Leaves of Flame

Evil is on the rise once again in the dense sequel to epic fantasy Well of Sorrows. Colin Harten was transformed by the magical Lifeblood of the Well and used his power to broker peace between the human, dwarren, and Alvritshai races of Wrath Suvane. A hundred years later, that peace is growing increasingly fragile under the threat of a man called Walter and the Shadows and Wraiths he’s raised with the Lifeblood of a secretly reawakened Well. Internal politics pits Colin’s ally Lord Aeren against ambitious soldier Lotaern, who craves a powerful artifact Colin wields. Colin is determined to seal Walter’s new Well, but betrayals, racial conflicts, and increasingly violent attacks by Walter’s forces impede his progress. New readers will find it difficult to invest as much in this dense middle book, but fans who reach the cliffhanger ending will be eager for book three. (Jan.)