Darksiders

June 1, 2012
Marmell has long proven his skill at writing tie-in novels for role-playing and video games that delve deeper into a shared world's mythology and characters. Written to coincide with the release of video game Darksiders II, this novel takes place eons before the game starts and focuses on Death, one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Aided by War, Death must stop a rogue angel from opening the Abomination Vault, where the most destructive of the corrupt Nephilim's weapons are hidden, before the angel can start a war between Heaven and Hell. Grisly battles, horrific weapons, macabre settings, and indomitable antiheroes characterize this fast-paced dark fantasy. Marmell's writing is competent, mixing snarky modern dialogue and a theatrical high-fantasy tone, and his attention to developing the compelling Darksiders world is memorable, but this novel frequently reads like watching someone else play a video game, particularly during the excruciatingly detailed battle scenes. Still, gamers will enjoy seeing a favorite world come to life in a new medium, while fans of action-heavy black fantasy will find much to appreciate.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)