The mood of Rosenberg's third absorbing Guardians of the Flame novel (after 2001's Not Quite Scaramouche) darts between aggressive whimsy and deep introspection, sometimes within a single page. Of the trio of soldiers and friends, only Pirojil remains. Durine is dead, and Kethol has magically adopted the shape of Forinel to prevent Forinel's younger half-brother from inheriting Barony Keranahan. The trio's original dream of someday founding the Three Swords Inn seems further from reality than ever. Stuck with running a barony, Kethol really wants to be a woodsman and soldier. Of course, there are
the fringe benefits, like Leria, the nobly born girl he can now marry and who's helping him with the deception. And Kethol has free access to the palace, something useful when you're trying to prevent the Dowager Empress from having the man you used to work for assassinated. Rosenberg's quirky style is on impressive display throughout, but the book is also a serious meditation on identity. Pirojil, Kethol and Leria must come to grips not only with what they must do but with what that means for who they are. Yet for all the philosophical musings, Rosenberg never allows the fun, breezy narrative his readers have come to expect to flag, closing with a twist that fits both the story and the style perfectly. (June 4)
FYI:The author should not be confused with Joel C. Rosenberg, author of the bestselling thriller
The Last Jihad (2002).
