Knights of Enmity by Sédrie Danielle was much more than I expected. Being a lover of Epic/High Fantasy, I appreciate intricate, multi-layered plots, numerous characters, and supernatural elements. Danielle delivers this and more.
From the numerous orders of Man, Barons, Angels, etc, Danielle weaves a compelling and intoxicating tale that is of Epic proportions. Although it is categorized as “Urban/Dark Fantasy,” it has a definite epic feel.
You are pulled into this unique world with diverse and completely flawed characters. There is no “good” or “bad” since the reality of the world is imperfection. I enjoyed that even the characters that would usually be considered “good,” had some worse traits than those considered “bad.”
Also, you could tell the depth of research that went into crafting this novel. It was not only the chosen names, but also the historical aspects. Danielle took portions of our histories, cultures, religions, etc. and re-shaped them into Knights of Enmity.
The prose was perfectly reflective of the characterization. With this, I will have to state that Knights of Enmity is NOT for the faint of heart or the casual reader. With a plot this dense, your attention needs to be focused. If you are a skimmer, you will miss some integral elements that build the plot. It is also definitely NOT for the easily offended. There is mature content that is well-written and appropriate for what the author is conveying.
Wow, this debut novel by Sedrie Danielle is one intense read! It's a modern epic fantasy that delves into the kind of beings that haven't been overdone yet in fiction, for instance, the Barons which in traditional lore are (to my knowledge at least) deities related to Voodoo. I loved their outfits with their top hats! ;)
This story will especially appeal to those who love the type of challenging books with a ton of diverse characters. It's a complex magical tale, but take note: the violence and eroticism make this one for adults only! It kind of gave me a modern Dungeons & Dragons feel with all its complexity, political intrigue, factions, and as mentioned, its many different powerful characters. I applaud Sedrie Danielle's impressive creativity in crafting this dark, magical tale!
