I have to start out by saying I know the author personally and so sometimes I have a bit of bias toward his writing. That being said, I am NOT a Fantasy Fiction lover, and I love his books. Michael Benningfield crafts his books and writing like a movie screen with everything being seen from multiple points of view. When you read Dwarf, you'll find that you are instantly able to visualize everything and what is going on around the characters. He gives you just enough description to allow you to conjure up your own idea of how the characters, places, etc. look, without bogging you down with boring details.

When Michael first said he was finally writing a book, I scoffed at the notion. He has been saying for years that one day he was going to stop writing short stories and poetry and delve into actual novels. I was thrilled and impressed when he announced the release of his first book, and I can honestly say that the fact that he is an independent author and not signed to a major company is kind of insulting.

But - let us get to the book, shall we?

Dwarf opens in typical fashion for anything Mike does - it is a mysterious opening that captures your attention because you know immediately that something bad is about to happen. Even though you don't know what it is, the sense of foreboding will make you hang on every word as you find yourself reading slower in hopes of avoiding the conflict. Later, you find yourself reading faster simply to get to the next part and hope upon hope that the characters you have fallen in love with are still alive!

Ogres, Giants, Dragons, Elves, Dwarves, wolf-like beasts called Leolf's, snake-like creatures called Reophuse, and more, abound throughout the pages. If you want an evil-doer that you can truly grow to hate and loathe, look no further than Praghock Yulgrunli. Just hearing his voice in my head (in the voice I made up, of course) made me want to reach into the pages and strangle the living crap out of this guy! He is ruthless, cutthroat, and cares about no one but himself! I have NEVER hated a character so much in my life!

The interaction between Dwarves and Dragons is something to be admired. Dwarves have always been the back-stove workers in fiction, and when someone did put them at the forefront it was always pitted against the likes of elves or humans. Michael has managed to craft a world where the dwarves are fighting amongst one another instead of everyone else. The good guys need help, and they seek it. The bad guys want more power through manipulation of other races, and they seek it. Everyone within the pages of this book has their own single-minded goal, and it is this pace and path that makes it so great to read!

It is hard to write a book. It is harder to write one from multiple vantage points. Yet Michael does this and though bits and pieces may not appear to fit at first, just keep reading and you'll have that "Aha!" moment when the time is right. If you love fantasy novels, you will love this book. If you don't love this book, I am highly tempted to say there must be something wrong with you.