Isabel Glass, The Divided Crown

The Divided Crown

Isabel Glass

Tor, July 2005, $25.95, 384 pp.

ISBN 0765307464

It has been two years since Mathewar, the master of the College of Magicians and his wife Lady Angarred visited the court in the capital city of Pergodi in the kingdom of Karededin. They are surprised to get a summons from fourteen year old King Jerret to return to court. When they arrive they see much that distresses them as Jerret went to war with Goss because he bankrupted his treasury and needs the wealth of Goss to stay solvent.

In the castle are the Bound, soulless men and women who have no sense of identity and must obey the Binder who is a member of the Huru family that the king exiled for treason. The king is prepared to recall the Huru family, Noldeth and his two sons Polgar and Cullen while leaving Drustig in exile in Og. A palace coup leaves the king dead and Cullen on the thrown but Drustig is coming to take his power away from him. Both brothers possess half of a magic crown. One that binds and one that loosens the binding and drives people mad. Mathewar must find a way to destroy Drustig and bring the two halves of the crown together otherwise Karededin will plunge into a civil war.

This sequel to the DAUGHTER OF EXILE is more action oriented but there is enough romance between the various couples so that fans of romantic fantasy won't feel cheated. The protagonist has some life lessons to learn and he must gain the wisdom to wear the crown without succumbing to its temptations. All the various sub-plots tie back to the main storyline so that readers feels satisfied with the way the story ends. It is hoped Isabel Glass, a gifted and creative fantasist, visits this world in the future books.

Harriet Klausner