Master of the Cauldron (Lord of the Isles)
The sixth volume of the imposing Lord of the Isles saga involves a royal progress by Garric, aspiring ruler of the Isles. Travel with him involves an army and a fleet, both of which Drake renders with his usual skill at depicting warriors. Also with Garric are his sister, Sharina; her lover, Cashel; and the witch Ilna, who is Cashel's sister. Ilna isn't particularly sympathetic but seems almost saintly compared with Countess Balila of Sandrakkan, an island that has a long-standing feud with Garric's home island, Haft. Moreover, Balila unscrupulously commands considerable and uncontrolled magic with which to fight Sandrakkan's battles. These Drake draws with great, gritty realism on both material and magical planes, and Hell quite literally breaks loose on occasion. The audience for this kind of fantasy saga should prove large and ongoing, and for this volume, at least, it will be well deserved.Roland GreenCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved