Soul Flayer
Book Report: Soul Flayer
By: Bill Hauden
Published: 1996
Publisher: Himmalsbach and Son
A strong tale about a Mage's son who grows up in a warren, the elders say he is to become the greatest warrior of all time. In order to find out, they put him to test. He has to defeat the entire Fetish population of the Flayer Jungle just outside the ruined town of Behemoth.
With the legendary Vixen Bite War Axe, he slaughters his way through the legions of small man-eating Fetish. Seeing that the Fetish cannot stop him, the elders decide that they aren't going to make it easy for him. So they also summon a stone Wyvern to kill him.
William Bight Kefka is a typical adventure hero. He has an evil counterpart, the Fetish shaman Xorcstermanisheriszch. And to make it an entirely stereotype book, the Fetish have also captured a beautiful maiden Mia.
The author takes his time to describe the wild, mythological landscape. You are able to envision every nook and crevice in the Spider Cavern, where Kefka goes to find Ornlu's Remains. The book also has a spiritual side, which is odd, considering it's a book that sounds like it's based on a video-game. The hero hardly eats, or sleeps, yet he remains focused and vigilante. Despite many futile attempts, the enemy fails to surprise him. He does all for the reputation of his family and for the love of fair Mia. Bill must have a personal bond to the characters in his story; this is clearly mirrored in Soul Flayer. It makes you desperately want to be part of that ethereal reality.
On the flip side of the coin, however, his language may be hard to understand. An ancient tongue, like you might connect with old tales of King Arthur and the round table, Robin Hood, etc. His style is hardly I'm not sure if I like the name of the Fetish shaman either. It's a bit over done, but perhaps that's the kind of name a Fetish shaman would have. Although hard to...
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