Privateer

Intricate political intrigue marries well with personal machinations in Weis and Krammes’s epic second Dragon Corsairs fantasy (after Spymaster). The kingdoms of Rosia and Freya stand precariously between war and a tentative peace, with everything balanced on the knife edge of an engagement between Princess Sophia of Rosia and Prince Thomas, contender for Freya’s throne. There are only a few small problems: Thomas loves someone else, secret societies are plotting dire activities, and trust comes at a premium. The novel opens with the misadventures of privateer Captain Kate, Prince Thomas, and friends as they run afoul of the Rosian and Freyan governments. Other stories—including the attempted rescue of Dalgren, Kate’s friend and dragon partner, and Thomas’s path to the throne—weave through one another. An unfortunate cliffhanger ending is the one dim spot in an otherwise immersive and imagination-fueled adventure. Agent: Christi Cardenas, Plains Agency. (Aug.)