The Ragged Man-Tom Lloyd

The Ragged Man
Tom Lloyd
PYR, Aug 24 2010, $16.00
ISBN: 9781616142063

Although he had to act cold hearted and vicious in the war with the gods and saw his death in visions, the demise of Lord Isak has left the Farlan armies leaderless and retreating in confused panic. Several “humans” try to take up the leader void. King Emin Thonal of Narkang and the Three Cities and Ruhen possessed by the angry shadow-god Azaer who was shockingly defeated by Usak and the Farlan at devastated Scree, push their agenda.

The next key battle is coming. However, the gods learned from what happened at Scree. Instead of leading their supporters in battle, they direct their followers from the safety of a distant command post. The Grave Thief, the Hail Mary last hope for mankind, is realistic about his leadership skills so he seeks a hero to lead the bone weary battle fatigued human military; he turns to the graveyard for his champion.

The fourth Twilight Reign fantasy (see The Twilight Herald, The Stormcaller and The Grave Thief) is a great tale filled with plenty of vivid action. Readers will feel they retreat along side the despondent Farlan, who have come down from an adrenaline berserker frenzy to despair following the stunning death of Isak. Tom Lloyd displays his juggling ability as several interesting subplots with a large cast move forward towards what looks like the coming of the apocalypse confrontation.

Harriet Klausner