In this tongue-in-cheek fantasy, Edgerton's first since 1995's The Moon and the Thorn
(the concluding volume of her Chronicles of Celydonn trilogy), ancient Maglore Goblins and humans battle for control of the Lesser Goblin Jewels, artificial gemstones that can absorb and channel the Universal Magnetism. Set in a vaguely Franco-British world of court intrigue, magic and wonderfully imaginative nonsense, this sometimes charming mishmash unfortunately concentrates on cardboard characterizations of an assortment of humans, such as Captain Wilrowan Krogan-Blackheart, his somewhat reluctant wife, Lilliana Brakeburn-Blackheart, a Specularii magician-in-training and their cohorts. The problem: the goblins (and the religious zealot, Raith, who may or may not be evil) are far more interesting. The Maglore royalty, thought long-since dead and without power over their former human slaves, are represented by Ys, a petulant goblin orphan princess rescued by the imperious Valentine Solange and Lady Sophronispa. Whenever they take the stage, the story sizzles. The result is that the reader finds the longing for Maglore victory almost irresistible. Convoluted plotting and multiple flashbacks, flashforwards and extraneous details slow the pace and make for impatient reading. Edgerton, author also of the Green Lion trilogy (The Child of Saturn, etc.), is capable of better. Nonetheless, fans who've long been waiting for a new Edgerton should gobble this one up. (July)
