The Shadow Within (Legends of the Guardian-King, Book 2)
Hancock'sThe Shadow Withinis the second entry in her Legends of the Guardian King series, followingThe Light of Eidon. The series is a heavily plotted medieval epic distinguished, as is all of Hancock's work, by intricate world building. The story opens with the epic slaying of a sea monster that is partBeowulf, partMoby Dick, but mostlyStar Trek, since despite all the gore, there's little sense of menace. Nonetheless, young Abramm's heroism in killing the monster shows that God--or Eidon--is on his side and enables him to return to his home kingdom to claim the crown. His authority is unimpeachable, but plots abound; in fact, the bulk of the novel deals with the slithering intrigues that Hancock first showed a knack for inArena(2002).John MortCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved