Sunday, May 17, 2015

Phoenix In Shadow - Ryk E. Spoor

Phoenix In Shadow
Ryk E. Spoor
Baen, May 5 2015, $15.00
ISBN: 9781476780375

The assault left the parents of Evanwyl native Kyri Vantage dead and even her country’s God Myrionar and the powerful Justiculars could not identify the assailants.  Not long after that an assassin murdered her brother.  Dying Myrionar fails to answer Kyri’s questions, but vaguely tells her to remain true to her pursuit of the truth.  In the greatest city Zarathan, now a Justicular Kyri meets Skysand Prince Tobimar Silverun on a quest for his origin and Poplock Duckweed the mage toad.  The trio teams up to kill her brother’s murderer Thornfalcon, Shrike and two Raiments (see Phoenix Rising).

Condor informs Aron of the death of Thornfalcon at the hands of the apparent True Champion and asks for and receives the power to avenge the person he considered his “father”.  At the same time the King of Demons Blackster empowers Condor, Kyri believes she owes her companions for their assistance on finding her sibling’s killer.  Thus, hoping the royal’s mission assists her on her hunt for her parents’ killers; she and Poplock accompany Tobimar Silverun on his quest that takes them through a path of certain death into a land of lethal monsters.

Whereas the first novel focused on Kyri’s coming of age plight, Phoenix In Shadow centers more on Tobimar’s efforts to fulfill the prophecy that exiled him with no chance of going home until he answers the question while at the same time Condor menacingly looms.  In the fully-developed Spoor realm starring a super lead trio and some nasty foes, this entry is a refreshing quest fantasy.


Harriet Klausner

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