Of Truth and Beasts: A Novel of the Noble Dead
The ninth book of the Hendees’ Noble Dead saga continues the adventures of Wynn, of the Guild of Sagecraft; Chane, an undead; and Shade, an elven wolf. The texts of the Forgotten History Wynn obtained at the end of Through Stone and Sea (2010) have been taken from her, and the guild has sent her on a mission obviously meant to keep her out of the way while the guildmasters quarrel over the meaning of the texts. Instead, Wynn goes in search of the Orb of Spirit, a powerful device dating from the war of Forgotten History. But she’s being tracked by a descendent of the Lord of Slaughter, an infamous killer in that war. There’s plenty of action, but the story is carried by the internal struggles of the main characters, which slows the pace. The climax brings Wynn to a bitter choice between the principles she was raised with and the facts on the ground. Fans of the Noble Dead will enjoy the book, but newcomers should start with In Shade and Shadow (2009), the beginning of this subseries, if not the beginning itself, Dhampir (2003). --Frieda Murray