David and Leigh Eddings, Crystal Gorge

Crystal Gorge

David and Leigh Eddings

Aspect, August 2005, $25.95, 487 pp.

ISBN 0446532274

Each of the Four Elder Gods control their own Domain in the land of Dhrall. They walk among their people and interact with them, but the Elder Gods are coming to the end of their 25,000 year cycle, and must soon take a "nap". They are exhibiting signs of forgetfulness and senility, which is why they raised their children earlier than expected to become Dreamers, whose visions of the future come true. They are needed to tell the Elder Gods and their human allies, what the insect-like Vlagh will command her servants to do next.

The Vlagh's goal is to eliminate all of humanity, but she has already been defeated by a volcano eruption, and in the south in Zelana's Domain, by a sea of water erupting from the ground. Now the Vlagh is sending her servants to the north to Dahlaine's Domain, only this time many of them are in the form of man and they emit a fragrance that makes the tribes fight each other, or in some cases, plan to overthrow the army of the Elder Gods. These servants also emit a poison into the air that kills humans at an alarming rate. They must be stopped and a group of warriors plan to do just that, before the army of the Elder Gods prepares to take their stand in the next battle at Crystal Gorge.

Unlike the other two books in The Dreamers series, CRYSTAL GORGE is filled with lots of action, plenty of battle scenes, and insights into the different cultures of the various tribes that live in Dhrall. Former enemy tribes come together to form a nation, so that acting together they are stronger, and the probability of defeating a common enemy is made possible. Readers will like the Elder Gods who seem to be coming to terms with their limitations and are willing to let humans help them in their fight against the Vlagh. This epic fantasy novel is entertaining and highly original.