travel log fantasy in a similar vein to that of Margaret Weiss, Tracy Hickmann, RA Salvatore, and Robert Jordan.
That being said, John A. Douglas brings a unique style and wit to his prose which I couldn’t help but find charming.
Ragoth, in particular, was a character I immediately identified with, considering how he’s the more introverted type who prefers reading over a regular conversation.
Personal bias aside, however, I thought all of the characters were well-rounded and likable. Following our half-orc prince is the human guard Cort, the pacifistic half-elf Deni, and finally the well-seasoned adventurer Val’Mora. Each of these personalities bring their own set of quirks and skills to the mix, yet it’s their chemistry as a group which makes their journey so impactful to this reviewer.
This may just be personal preference, but in many ways I believe the writing surpasses that of its contemporaries. Whereas Drizzt would at times delve into heavy-handed racism allegories, or Wheel of Time would become distracted with page upon page of melodrama, John A. Douglas makes the most out of the time he’s given. If there was a character dynamic which felt weird or out of place, then honestly I missed it. In particular, I was a fan of the growing friendship between Rags and Deni, the sense of camaraderie with Cort and Val’mora, and last but not least, the inevitable hang ups that come from dealing with other adventuring groups.
I also loved the world of Evergrad and its many quirks. At first, one could be mistaken for confusing it with other fantasy settings such as the Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Mystara, etc.
Yet the devil, it seems, is in the details. In fact, the more we see of each region and how the gods interact with the kingdoms, the more we realize that Rags and company are in way over their heads.
On that note, the rare few times in which our characters do come across magic are fraught with unpredictability, and the price is almost always high.
It’s hard to deny that The Black Crown is one of the most polished Iron Age stories I’ve come across thus far (save for the odd typo here and there). The fact that the prose sang as clearly as it did is a testament to the editing skill on display, especially for that of a 600+ page indie novel.
That said, my reading experience wasn’t without its share of gripes.
My first criticism involves Rags and his party’s goal in making it to Dreadmour. I will keep most of the questing details vague; needless to say, however, that a major revelation tests their resolve around two-thirds of the way through the book. This plot twist changes their adventure in more ways than one, and although I thought it an intriguing reveal in its own right, it did detract from my enjoyment of the world.
I could elaborate, but then I would be diving into spoiler territory.
What I can talk about, however, is how this change affects the pacing of the story. Sometime right after the climactic battle, we follow our heroes as they’re forced to push their way through a rather lengthy court scene, complete with legal strictures, testimonies, and the sort. The scene itself I had little problem with, yet I believe it could have been improved by happening either earlier or later on in a sequel.
One final thing to mention is a second twist which happens with one of the main characters. Only this one, it seems, is even more profound than the last, as we’re brought to question several events which occurred beforehand. That’s not even mentioning the drastic change in party dynamic between everyone else - a change which I believe has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
At first this felt like an odd choice to me, yet the more I thought of it, the more I liked how it was executed overall. Granted, there are still a few plot details which seemed rather convenient for my taste, but the effect itself (in my not-so-humble opinion) turned out to be nothing short of unforgettable.
Gripes aside, I would be remiss in saying that this isn’t a fantastic epic fantasy novel, a triumph when compared to a mainstream market that’s filled to the brim with recycled ideas and broken dreams. The Black Crown is a testament to the indomitable will of independent creators, as well as the capacity of the human mind to persevere and grow.
In short, I liked it. I liked it a lot.
If you would like to learn more about The Black Crown, it’s available on Amazon. You can also find John A. Douglas on his YouTube channel as well as Twitter.