Black Feathers (Black Dawn)
Known for such bloody good fun as Garbage Man (2011) and Snake Eyes (2012), D’Lacey strays from the horror genre in this ambitious dark fantasy, with mixed results. This first volume of a planned duology splits the narrative into two stories. The first takes place in the near future, when ecological damage results in not only global calamaties but also a military crackdown by the nefarious Ward. Prophecy decrees that everyday kid Gordon, 14, must find the enigmatic Crowman, a black-winged “dark messiah” who may lead the world into destruction—and, perhaps, rebirth. Gordon flees would-be captors through an apocalyptic world, and, though additional plot signposts would have been appreciated, it remains fast-paced, violent (so many gooey eye injuries!), and intriguing. The second story is more problematic. Set in “the Bright Day,” a simple but peaceful future, it follows young Megan as she undergoes a wandering, protracted tutelage to become the final Keeper of the Crowman’s story. Overall, this is fascinating but uneven. Let’s see what D’Lacey can do in next year’s The Book of the Crowman. --Daniel Kraus--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.