I. Highlord of Darkness
Narragan is supposed to be bad. It’s expected. On Orgon, it’s the religion. But he doesn’t feel like the latest incarnation of evil. He’s just an average guy who doesn’t get along with his father, has thirty sisters to protect, and writes really bad poetry.
If he doesn’t learn how to be bad soon, if he doesn’t figure out how to become the Evil One, then everything and everyone he loves is doomed. If Narragan doesn’t want to be responsible for the end of civilization on Orgon, he has to become the Highlord of Darkness.
Well-Crafted World Molds First-Class SF
“Christine Murphy’s story of love and war and the impersonal cruelties of politics is set in a far-future world in which imperialism is as rampant as ever. She has created a complex and fascinating society where isolationism is a religion and … a character as complex and fascinating as the world he rules and … the future of his world is compelling and totally enthralling.
“Highlord of Darkness is for science fiction fans who hunger for the carefully wrought worlds of Asimov and Asaro, McCaffrey and Cherryh. Ms. Murphy has taken the time to ensure all the smallest details of her world and time are completely depicted and charged with reality. The characters are multidimensional, full of the contradictions that turn fictional beings into mortal ones. In short, this is a book constructed with the care and attention that turns good SF into great SF. It is a book that must be read.”
—Reviewed by Elizabeth K. Burton at the Blue Iris Journal
“A true winner! Murphy tells the tale of a man who needs to find himself beneath the scars, pain, and memories before he can stop the destruction facing his world. Once Narragan locates his inner self, he is a force to be reckoned with as he pushes past the barriers in more ways than one to fulfill his destiny and become the Highlord Of Darkness.”
—Brenda Ramsbacher, Ivy Quill Reviews
The action and intrigue never let up throughout this constantly moving story. Some secondary characters play roles almost as important as the main characters. Tension is constantly building, leaving you to wonder what side certain characters are really on. The depth of this tightly woven novel will keep you reading to the end. This is a story you’ll want to read again, to get the most out of it.”
— Brenda Gayle, The Write Lifestyle
“The characters were lively, and the story flowed smoothly… The plot had many twists and turns in it, with new surprises along the way. Each chapter ending made you want to read more. It was a good read.”
— Timeless Tales