Dawnthief is a fantasy novel by James Barclay

James Barclay

James Barclay is a high fantasy authorHe has written two trilogies, Chronicles of The Raven and Legends of The Raven, and a related novella, Light Stealer....

. It was first published in the UK in 1999.

The story is about the Raven

The Raven (characters)

The Raven are a band of mercenaries who are the protagonists of several novels by James Barclay.They are in his two trilogies:* Chronicles of The Raven...

 (a mercenary group), six men and an elf

Elf

An elf is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind...

. Swords for hire in the wars that have torn Balaia apart. Now they must join forces with dark mages and find a spell to end the world.

The heroes of this novel are accidentally drawn into a plot revolving around the subjugation of the free peoples of their homeworld: Balaia. During a battle they become aware of a Xeteskan mage who informs them that an old magical enemy has returned to their world; the Wytch Lords. Denser, as the mage is called, explains that the world today does not have the power to defeat these enemies as they did before and that in order to save the realm he needs their help in finding an ancient spell of great power: Dawnthief. Along the way to finding dawnthief they discover that the spell is highly risky and if it does not work the sun shall never rise again.

The excitement of this book is in its fast pace, magical originality and the fact that no character, even the heroes, is immune to the dangers of battle. Called action fantasy by its reviewers and praised by such authors as Maggie Furey

Maggie Furey

Maggie Furey was born in Northeast England, UK, in 1955. She is a qualified teacher but has also reviewed books on BBC Radio Newcastle, been an advisor in the Durham Reading Resources Centre and organized children's book fairs. She now lives in County Wicklow in Ireland...

, John Marco

John Marco

John Marco is an American author of fantasy fiction. His work falls into two main series: Tyrants and Kings, and The Inhumans .-Biography:...

, David Langford

David Langford

David Rowland Langford is a British author, editor and critic, largely active within the science fiction field. He publishes the science fiction fanzine and newsletter Ansible.-Personal background:...

 and Stan Nicholls

Stan Nicholls

Stan Nicholls has been a full-time writer since 1981. He is the author of many novels and short stories but is best known for the internationally acclamied Orcs: First Blood series....

, Dawnthief is exciting fantasy mixed in with a dash of something special which has made its author one of the most successful British writers of the past few years.

The Raven

Hirad Coldheart - Barbarian Warrior

Ras - Warrior

Richmond - Warrior

Talan - Warrior

Sirendor Larn - Warrior

The Unknown Warrior - Warrior

Ilkar - Julatsan Mage

Xetesk

Styliann - Lord of the Mount

Denser - Senior Mage

Selyn - Mage Spy

Nyer - Mentor to Denser

Laryon - Research Master

Sol - A Protector

Dordover

Erienne - Lore Mage

Alun - Husband of Erienne

Thraun - Warrior

Jandyr - Elven Bowman

Will Begman - Thief

Vuldaroq - Tower Lord

Barons, Lords and soldiers

Blackthorne - Southern Baron

Gresse - South-Eastern Baron

Tessaya - Wesman Lord

Travers - A Captain

Ry Darrick - Lystern General