This lush but too-pat conclusion to Hoyt's alternate history trilogy (after 2008's Soul of Fire
) plays out the implications of British adventurer Nigel Oldhall's choice to save the universe with magic jewels instead of handing them over to Queen Victoria so she could restore her empire. Oldhall now attempts to return the gems to their African home, but he runs afoul of exiled Chinese were-dragons who seek his prize. Ambitious Chinese minister Zhang wants to seize power from the opium-addicted emperor, while the emperor's sister, Red Jade, wishes to protect her brother and his throne. Oldhall must navigate treachery from all sides to help an unexpected ally and achieve his goals. Hoyt tosses in an appealing cross-cultural romance and the conflicting pressures of loyalty and honor, but cuts them short with an overly neat ending. (Nov.)
