Daniel (@dungeondive) explores Karl Edward Wagner’s Darkness Weaves, the first Kane novel he’s tackled in this series. Kane, Wagner’s immortal mystic swordsman, operates as a force of nature rather than a traditional hero—a tool wielded by others until circumstances demand he seize control. In this adventure, Kane commands an island empress’s fleet as she pursues vengeance against the emperor who brutalized her.
Daniel appreciates Wagner’s confident, economical prose and the layered narrative structure that reveals Kane’s legendary history through demonic summoning. The novel borrows pacing and beats from spy thrillers, complete with intrigue, exotic locations, and even a scuba diving sequence that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Bond film. However, Daniel notes the novel occasionally drags; it could have been considerably tighter as half its length, and some supporting character chapters slow momentum without adding much substance.
What makes Darkness Weaves compelling is its refusal of moral clarity. There are no heroes here—only various shades of black and dark gray. The sorceress Aphro is both villain and victim, a tragic figure whose desperation fuels the plot. For readers seeking moral ambiguity and a protagonist who’s less hero than elegant weapon, Wagner delivers. Daniel’s biggest regret is that memorable passages were few, yet he’s eager to explore more Kane novels.
What draws you to Kane as a character compared to more traditionally heroic protagonists like Conan?