Andrew D. Meredith brings the first arc of The Kallatian Saga to a satisfying conclusion with Dread Knight, the fourth volume of his epic fantasy series.
It is fitting that Dread Knight arrives around the same time as Brandon Sanderson’s Wind and Truth, which concludes the first arc of his Stormlight Archive series. Meredith demonstrates a Sandersonian level of worldbuilding in his meticulously detailed fantasy world. Meredith also ups the ante on Sanderson with his eloquent prose, which has a timeless feel worthy of his beautifully plotted story.
Like the three volumes before it, Dread Knight shines with its cast of protagonists, all of whom feel like old friends at this point in the series. Brother-and-sister duo Hanen and Rallia Clouw of the Black Sentinels have come upon a legendary power and must decide whether it is too risky to unlock. Katiam Borreau, a physician for the Paladames, is discovering the secrets of a mysterious seed pod that she had been caring for. She and the Paladame guard Astrid Glass must uncover the implications of whether there are more of its kind. Meanwhile, the monk Seriah has become a messenger for the dark gods, trying to find her purpose as she is caught between rival groups.
The Kallattian Saga is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy and deserves a lot more attention than has been given. If you are a fan of classic epic fantasy with depth and heart, look no further than The Kallattian Saga. The series begins with Deathless Beast and continues with Bone Shroud, Gloves of Eons, and then Dread Knight. The Kallattian Saga brings the same sense of wonder that I felt upon first reading J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings as a child.
