The excitement flags somewhat in the third book of Norton and Lackey's popular high fantasy series (after The Elvenbane and Elvenblood). Where earlier volumes focused on humans and dragons, now elves come to the fore in a tale of the machinations, power-playing and cruel games that are the lifeblood of the High Lords. Into this treacherous territory blunders a good-hearted elf, Kyrtian V'dyll Lord Prastaran, who is not a High Lord, has no political ambitions and doesn't care for the cruel ways of most of the elven folk. Kyrtian has a small holding in the country, keeps no slaves and his human servants actually like him. Obsessed with military tactics out in the middle of nowhere, Kyrtian has learned the art of war-which brings him to the attention of the High Lords. Against his will, Kyrtian ends up leading the elven armies in their ongoing war against the dragons and the halfblood elves that have plagued them throughout the series. But the battles that Kyrtian supposedly wins against his half-elven foes turn out to be just the beginning of his adventures. The authors take moral stabs at issues ranging from slavery to strip-mining, but the story line itself glosses over details, while the action comes across too often as told rather than shown. Hopefully, the next installment, the forthcoming Elvenbred, will resurrect the fireworks more typical of these heavy-hitting authors. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
An attempt by his rivals to discredit the young Elvenlord Kyrtian fails, instead propelling him into a position of power as commander of the army sent against the Young Lords who have risen in revolt against their Elvenlord fathers. When a series of encounters with a group of fugitive half-elven Wizards convinces Kyrtian that he is fighting on the wrong side, he opts out of the war and undertakes a journey in search of his missing father and the lost Portal to the elven homeland. The third installment in this best-selling series (Elvenbane; Elvenblood) by veteran sf and fantasy authors Norton and Lackey depicts a world in which decadent elven nobles hold the power of life or death over their human slaves. A good choice for most fantasy collections. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Description:
From Publishers Weekly
The excitement flags somewhat in the third book of Norton and Lackey's popular high fantasy series (after The Elvenbane and Elvenblood). Where earlier volumes focused on humans and dragons, now elves come to the fore in a tale of the machinations, power-playing and cruel games that are the lifeblood of the High Lords. Into this treacherous territory blunders a good-hearted elf, Kyrtian V'dyll Lord Prastaran, who is not a High Lord, has no political ambitions and doesn't care for the cruel ways of most of the elven folk. Kyrtian has a small holding in the country, keeps no slaves and his human servants actually like him. Obsessed with military tactics out in the middle of nowhere, Kyrtian has learned the art of war-which brings him to the attention of the High Lords. Against his will, Kyrtian ends up leading the elven armies in their ongoing war against the dragons and the halfblood elves that have plagued them throughout the series. But the battles that Kyrtian supposedly wins against his half-elven foes turn out to be just the beginning of his adventures. The authors take moral stabs at issues ranging from slavery to strip-mining, but the story line itself glosses over details, while the action comes across too often as told rather than shown. Hopefully, the next installment, the forthcoming Elvenbred, will resurrect the fireworks more typical of these heavy-hitting authors.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
An attempt by his rivals to discredit the young Elvenlord Kyrtian fails, instead propelling him into a position of power as commander of the army sent against the Young Lords who have risen in revolt against their Elvenlord fathers. When a series of encounters with a group of fugitive half-elven Wizards convinces Kyrtian that he is fighting on the wrong side, he opts out of the war and undertakes a journey in search of his missing father and the lost Portal to the elven homeland. The third installment in this best-selling series (Elvenbane; Elvenblood) by veteran sf and fantasy authors Norton and Lackey depicts a world in which decadent elven nobles hold the power of life or death over their human slaves. A good choice for most fantasy collections.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.