The Witch King, also known as the Lord of the Nazgûl, is a powerful and feared character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is often depicted as a dark and malevolent figure, symbolizing evil and corruption. His appearance is that of a tall and imposing figure, clad in black armor and a tattered cape.
I’ll stop here, dear reader/listener, but all this to say, if you love dark epic fantasy with a band of misfits, morally grey (maybe make it a very dark grey) characters, unhinged behavior, and grim happenings that somehow still do not make for a bleak read, you need this book in your immediate tbr. The magic system is also pretty dang cool!
Now open your eyes and let me show you what a real war mage looks like but be warned you re probably not going to like it, because we re violent, angry, dangerously broken people who sell our skills to the highest bidder and be damned to any moral or ethical considerations. It very much added to the speed of the plot but also to the colloquialism of the narrative style as, similarly to his Greatcoats series, the protagonist is veritably talking with the reader.
His appearance is that of a tall and imposing figure, clad in black armor and a tattered cape. He wears a crown, representing his status as the leader of the Nazgûl, and wields a terrifying weapon known as a mace. His face is hidden beneath a terrifying helmet, obscuring his true identity.
Blog Tour: THE MALEVOLENT SEVEN by Sebastien de Castell (Mobius)
Today’s the first day of Sebastien de Castell‘s blog tour celebrating the release of his latest novel, The Malevolent Seven. The author has put together a rather cool explanatory video for one of the kinds of magic in this new fantasy world, which you can check out over on I’ve also tried to embed that video, below, (it doesn’t seem to show up in Safari, but it does in Chrome… Regardless, it serves as a handy link). Before you click through to Sebastien’s video, here’s the novel’s synopsis…
‘Seven powerful mages want to make the world a better place. We’re going to kill them first.’
Picture a wizard. Go ahead, close your eyes. There he is, see? Skinny old guy with a long straggly beard. No doubt he’s wearing iridescent silk robes that couldn’t protect his frail body from a light breeze. The hat’s a must, too, right? Big, floppy thing, covered in esoteric symbols that would instantly show every other mage where this one gets his magic? Wouldn’t want a simple steel helmet or something that might, you know, protect the part of him most needed for conjuring magical forces from being bashed in with a mace (or pretty much any household object).
Now open your eyes and let me show you what a real war mage looks like… but be warned: you’re probably not going to like it, because we’re violent, angry, dangerously broken people who sell our skills to the highest bidder and be damned to any moral or ethical considerations.
At least, until such irritating concepts as friendship and the end of the world get in the way.
My name is Cade Ombra, and though I currently make my living as a mercenary wonderist, I used to have a far more noble-sounding job title – until I discovered the people I worked for weren’t quite as noble as I’d believed. Now I’m on the run and my only friend, a homicidal thunder mage, has invited me to join him on a suicide mission against the seven deadliest mages on the continent.
Time to recruit some very bad people to help us on this job…
Our DM ruled that the ghost would keep its mind-affecting immunity since magic jar states that you keep your own mental abilities. This made sense to us, since conceptually it's the mind of the ghost in there. it shouldn't be any more susceptible than normal to things that affect the mind - ie mind-affecting effects like hold person and fascinate. Is this commonly interpreted differently?
The Witch King's physical appearance reflects his role as the embodiment of evil and fear. His black armor serves as a visual representation of his corrupt and wicked nature, while his imposing stature adds to the aura of power and dominance surrounding him. The tattered cape further enhances his ominous presence, creating an ethereal and otherworldly effect. The crown worn by the Witch King signifies his authority and importance among the Nazgûl. As their leader, he wears this symbol of power to assert his control over his subjects and to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. The crown is often depicted as twisted and jagged, mirroring the twisted and corrupted nature of the Witch King himself. The Witch King's weapon of choice, the mace, is a heavy and brutal weapon that he wields with deadly proficiency. This choice of weapon further emphasizes his strength and ferocity in battle. The mace is often depicted as a formidable and ominous weapon, capable of causing devastating damage to his opponents. The Witch King's helmet is perhaps the most iconic and recognizable aspect of his depiction. It is typically portrayed as a fearsome and terrifying design, with dark eye slits and sharp, jagged edges. This helmet serves to hide the Witch King's true identity, adding to the mystery and menace surrounding him. The hidden face leaves his opponents guessing and instills a sense of fear and uncertainty. Overall, the depiction of the Witch King is one that is meant to inspire fear and awe. From his dark and imposing armor to his terrifying helmet and formidable weapon, everything about him is designed to instill a sense of dread in those who encounter him. He is a character shrouded in mystery and darkness, representing the very essence of evil in Tolkien's rich and sprawling mythology..
Reviews for "The Witch King: His Influence on Other Fantasy Villain Archetypes"
1. David - 2 stars
I was highly disappointed with the depiction of the Witch King in this movie. As a big fan of the original books, I had imagined a terrifying, formidable figure that would strike fear into the hearts of even the bravest heroes. However, what I got was a watered-down, underwhelming version of the character. The CGI effects used to create the Witch King were lackluster, and the actor's performance felt wooden and unconvincing. Overall, I felt let down by the filmmakers' portrayal of such an iconic Tolkien villain.
2. Emily - 3 stars
While the Witch King depiction in this film wasn't the worst I've seen, it definitely fell short of my expectations. The costume design and makeup were well done, but the overall characterization and development of the character were lacking. There wasn't enough depth to the Witch King's motivations and backstory, and it felt like a missed opportunity to explore a more complex and interesting villain. Additionally, the special effects used to showcase the Witch King's powers seemed exaggerated and out of place. Overall, I found the character's depiction to be average at best.
3. Michael - 2.5 stars
The Witch King in this movie was a major letdown. After building up his character throughout the series, I was expecting a grand, memorable portrayal. Instead, the filmmakers gave us a weak, one-dimensional villain. The decisions made for his character's arc felt forced and contrived, and his dialogues were forgettable and lacking in depth. The battle scenes involving the Witch King were also underwhelming, with the CGI effects failing to create a sense of awe or fear. Overall, I was disappointed with how the Witch King was portrayed in this film.
4. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really looking forward to seeing the Witch King brought to life on the big screen, but unfortunately, the portrayal in this movie fell short. The actor's performance felt flat and uninspired, lacking the intensity and gravitas that I had imagined for such an iconic villain. The makeup and costume design were decent, but the lack of character development and meaningful dialogues made the Witch King feel like just another generic bad guy. In the end, I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied with how this character was depicted.