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MY ⭐️ RATING: 3.75/5
Format: Advanced Reader Copy
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Nightsoul.
A name striking terror into the hearts of Eltnias people for decades. A mysterious, sinister ruler, buoyed by the foreboding magic of the malevolent sorceress Barbis. A haunting spectre, appearing out of mist, razing kingdoms to the ground, then vanishing like a ghost, leaving behind destruction, ruined corpses, and paralyzing despair.
And Nightsoul has never been defeated in battle.
Lord Othrun has always known one day Nightsoul would come, seeking bloody vengeance. For Othrun killed Nightsoul’s mother, Nulthe, once leader of mages, at her own coven. Since that fateful night of murder, Othrun was surely marked for death by Borenias shadowy monarch.
Now it seems, Nightsoul has finally moved against the Lord of Eastrealm, by attacking Othrun’s father-in-law, harmless King Irly of Badonia.
With his wife, the mage Sila at his side, Othrun must make the dreaded journey west, into the gloom, to try and save Irly. Finally, Eltnia’s renowned Warlord will confront a foe far more petrifying than any of the daunting enemies he has defeated during his many military campaigns.
Coping with grief over the loss of those dear to him, and his desperate armies quivering at the thought of marching to certain doom, Othrun has never been so beleaguered.
Yet, despite the evil powers of Borenia bearing down upon him, Othrun has no plans to fall without a savage fight.
Nightsoul is indeed the most horrifying presence in all the land.
But even the maleficent Nightsoul should beware he who flies the ominous banner of the black dragon on red.
For all who dare challenge Othrun, shall witness his wrath.
And it is terrible to behold.
MY REVIEW
5 stars for the story, but it stings as book 6
I want to say thank you P.L. Stuart for trusting in me for providing me with an advanced copy and to give an honest review. I wouldn’t say that A Black Dragon on Red requires reading the short story, Forest Dark, from The Shaper of Worlds, vol. 5, but I recommend doing it as Stuart introduces a bit of supernatural elements that get explored deeper within this novel.
The hardest part of reviewing this book is how much I genuinely love Stuart’s work. His world-building is incredible, his storytelling phenomenal, and his character development among the best in fantasy, and this novel is no exception in those areas. The problem, for me, was its structure, roughly 70% of the book is a prequel, with only the final 30% returning to the main timeline with characters I knew and loved. In the penultimate installment of a seven-book saga, I felt that choice hurt my overall enjoyment.
That said, the prequel part of this story was arguably needed. Through five books, Nightsoul has loomed as this mysterious, feared antagonist, more myth than person, and that needed to be fleshed out. Stuart takes a bold risk by devoting most of the novel to Nightsoul’s origin and the painful history that shaped the King of Borenia. It massively expands the world and gives real weight to the conflict.
“Power is not about what one can destroy. It’s about what one can create.”
Learning Nightsoul and Barbis’s full stories is masterfully done. Stuart makes you question your assumptions about them. You start wondering if you truly hate these supposed villains, or if you sympathize with their mission and the tragedies that drive it. By the time the timeline has made it back to Othrun’s era, the lines Stuart created blur beautifully. Who is the real antagonist? It’s two sides of the same coin, both fighting fiercely for deeply held beliefs and neither feels purely evil. That moral complexity is vintage Stuart, and it’s executed brilliantly.
With that said, I can’t fully shake my disappointment. Everything I praise is here, the stunning prose, rich characters, and themes of moral ambiguity, the cost of unyielding beliefs, prophecy, and grief that linger. But as book 6, the heavy prequel focus felt jarring. After investing in Othrun, his family, and their immediate stakes across five novels, suddenly shifting to a mostly new cast in ancient Acremia threw me. I struggled to care about Bore, Ethlun, and young Nightsoul at first, even though Stuart eventually made me understand their goals and ache for their losses. He humanizes the enemy army so well that the final battle hits with real tragedy.
If this had been a standalone novella or companion volume, I’d have loved it without any reservations. Of course that would’ve taken away from Stuart’s detailed style and lost some of the magic he brings to the table. Still, dropping it as the bulk of the penultimate book felt like a misstep in my eyes. It’s like watching a tv show with 2 episodes left and the last one you watched got you super excited to see what happens next and then the penultimate episode is a flashback. I’m honestly torn on my rating because of it.
Ultimately, this is a 5-star story trapped in a structural choice that, for me, cost it momentum at the worst possible moment. I still believe Stuart fans will appreciate the deeper lore and moral shades, but be prepared for a long detour before the payoff. I’ll still be first in line for book 7, because Stuart’s talent remains undeniable.
Wolfmantula.com 