This insubstantial sequel to Dark Warrior Rising
(2007) is concerned mainly with skullduggery in the labyrinth of caverns where various groups of dark elves, the Niflghar, fight perpetual war. One of their human slaves, Orivon Firefist, grew to brawny manhood and escaped from the city of Talonnorn. Now, as he returns to rescue more humans, the Niflghar themselves sabotage the city. Along with a fondness for tongue-twisting names, the villainous Niflghar enjoy making sneering orations at inappropriate times and simply can’t resist a chance to stab each other in the back, to the point where the story’s climax becomes a gory slapstick farce. Masses of lore hang over the action, magic is stored in physical objects and squeezed out as needed, colorful extras are manipulated and thrown away, and events pour out in a jumble. The book will be appreciated by readers who want to participate in a D&D game without the bother of throwing the dice. (Sept.)
