The Legend of Asahiel is a series of epic fantasy novels written by author/screenwriter Eldon Thompson and published by HarperCollins. The series was launched in May 2005 with the hardcover release of The Crimson Sword. The Obsidian Key followed in 2006. The concluding novel, The Divine Talisman, was released in 2008. The series has been described as a throwback to classic fantasy stories such as J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Lloyd Alexander's The Prydain Chronicles, and Terry Brooks's early Shannara books. The structural formula is described by Thompson as that of an Aristotelian trilogy, with each volume representing one of three acts of a larger story arc. The name of the series stems from the Swords of Asahiel--described within the story as legendary talismans endowed with a divine fire, wielded by god-like avatars in the forging of the earth. Below is a brief introduction to each novel, taken from the jacket copy of that particular volume.
The Crimson Sword
The Age of Man has begun. Gone are the elves and dwarves, orcs and trolls, and other creatures of legend. Having driven the "undesirables" from their lands, the kingdoms of the island continent of Pentania have started a new chapter in human history. The gods are a myth, magic is a forsaken art, and the avatars, shepherds of the races, have faded into the mists of time. Now, mankind will rule. But they are not alone. When the king of Alson is assassinated and the capital besieged by a nefarious wizard, even the remote village of Diln is not immune from the chaos and terror that sweep the realm. Torn from his home, young Jarom begins a dangerous journey to ask for aid against the implacable usurper. But soon the machinations of a mysterious council lead Jarom to a seemingly preordained quest: to find one of the mythical Swords of Asahiel, the divine talismans used by the elven avatars in the forging of the earth itself. He must do so not only to establish himself as a leader for his people, but to help save a fledgling, quarrelsome mankind. For the Demon Queen Spithaera has awakened from the Abyss, and humanity is about to learn how very powerless it can be against the ancient terrors of the world. And whether real or imagined, destiny is not so easily claimed.
The Obsidian Key
The Age of Man, so quickly heralded, is already under siege. Shaken by the catastrophic war with the Demon Queen Spithaera, Pentania wrestles with a new world of possibility and potential disaster. And humanity will never be the same. In his epic battle with the Demon Queen, young Jarom became Torin, King of Alson. Now, with bitter foes on all sides, he must forge his kingdom from the ruins of an empire and begin anew. But it is too soon to forget the past entirely. For in recklessly reclaiming the mythical Sword of Asahiel, Torin reopened a dimensional breach no longer sealed by its power. Now, creatures of legend and nightmare are returning, as if to reclaim what was once theirs—driven by the terrifying Illysp, foul spirits who possess the bodies and enslave the souls of all. As the shadowy host advances, Torin must undertake a dangerous voyage to learn the secrets of a lost people who once overcame these relentless marauders. Yet enemies old and those unknown have different plans for king and country, and even if Torin can succeed, it may already be too late.
The Divine Talisman
To protect his people from the demonic Illysp, Torin, king of Alson, made the ultimate sacrifice. Now, as his best friend and his former love seek to salvage the shattered lands beyond their borders, a treacherous assault costs them their most powerful weapon—the fabled Crimson Sword. Hopelessly outmatched, Pentania's citizens fight to flee their conquered homeland, or perish. Yet an even greater threat looms. For the Leviathan has been awakened, an unfathomable creature whose wrath could single-handedly destroy the entire world. Hope—if any remains—lies in the efforts of a lone elf, a mad witch, and a fallen hero charged with unraveling a series of divine riddles. Yet, to do so, they must first find a way to break the very bonds of Illysp possession...
