“VINAS SOLAMNUS- LOST LEGENDS, VOLUME I” BY ROBERT J. KING
I seem to have this uncanny ability to find books that are a part of some saga or series of sorts. There would not be anything wrong with it if only the books that find their way into my hands were the first volume of said sagas. Instead, they usually fit somewhere in the middle…
One of such books is “Vinas Solmanus—Lost Legends, Volume I” written by Robert J. King. The ‘volume I’ part is quite misleading as it is a part of the “Dragonlance” saga, even though it begins a kind of sub series recounting a story of one of the greatest knights in the history of Ansalon, a land in the north inhabited by both humans and enchanted creatures. Following the footsteps of such great writers as J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert J. King creates a world of heroes and villains, humans and wizards, elves and griffons rife with magic and battles between good and evil, light and dark.
Vinas Solamnus is a nobleman turned soldier who first follows his emperor’s orders slaying any obstacle on his way. However, one day he realizes his true heart and rebels against the evils of the empire. Commanding an army of his loyal soldiers, he wins the hearts of the people of the outer banks of the empire; the very ones he was sent to slaughter. Vinas, thus, discovers a new scheme for conquering the people and sets off on a long and harsh journey to overthrow the evil rulers and bring light and freedom to the lands he loves. But will he succeed against the evil wizards and the army of the dead?
While the novel reads pretty well (and I’m sure many readers would be perfectly satisfied), having read the master of the genre (J.R.R. Tolkien, for those that aren’t quite sure who I’m referring to), it leaves me a bit discontented. Robert J. King never fully develops his characters, which is quite unfortunate. They seem sketched and without clear detail, coming into focus only here and there but then instantly fading into the background. Even the main protagonist lacks the depth of a three dimensional persona. And unlike the great Tolkien Trilogy that delivers a whole different and very complex world with its creatures, places and languages they speak, “Vinas Solmanus” only scratches the surface. It gives you an inkling of great potential but leaves you dissatisfied and wishing for more.