Honeyed Words

The straightforward sequel to 2010's Black Blade Blues finds blacksmith Sarah Beauhall still processing the revelation that the world is filled with magic and dominated by secretive and powerful dragons. Sarah soon discovers she is being spied on by mysterious siblings Skella and Gletts, while her new smithing mentor, Anzeka, turns out to be deeply and destructively entangled with magic and plagued by a particularly malevolent ex-boyfriend. Skella and Gletts prove to be the sympathetic pawns of ambitious but foolishly greedy dwarves, and once again Sarah finds herself compelled to protect an unsuspecting world while allied with those who should by all rights be her enemies. Fans of the first novel will find this one equally enjoyable, as Pitts mixes familiar urban fantasy tropes with some new twists. Plenty of plot threads are left unresolved for future installments. (July)