Of Truth and Beasts: A Novel of the Noble Dead [Hardcover]

Wynn has returned home to the Guild after another adventure with vampire Chane and wolf Shade. And even though she has gotten back her journals, her guild still opposes her and her insistence that an Ancient Enemy may return. Wynn has requested that they send her on another journey, and just to get her out of the way they do. With the guild's message deliveries as an excuse, Wynn goes in search of another orb - to keep it from falling into enemy hands. Once again, Chane and Shade accompany her as her protectors. But a dwarf stonewalker and descendant of a known mass murderer also insists on joining the small party.

Wynn's relationships with Chane and Shade have developed and changed. Shade is growing in her abilities. And Chane is changing and trying harder to be someone that Wynn can respect and trust. I love the direction the authors are taking with the characters. These tragic characters have such depth. While Chane started out the series as a complex person, he's grown to be one of my favorite characters. He's steadfast though not always making the right decisions.

The story follows Wynn and company along their quest, as well as other individuals as they trail Wynn with their own nefarious agendas. The mood is dark and imposing. And the suspense is continuous. With several twists and surprises, this series is never predictable. And impressively shocking climactic ending, left me wanting more. I only wish I didn't have to wait an entire year for the next installments to release. Don't miss this exciting series of magic, mythical creatures, and incredible lore.

Of Truth and Beasts is the third installment in Barb & J.C. Hendee's second series of the Noble Dead Saga. Sage Wynn Hygeorht is still searching for Baalale Seatt mentioned in the mysterious writings that she discovered even as she is being stymied at every turn by the very guild that she had placed her faith in as supporters of knowledge. She is still accompanied by the mysterious dwarf Ore-Locks who has his own agenda that temporarily dovetails with her goals as well as Shade, the majay-hi offspring of Chap and Lily and Chane Andraso, the undead. Chane has resorted to many extreme behaviors to protect and defend Wynn but must constantly fight against his less than desirable habits which she finds offensive. He is convinced that Wynn has not destroyed the wraith Sau'ilahk and is united with Shade in his desire to prevent Wynn from risking herself further in her quest for another of the orbs and her search for a way to prevent the Ancient Enemy from sparking yet another war. Wynn is dismayed by the effectiveness of her guild at barring her from further investigation but with her usual tenacity finds a way to travel to lands where she gets closer to her goals. The only problem is that several disparate groups are monitoring the Sage's actions and it becomes a race to determine who will be able to retrieve the next orb and utilize it for their own agenda which may or not result in the final cataclysmic war.

Another complex and intricate tale of the interactions between the various denizens who are struggling against each other while trying to either suppress or restore the events that have long been relegated to mythic status. The multiplicities of races and characters can be a bit overwhelming to anyone unfamiliar with the Noble Dead series and a listing of names and their allegiances would be very helpful. Although the struggles that Wynn experiences during her quest are interesting, she is not quite as charismatic and compelling as the fascinating Magiere/Leesil/Chap combination. The cameos by those who were key players in previous books add to the slowly mounting tension that has permeated the series as the various threads begin to coalesce. A imaginative and finely-crafted addition to the series.

© Night Owl Reviews

'Of Truth and Beasts' is the finale in the sequel Noble Dead series that focuses upon the secondary characters Wynn and Chane. It's been a decent ride for two novels, but this one is kind of a trudge to get through.

In the aftermath of the tragedies in the previous novel, Wynn is all but a pariah at the Sage's Guild for her role in those events as well as her dogged persistence about the importance of scrolls she brought back from the frozen citadel in the north. A victim of their political machinations, she's sent on a fool's errand to a distant elven settlement to keep her out of the way but assistance arrives from an unexpected quarter to spur the group forward in the quest to find Baalale Seatt, a forgotten dwarven stronghold. In its depths Wynn hopes to locate the Orb of Spirit- one of the five Orbs belonging to the Beloved, the Ancient Enemy in the Lost War ages ago, and a possible key to preventing its return.

Accompanying her as always is Shade, her majay-hi escort; Chane- her determined vampire guardian seeking to protect her from everything, even herself- and Ore-Locks the dwarven Stonewalker, who remains steadfast in his mission to redeem the name of his disgraced ancestor. Their path is trailed by allies and enemies alike- notably Chuillyon the elven sage, who seems to serve many masters; Domin Ghassan il' Sanke- Wynn's friend and surrogate mentor from the Guild; and Sau'ilahk the wraith, who serves the Beloved. But in the depths of Baalale Seatt, more than lost knowledge awaits them all. Much, much more.

The strongest part of the Noble Dead series is the weakest in these books. The intricacy of the multiple story threads and minutiae that served so well when we first met Magiere and Leesil drag down Wynn and Chane. There's too much description in these books; arguably appropriate for dealing with a Sage's Guild, but most of it can be skimmed over and is plain boring. Who knew crossing a room could entail so much angst and adverbs? Too many times there was stuff that could've been hand-waved with exposition but instead we got the excruciating details.

The motives of the majay-hi as a whole are revealed to a point, but Shade's behavior remains annoying and inconsistent, growling at everyone and constantly trying to impede every step of the journey. Knowing what's at stake both Shade and Chane should be much more cooperative at this point. Their constant protests and interference is boring, repetitive and fills up pages.

The climactic sequence in Baalale Seatt is interesting but jarring; it's foreshadowed at the beginning of the book but still kinda comes out of left field. But typical of these stories, it's a very bittersweet resolution and appropriately so. And the long-awaited appearance of some old friends in the final pages feels forced and strained- a very awkward transition to lead into the next series.

'Of Truth and Beasts' is both a resolution and a transition novel. As we've come to expect from the series one answer leads to five questions and several story threads are, as always, left dangling to be picked up in the next book. Let's just hope it involves a little more exposition.