Dream Stone

Mychael ab Arawn, son of the rulers of Merioneth, faces an apocalyptic battle for his kingdom in this slow-starting fantasy romance set in 12th-century Wales. Armed with the Magia Blade, a powerful sword used by the last Dragonlord to command the ancient sea dragons, Mychael allies himself with Llyna, the last surviving aethling, a warrior and an acolyte to the last high priestess of magic. In an apparent effort to spice up the manichean showdown with the forces of evil, McReynolds at first reaches for narrative complications. Twenty-seven characters, including two dragons, are introduced before chapter four--some of whom do little or nothing to move the story along. Many locations, including subterranean settings, and their resident creatures also appear in the first few chapters, and wispy allusions to past events abound. This tangle at the novel's opening is unfortunate, as it's bound to discourage some readers from continuing to the smoother story that develops later. McReynolds rewards those who wait--until the disappointing conclusion, that is, which focuses on a frustratingly minor character. In between, McReynolds (The Chalice and the Blade) treats us to attentive descriptions and a story line that begs to be transformed into a video game. (Nov.)