The Drawing Of The Dark

Other than a good cup of coffee (or tea), a beach or a fresh doughnut, there's nothing that relaxes many people than a cold beer. Beer lovers will talk metaphorically about it being a magical substance. In The Drawing of the Dark, it's literally a magical liquid. Sound ridiculous? Probably. But it makes sense in the book, which is an interesting and easy read.Why it made the listAll the standard Capital E Epic fantasy elements are here: Powerful magic, an enigmatic sorcerer and destiny fulfillment. Unlike other similar fantasies from the 70s, there's enough to separate it from the rest. The protagonist, Brian Duffy, is easy to like and the atmosphere jumps of the page. The only real problem with this book is that the romance between Duffy and Epiphany feels stilted and forced. But it's not terrible enough to overwhelm the (many) positives.The most enjoyable thing about this book is that it feels like something that could have happened in the past – even though there are fantastic elements that don't exist. In this case, it's Vienna during the siege by the Ottoman Empire. That the Middle East threat is relevant over 40 years later is a coincidence, but it does add a level of believability to the narrative.Powers is also skilled at writing realistic and vivid accounts of sword fighting with none of the flailing and over dramatic gestures of writers with lesser talent. (ahem… Terry Brooks.)