Disclaimer: This review contains minor spoilers for The Night of Cold Hunger. If you are sensitive to plot details, dragons, and/or monstrous entities from the abyss, reader discretion is advised.
Have you ever considered what it would be like to wander a fantasy world, ridding the land of one wretched evil after another? A rather specific question, I know; yet it’s one that’s fascinated many a fantasy reader in the past, as it brings with it a bevy of wonder and speculation.
Well, in any case, that’s just what we get here with The Night of Cold Hunger, a short fantasy novella written by PaladinDragoon. In this tale of stalwart strength and fellowship, we follow the knight-errant Sherida and his dragon companion Tor-Shen, as they both make their way across a fantasy landscape inspired by the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard, as well as a dash of H.P. Lovecraft.
Looks can be deceiving, however, as there’s much more to this premise than meets the eye.
Starting off as our human and dragon decide to rest at a nearby tavern, they soon bump into a group of guards whom they both learn are quite inexperienced. Despite some initial hesitation, Sherida and Tor-Shen’s fame doesn’t go unrecognized, and it isn’t long at all before they’re offered a job to accompany the humans to a local fort by the name of Hell-Gale Pass. Knowing a little bit about the place themselves, the two reluctantly accept, as rumors are quickly spreading that something isn’t quite right within the ancient structure.
Of course, with this being a shorter story, this is where I’ll leave off for fear of spoilers. I’m well aware of the irony of reviewing such a novella after giving my thoughts on Herman P. Hunter’s Revenant and the Tomb, a fantasy book with a lot of similar tropes. By comparison, the setup for The Night of Cold Hunger is rather familiar at a glance: our protagonists gather around at a local pub, before departing to a forlorn location that’s plagued with horrors and mysteries alike.
And make no mistake, this is an action story with undertones of horror through-and-through; however, it’s around here where the similarities end. Unlike its contemporaries, the depiction of the world and magic in The Night of Cold Hunger are handled with a much greater amount of whimsy and fantasia. Sherida himself is a priest by trade, one who is able to conjure holy light around him in a semi-liquid form. Tor-Shen - as one might expect for a dragon - can spew great gouts of flame at a whim, which easily makes him one of the more formidable opponents to their enemies.
In execution, our protagonists are less akin to characters like Aragorn or your typical Dungeons & Dragons cleric, instead leaning much more along the lines of swords and sorcery avengers such as Solomon Kane and Geralt of Rivia.
Couple that in with a healthy dose of humor and the fun social dynamic between Sherida and Tor-Shen, and you’ve got yourself one pair of heroes who are difficult not to love.
Overall, I would have to say that the pacing was quite strong. There wasn’t really a moment I can think of where I was bored or waiting for the next big thing to happen. The narrative, in general, has next to no fat to it. Conversely, we’re given just enough time to breathe, taking in all the important details as plot events unfold, mysteries unravel, and enemies are slaughtered in heaps of their own blood and viscera.
Similarly, Hell-Gale Pass has a lot going on with the idea of just what might be assailing it. It isn’t until later that Sherida and Tor-Shen uncover the grisly nature of their job. And without giving away too much, there’s quite a few references to tribal myth, as well as the dangers that come with human desperation. Both are fun speculative details that I, myself, very much appreciated.
I also thought that PaladinDragoon’s execution of a more Tolkien-esque/D&D world was very well done. There were a few tidbits of worldbuilding that could feel a little unoriginal at times; however, the tone and blending of styles were both what truly set The Night of Cold Hunger apart, in my eyes.
As far as criticisms go, there aren’t too many that I can think of. As I had mentioned beforehand, the setting can feel a tad derivative at times, although I think even this pales in comparison to some mainstream fantasy series which take heavier inspiration. More than anything, it’s something to keep note of, especially if elves, dwarves, and halflings aren’t to your liking.
My main criticism, however, is that I would like to have seen just a little more of these characters. What we get here is a lot of fun - don’t get me wrong - I just wish there was an extra short story, appendix, or something of the sort to give us a bit more insight into how this world works.
Other than that, though, I recommend giving The Night of Cold Hunger a read without any form of hesitation. If a shorter story is what you’re looking for, then you’ll find that this is exactly what the doctor ordered.
You can check out The Night of Cold Hunger here soon! Be sure to keep an eye out on PaladinDragoon’s Twitter profile for more details. Also, the artist Josan is on Twitter, so be sure to give him a follow as well.
An amazing story with a unique twist on Paladins and Dragons💖I LOVED it!
Cheers!