July 14, 2008
Harrier Gillain, future Knight-Mage, and his best friend, Tiercel Rolfort, High Mage in training, tread familiar ground in this sequel to 2007's The Phoenix Unchained
, following the command of the Light in a quest to destroy the Dark. Accompanied by Kateta, a pushy, nagging unicorn, and the mammoth black dragon Ancaladar, the teen heroes prepare themselves in the elven city of Karahelanderialigor before setting out in search of the Lake of Fire, where the Wildmage Bisochim Bluerobe is raising a fanatic horde of desert nomads. Harrier and Tiercel's lengthy trek comes most vividly to life through the subplot of young nomad leader Shaiara, who risks her whole tribe on the chance of finding Abi'Abadshar, a legendary oasis of alien technology. Adding thinly veiled racial subtext to the customary coming-of-age world-saving story, this epic will mostly appeal to those who like their fantasy by the numbers.
January 15, 2009
Set in the world of the authors' popular "Obsidian Trilogy," this entertaining second book in the "Enduring Flame" series (after "The Phoenix Unchained") follows Tiercel, a teenage High Mage, and Harrier, a newly minted Knight Mage, as they chase Tiercel's terrifying visions of a fiery lake. The two grow into their roles as heroes, setting the stage for an epic conclusion to the trilogy. The consistently enthusiastic performance by six-time Audie® Award nominee William Dufris ("The Futurist") transports listeners directly into the story. For most fantasy collections. [The Tor hc was recommended as "a good addition, along with its predecessor, to any fantasy collection," "LJ" 8/08.Ed.]Lisa Anderson, Metropolitan Community Coll. Lib., Omaha
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