Picking up where Enemy Glory
(2001) left off, Michalson offers more of the same dense, rococo prose in the sequel, narrated as before by the pompous, self-absorbed wizard Llewelyn, as his former friend, the Duke of Walworth, holds him at sword point. Ruminating further on the curious religious beliefs that permeate society, Llewelyn flees the nasty emperor Roguehan to a place where he has a chance to become king. When his evil goddess, Hecate, gives him the choice of laying waste to the land of elves and beauty or going north to a certain tortuous death, we finally learn how he has come to be on trial for treason in the north. Inverted logic and word games that try to close loopholes in the plot will irritate some readers, but fans of the first book should find this a satisfactory conclusion. (Feb. 25)
FYI:
Enemy Glory was a nominee for the 2002 Prometheus Award.
