Hadrack is but a boy when his entire village is slaughtered in front of his eyes by nine armed men. Hadrack vows to avenge the deaths of his sister and father. At just 8 years of age, however, vengeance will have to wait for a while. As Hadrack grows, he finds himself in grueling servitude for many years. He makes a few friends along the way and sharpens both his fighting skills and his taste for revenge. Hadrack and his companions escape slavery but find themselves in a precarious position: Join the loathsome Pith’s and fight against their Lord Corwick or die. Always a survivor, Hadrack joins forces with Einhard, leader of the Pith’s. As the years pass, his resolve never wavers. Hadrack will avenge his family or die trying.
Terry Cloutier paints a graphic picture of life as a peasant. The task of simply living to fight another day is vividly portrayed in the lives of Hadrack and his companions. The people prove to be violent and unrelentingly savage, and it is easy to feel the persistent glow of hatred and the need for justice through Hadrack’s journey. The Nine will thrust you into a world of sword fighting and ale drinking. If you enjoy a good historical fantasy, Cloutier’s novel will prove to be a gripping page turner with plenty of action.
