Ever since he was a small boy Sam has lived in The Citadel where he has trained as a scribe. One day he is instructed to travel, with Watcher Fane, to the Watchtower and record everything that happens. After a short while the party are set-upon and Sam becomes very ill. From what little he hears from the attackers it seems as though someone is trying to stop them getting to their destination...

Prophesy Be Damned is the first novel in the 'Tales of the Penitent' and it forms a good introduction to what will undoubtedly be a very enjoyable series. The characters are well described and intriguing. The writer hints at future storylines that will hopefully be expanded upon in future volumes. The story has a good mix of magic, mythology and adventure and moves along at a reasonable pace.

The whole book is well balanced and relaxing to read. Although there is a reasonable amount of action there is nothing in the story to cause offence. Best described as comfortable and thoroughly enjoyable.

Synopsis
The youngest of the gods fell into the clutches of an ambitious mortal, a usurper who took what he wanted and almost destroyed the world. The Elderkin (the old gods) imprisoned the mortal in the heart of a mountain and took away the young god's beauty, name, and tears. Then they fled the earth, leaving man godless, but they left a prophecy behind that said if the Nameless God's birthright is returned to him before the mortal breaks free, then the Elderkin will return.

But that was long ago, now the burden rests on a boy's shoulders and Sam is not one bit happy about it. A Scribe for the Guardians, a group of men and women dedicated to returning the gods and keeping the mortal imprisoned, Sam has been mistreated, ordered about, and mind-scrambled. Now he has to fulfill the prophecy? Not likely, the boy would much rather damn it than do it, but it doesn't seem like he's going to have much choice in the matter.