Review: Great fantasy novel
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 12, 2014
“The Beggar of Beliefs (The Spirals of Danu)” by Martin Adil-Smith is a complex and highly intelligent novel that blends classic dark fantasy with a mythological and biblical theme of genesis and some other worldly aspects.  It is an intriguing and very accomplished novel, a wonderful feast of a book that easily stands out from the rest of the genre.It is mainly set in modern times but its time scale intriguingly reaches from 1908 to 2030.The prologue starts the story off as the dialogue between Freeman Sullivan, a writer, and his publisher Danielle, and it tells of the research of said author into a revelation that will change not only the view of the world as it is known but also the fate of the entire creation.The book jumps through various points on time on Earth and also features another sphere, called Sumerland. Professor George Tate, and assistant Celus are faced with some tough mysteries to solve.“The Beggar of Beliefs” follows on from “A Gathering of Twine” and the “Twine” is a key part of the story and its denouement.I found the concept of this book very original and the prologue had me instantly intrigued as to where this was going. I recommend reading the first book to get the most enjoyment out of the story, although it is not strictly necessary.The author makes great use of the dark fantasy elements that keep the reader in a sense of doom and terror while there is still the bigger mystery to solve before time runs out. The story is well plotted with some minor and greater twists and also features some very great and appropriate quotes, poems and song lyrics that introduce each chapter.A great fantasy story.