Gateway to Nifleheim (A Novel of Epic Fantasy) by Thater, Glenn G.
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Volume One of the Harbinger of Doom Series by the author, who is an eminent scholar, scientist, engineering consultant, lecturer and also a forensic investigator. A very good hand on books related to sorcery, black magic, witchcraft, demonology etc which used to trouble kingdoms of ancient world.

Storyline: The House of Eotrus ruling the northern province of the Lomion kingdom is attacked by scary demons from the world of the dead, the Nifleheim. A patrol led by the king of Eotrus, Lord Aradron Eotrus, along with his brave Knights and House wizard, are brutally killed and their bodies mutilated, by these demons which took the forms of strange animals with different ugly shapes and exoskeletons. These fiends, backed by the demon Gods of Nifleheim, plan to enter the human world through a mysterious hole in the Vermion forest near Eotrus province and kill all the mankind to take over the mortal world. The son of Lord Aradron, named Claradon, along with the valiant Knights, Sir Gabriel and Lord Angle Theta (a foreigner who came to the rescue of the Eotrus), lead a second patrol to find out what happened to the first one. They, in the midst of Vermion forest come across a mysterious hole and an ancient temple, which is used as a gateway, by the demons of Nifleheim, to cast a spell on the humans and kill them brutally to capture their soles and convert them into their slaves. Sir Gabriel and Angle Theta fight bravely with all their skills against these ugly, nauseating, scary creatures and prevent them from entering the mortal world, in the nick of moment. In the ferocious tussle with Lord Korrgonn (son of Azathoth, the God of the Dead), Gabriel loses his life. His soul captured by the demon God. Though the patrol of Claradon was successful in driving the demons back to Nifleheim, they vow to avenge the brutal murder of Gabriel and also bring his soul back to human world, from the demonic clutches of Nifleheim.

Positives: A hair raising narration of one of the scariest stories of demons, the dead and the ugly creatures that invade the human and mortal world to capture their souls, through mystical powers and sorcery. Very interesting turn of events and near real life characters highlighted with deadly imagination and creativity. Will form a great video game for the kids if taken on the lighter side. One of the memorable epic fantasy stories. Triggers interest in going for the rest of the books in the series.

Negatives: The question of whether the mortal world can really face the powers of the dead from the other world is still unanswered. The characters like Angle Theta and Sir Gabriel are depicted as mortal heroes without magical powers but said to be just carrying some daggers and swords powered by some ancient witchcraft. Did not appear practical, when it comes to facing the mighty demons of Nifleheim, which were both physically and spiritually described to be much more superior.

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