Review: Beginning of Arrogance by Bryan Cole

Author Bryan Cole debuts his A Paladin’s Journey series in stunning style with Beginning of Arrogance, a page-turning sword and sorcery adventure that will thrill devoted fantasy fans. The freshly imagined realm of Baltorc and Watford’s dramatic denizens set a coastal stage for the rise of a sinister new evil in this creative and compelling origin story.

An aspiring hero taking the first steps of his warrior’s journey, Krell is an ambitious and readily likable protagonist at the core of this novel. Bearing a heavy secret – the voice of the sea god ReckNor in his mind – Krell must learn to tame his powers if he is to fulfill his destiny as a paladin. Evil forces already seem bent on eliminating him, while political brokers and war-makers debate what Krell’s coming means for the balance of power.

From underground battles against undead ghouls to theological lessons in barrooms and haunted towers, Krell’s early missions give readers a clear picture of his deep-seated beliefs, and formidable abilities. However, it soon becomes clear that Krell called a Paladin to Watford for a reason – or rather, a legion of reasons with razor-sharp fangs and a taste for human blood.

The developmental support from the myriad cast of characters around Krell, particularly Olgar, Orca, and Kraven, helps to shape him into a three-dimensional focal point that is openly flawed, but relentlessly courageous and determined. These supporting figures are treasure-hungry warriors, but they’re fiercely loyal to one another, even as they bicker amongst one another like siblings, resulting in some colorful and entertaining exchanges. Even Krell’s relationship with ReckNor, which sometimes has an edge of comedy to it, gives more insight to his motivations, fears, and ambitions. The paladin’s penchant for battle is nearly matched by his willingness to have meaningful conversations about spirituality, his own self-doubt as a champion of ReckNor, and even the purpose of life itself. This added habit of self-reflection sets Krell apart from many other classic heroes, and makes him a strong foundation for what is shaping up to be an epic saga.

The prose is artfully chosen, and Cole enjoys flexing his vocabulary muscles, without letting the writing grow too dense or verbose. The battle sequences are some of the best parts of the prose, and there are plenty of them, with violent trouble seeming to find Krell at every turn of the page. Occasionally, a narrative passage can be monotone or flat, even those that are emotionally charged. There are also some drawn-out scenes of court procedure and regal nuance, which don’t add very much to the plot except ambiance. For the most part, the group scenes are dynamic and vividly crafted in terms of dialogue, with the lurking presence of a god instilling most conversations with an extra unpredictable character – an original twist on traditional fantasy fellowships.

Overall, this is a sprawling and immersive read, and while a final edit to polish and trim unnecessary tangents would help the flow of the story, Cole is a remarkable world-builder, with the rare ability to make readers sincerely care for his cast of heroes.