ISBN: 0-345-42187-6 Order from: Amazon.com
A competent, tense novel of an aging couple forced by desperate circumstances to fight for their land and their family, and occasionally failing.
Reviewed by David on May 02, 1999
Genre: Fantasy (Dragons, Shapeshifting, Sword and Sorcery, Demons)
Synopsis: In Dragonsbane, John Aversin, known as Dragonsbane, and Jenny, his witchy wife, have, with pain and fear prevailed over a menace to their kingdom. Now, four years later, the land is threatened again. The terrifying but beautiful dragons are no longer the only threat to the Thane of Winterlands and his family. This time, it is the human ambition, backed by demons that threaten not only the kingdom but the sanity of Jenny and their mage-born son Ian.
Full Review: Even the horribly seductive and terrifying magic of Dragons, whose pull Jenny has escaped four years ago, is not enough to withstand this threat. The power of great demons seems unlimited, and the arrogant dragons themselves are no more than pawns in the tide of treachery and magic. While Jenny is forced to her limit and beyond struggling against orchestrated attacks of swords, sorcery and seduction, John, battered, injured and and alone, struggles to find salvation in ancient writings, unfriendly allies and the deepest of Hells themselves.
Hambly writes gritty, tense fantasies. Much as in Cherryh's novels, her heroes arre harried, injured and distrusted. In this installment, the heroes are as harried as in the best of them. While physically tough, the heroes are in their forties, and are consistently overmatched in magical power as well as treachery. There is quite enough suspense in this book, and the good guys are mauled, scarred and tempted enough for any three ordinary novels. One flaw (as in many Cherryh's books as well) is there is not quite enough contrast: it would have served well to insert more humor, peace and especially beauty and wonder of which Fantasy is capable. The potential of Dragon's mystical wisdom and power is largely wasted.
The ending, while coming to a temporary conclusion, is ominous with perils. A sequel, The Knight of the Demon Queen is promised to continue the story.
This book, while having some flaws, most notably in the unrelenting stress on its heroes, is well written and features some of the most sympathetic, well-rounded characters in heroic fantasy. For anyone who read Dragonsbane this is a very entertaining addition. Even without the earlier book, this fantasy is a worthwhile read.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6; Style: 5.5; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 1999, Ballantine Publishing Group (Del Rey), March 1999, Cloth, 297 pages
ISBN: 0-345-42187-6 Order from: Amazon.com