The Dwarves
MARKUS HEITZ

Hachette Audio
August 7, 2012/ ASIN: B008U2P3N4
Fantasy / Audiobook - 22 hours, 32 minutes
Amazon

Reviewed by Jo Rogers

The Fifthling kingdom of Dwarves is inside a mountainous region of Girdlegard. These Dwarves have guarded the main pass into Girdlegard for hundreds of years until they were felled by a traitor. The Council of magicians devised a magic girdle around the Dwarf kingdoms to hold back the Perished Lands. This is a diseased region that no one can go through alive. First, the unfortunate victims become deathly ill from an incurable disease. Then, after they die, the land heals them and turns them into killers filled with deep hatred for all living things. They will enslave all people, dwarves, elves, humans and orcs to name just a few.

Then, the story moves to the present day. Young Tungdil lives in an area populated by humans. He was found as an infant by a magician and raised by humans, though he is a dwarf. He has never seen another dwarf, though he is curious about his people. The magician sends Tungdil on an errand to return some artifacts to another magician. Tungdil hopes he can find a dwarf or two along the way. At least he knows he can earn his way working at his favorite kind of work. He is a blacksmith and is the happiest when he works at the forge.

“The Dwarves” is the first novel where dwarves are the main protagonists. Though they play a major supporting role in “The Sword of Shannara” series, they’ve always taken a back seat to the elves and humans. The characters are well developed and the plot is full of action. The story goes from one battle to the next as the heroes try to save their lands. Beautifully read by Matthew Wolf, I couldn’t put this book down. Listen to “The Dwarves” and enjoy an escape from this world.