Eclipse – The Lost Book of Ascension
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Eclipse
What happens if after the days keep getting shorter?
And shorter?
Until there is an eternal night?
What happens as the darkness grows?
And the creatures of dusk take control of the Mountain?
And Atreu and Verlinden's quest for the third Book is the only hope?
What happens if after the days keep getting shorter?
And shorter?
Until there is an eternal night?
What happens as the darkness grows?
And the creatures of dusk take control of the Mountain?
And Atreu and Verlinden's quest for the third Book is the only hope?
The Mountain is in its death throes as the Nazir send their wraiths to finish what the dusk-rats and grale had begun. Soon there will be no daylight to protect the Maelir and Faemir, and with each twilight there are fewer places to hide. Will the Mountain finally collapse under its own instability or will Atreu and Verlinden’s descent find the words of salvation in the Lost Book of Ascension?
Can you see the story breathing?
Can you see the story breathing?
Can you see them? The Teller’s words are floating through the air and taking shape above your head. Clouds are whispering into half-forms as you capture the words in a place just beyond your vision. Breathe slowly. You will see them. Inhale. Exhale. Can you see the story breathing…
You are on a pre-dawn slope, and the snow is crunching under your feet as you walk. With every step, you see vapour clouding from your lips. Around you are boulders and sharp-toothed rocks, looming out from the white blanket, and you twist and turn to avoid them.
As thin, sour tendrils of light snake into the sky, you see the still, dark waters of a giant lake in the crater below. You are about to remember why you are here when you hear a voice.
You stop dead, because you believed you were alone.
You are on a pre-dawn slope, and the snow is crunching under your feet as you walk. With every step, you see vapour clouding from your lips. Around you are boulders and sharp-toothed rocks, looming out from the white blanket, and you twist and turn to avoid them.
As thin, sour tendrils of light snake into the sky, you see the still, dark waters of a giant lake in the crater below. You are about to remember why you are here when you hear a voice.
You stop dead, because you believed you were alone.
Praise for Eclipse
’"Eclipse provided an even more satisfying instalment to a creative, epic journey... This was an impressive way to end the series… the level of detail the author uses in his world building is so enthralling… The writing here feels accomplished, as the author combines his creativity with some believable character development and a strong story, but with that added something special to make this book feel like a ‘proper’ fantasy novel, a really, really good one… Strasser worked his magic and I was left one happy reader indeed after the absorbing series finished on a high."
Book Drunk
"Ive been completely captivated by Dirk Strasser’s books. The rich imagination that flows from the pages is nothing short of astounding and the world he creates completely envelopes you from the moment you begin to read. Eclipse was every bit as good as its predecessors and presented an expertly told story, rich and memorable characters plus a stunning setting. What more could any book lover want? Atreu and Verlinden remain my favourite characters; their journey has been beautifully told; their character arcs over the three books have been a pleasure to read. One thing I love most about reading is being taken to places I would never ordinarily get the chance to go... These books take you on a wonderful journey, complete with the thrill of adventure and a sprinkling of magic."
Lynsey James
"An epic ending to an epic fantasy trilogy! Dirk Strasser gave an amazing ending to his series with Eclipse. Looking back on the first two books in the series, I feel like I was right alongside Atreu during his journey. His character arc made for an engaging reading experience. The pacing of this final book was effortless and showcased Strasser’s skill as a fantasy writer…These books have shown me why I appreciate and love fantasy so much."
Pretty Little Pages
"There is a great feeling of mythic inevitability to Eclipse; so much has Strasser invested into the mythos of the Mountain and its peoples one cannot help but feel, as the last acts play out, that Strasser is not so much telling a story but relating a version of a strangely familiar legend. This is, perhaps, the greatest praise that can be given to Eclipse. It not only provides a fitting climax to the Ascension trilogy, but one that captures the essence of the series as a whole. Imbued with the same sense of wonder and majesty that permeate Zenith and Equinox, Eclipse is the ending that fans have been waiting for, and one that will delight new converts for years to come. I cannot recommend this series highly enough."
Alex Stevenson
"Eclipse… gathers all loose threads and plot points into an epic finale that outshines the previous parts of the series in terms of complexity and epic-ness. The scales have never been higher, the fate of the world hanging in the balance.With great writing, characters who go through such steady development readers can easily follow along on their journey, and an epic, engaging world, Dirk Strasser has weaved an intriguing fantasy series that is a mustread for all fans of epic fantasy."
I Heart Reading
"Eclipse: The Lost Book of Ascension by Dirk Strasser fills in every gap, fuels every fantasy and completes this epic trilogy . . . I must commend Dirk Strasser for his ability to deftly weave scene after scene, emotions and action into a pace that flows with ease, never too fast, but always filled with rich detail. When I finished this last book in the trilogy, I was sad to leave Atreu’s world… When a reader becomes that engrossed, that connected to the tale and its people, that is the sign of masterful writing!"
Tome Tender
"I enjoyed this book immensely and recommend it to any fan of fantasy! It grabs you and holds you from the first page of the first book to the last page of the third book as hidden secrets are revealed through tense story-telling. For those who like fantastic journeys, I say: 'Buy! Buy!'."
Amazon.de (translated from the German)
"Eclipse is a rarity – a final volume of a trilogy that is more than a simple conclusion. It has its own strong, internal narrative without sacrificing its duty to unite the complex themes, threads and characters of the first two books. It is a thoroughly satisfying novel, with a mature and multi-layered approach to fantasy tropes, adding a welcome freshness to the genre. Its dialogue and characterisation are first rate."
Michael Pryor, author of The Laws of Magic
"I really think it's a great achievement, because Strasser has layered so much sophistication and insight (and wisdom) into the story. It builds to a mighty crescendo – and it really proves that Fantasy can have as much bite and guts and meaning as SF, any day."
Van Ikin
"I never thought that reading a manuscript could be the same as reading a book, but for most of the time, I was hardly aware that I wasn’t reading a book... Congratulations! The trilogy is complete – rounded off in a very satisfying manner. And the total of the whole is bigger than any of the parts.”
Richard Harland, author of Worldshaker
“I’m astounded at the world Strasser has created in both its uniqueness and its utter consistency... I was glad to see certain characters return in this final book and I’ll be sad to say goodbye to others. Strasser is definitely an author I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for in the future.”
Best Chap Lit
Book Drunk
"Ive been completely captivated by Dirk Strasser’s books. The rich imagination that flows from the pages is nothing short of astounding and the world he creates completely envelopes you from the moment you begin to read. Eclipse was every bit as good as its predecessors and presented an expertly told story, rich and memorable characters plus a stunning setting. What more could any book lover want? Atreu and Verlinden remain my favourite characters; their journey has been beautifully told; their character arcs over the three books have been a pleasure to read. One thing I love most about reading is being taken to places I would never ordinarily get the chance to go... These books take you on a wonderful journey, complete with the thrill of adventure and a sprinkling of magic."
Lynsey James
"An epic ending to an epic fantasy trilogy! Dirk Strasser gave an amazing ending to his series with Eclipse. Looking back on the first two books in the series, I feel like I was right alongside Atreu during his journey. His character arc made for an engaging reading experience. The pacing of this final book was effortless and showcased Strasser’s skill as a fantasy writer…These books have shown me why I appreciate and love fantasy so much."
Pretty Little Pages
"There is a great feeling of mythic inevitability to Eclipse; so much has Strasser invested into the mythos of the Mountain and its peoples one cannot help but feel, as the last acts play out, that Strasser is not so much telling a story but relating a version of a strangely familiar legend. This is, perhaps, the greatest praise that can be given to Eclipse. It not only provides a fitting climax to the Ascension trilogy, but one that captures the essence of the series as a whole. Imbued with the same sense of wonder and majesty that permeate Zenith and Equinox, Eclipse is the ending that fans have been waiting for, and one that will delight new converts for years to come. I cannot recommend this series highly enough."
Alex Stevenson
"Eclipse… gathers all loose threads and plot points into an epic finale that outshines the previous parts of the series in terms of complexity and epic-ness. The scales have never been higher, the fate of the world hanging in the balance.With great writing, characters who go through such steady development readers can easily follow along on their journey, and an epic, engaging world, Dirk Strasser has weaved an intriguing fantasy series that is a mustread for all fans of epic fantasy."
I Heart Reading
"Eclipse: The Lost Book of Ascension by Dirk Strasser fills in every gap, fuels every fantasy and completes this epic trilogy . . . I must commend Dirk Strasser for his ability to deftly weave scene after scene, emotions and action into a pace that flows with ease, never too fast, but always filled with rich detail. When I finished this last book in the trilogy, I was sad to leave Atreu’s world… When a reader becomes that engrossed, that connected to the tale and its people, that is the sign of masterful writing!"
Tome Tender
"I enjoyed this book immensely and recommend it to any fan of fantasy! It grabs you and holds you from the first page of the first book to the last page of the third book as hidden secrets are revealed through tense story-telling. For those who like fantastic journeys, I say: 'Buy! Buy!'."
Amazon.de (translated from the German)
"Eclipse is a rarity – a final volume of a trilogy that is more than a simple conclusion. It has its own strong, internal narrative without sacrificing its duty to unite the complex themes, threads and characters of the first two books. It is a thoroughly satisfying novel, with a mature and multi-layered approach to fantasy tropes, adding a welcome freshness to the genre. Its dialogue and characterisation are first rate."
Michael Pryor, author of The Laws of Magic
"I really think it's a great achievement, because Strasser has layered so much sophistication and insight (and wisdom) into the story. It builds to a mighty crescendo – and it really proves that Fantasy can have as much bite and guts and meaning as SF, any day."
Van Ikin
"I never thought that reading a manuscript could be the same as reading a book, but for most of the time, I was hardly aware that I wasn’t reading a book... Congratulations! The trilogy is complete – rounded off in a very satisfying manner. And the total of the whole is bigger than any of the parts.”
Richard Harland, author of Worldshaker
“I’m astounded at the world Strasser has created in both its uniqueness and its utter consistency... I was glad to see certain characters return in this final book and I’ll be sad to say goodbye to others. Strasser is definitely an author I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for in the future.”
Best Chap Lit