Tad Williams, Shadowplay

Shadowplay

Tad Williams

Daw, Mar 2007, $26.95

ISBN: 0756403588

Hendon Tolly has claimed the throne of Southmarch. Herndon's cousin, the deposed former ruler King Olin Eddon has been incarcerated in Hierosol. The ex-monarch's royal heir Kenrdick is dead, a victim of dark magic. Olin's younger twin offspring has been split apart separately struggling to survive the ordeal of exile with Tolly looking to insure neither can come back by hiring the most lethal mercenary available to insure his cousins never return to claim the crown.

Prince Barrick remains under the spell of Yasammez and the Twilight People behind the Shadowline with his only allies being Captain Ferras Vansen, the Storm Lantern, the mysterious and dangerous fairy Gyir, and Skurn the raven. Princess Briony hides in a forest near her former home castle where a woods Goddess abets her escape until she joins a travelling troupe of actors, who welcome her unaware that her presence amidst them endangers them. Meanwhile to the south King Autarch may be insane, but he sees an opportunity to seize Southmarch as chaos reigns.

The second "Shadow" fantasy saga is a superb thriller though it is also the middle book of a trilogy so sub-plots on the three prime fronts move forward, but are never resolved. The story line is action-packed especially when the focuses are the twins. Though newcomers should read the previous tale (see SHADOWMARCH), fans of Tad Williams will enjoy his complex political fantasy

Harriet Klausner