Scholar

Modesitt branches out from the original Imager trilogy (which concluded with Imager’s Intrigue in 2010) with this somewhat sluggish political fantasy. Scholar Quaeryt Rytersyn is sent by Lord Bhayar of Telaryn to check into some anomalies occurring in the province of Tilbor. Quaeryt digs deeply into all aspects of the province and its people before he reaches the garrison, where he asks provocative questions while downplaying his own abilities—including his magical skill as an imager. Quaeryt never receives or seeks any specific orders on how to proceed; instead, he merrily awards himself the task of fixing all the problems he can find in Tilbor province, by murder and treachery if necessary. Modesitt piles on the details as various players jockey for power and political gain, but much of it is extraneous information that tends to drag between the bursts of high drama and action. (Nov.)