In the world of the Isles, the elemental forces of magic are rising to a thousand-year peak. A small bank of companions has set forth across a world in the process of transformation in search of their destinies. Now their epic adventure continues.
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Queen of Demons is the middle volume of a mammoth heroic fantasy trilogy beginning with Lord of the Isles (1997). After dealing with a variety of menaces in book one, shepherd-boy hero Garric is on course to unite his archipelago world against the remaining forces of chaos, evil and unpleasantness, thus earning the title Lord of the Isles.
Again Garric's allies--including some interesting new helpers--are widely scattered in a tangle of linked storylines and headlong action, featuring many exhilarating fights against monsters, chimeras, phantoms, revenants, Hairy Men, Scaly Men, a cyclops, wicked wizards, and the book's two biggies: the unspeakable Beast which demands a diet of young girls, and the title's evilly beautiful, demon-spawned Queen. At regular intervals characters fall through another magic portal to find themselves in a new plane or dimension or hell world, there to discover mislaid friends, deadly peril, or more likely both.
Drake keeps his narrative bowling along with plenty of colour, occasional doses of practical politics, and no time at all for boredom. Arbitrary transitions and wild coincidences make it seem slightly tongue in cheek, a soap-operatic entertainment with an endless series of vicious villains to be zapped, outwitted or skewered with a trusty blade. At the very end, with Good seemingly triumphant, up pops another one:
The wizard stood on the back of the monster he had called to him. He raised his head, and the heavens echoed with his laughter.
More in book three ... --David Langford --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"David Drake's" Lord of the Isles" is an epic with the texture of the legends of yore, and rousing action and characters to cheer for."--Terry Goodkind
"More shapely than the original volume, and beguilingly set forth."--"Kirkus Reviews"
"More shapely than the original volume, and beguilingly set forth."--"Kirkus Reviews"
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First Sentence
Valence III, crowned King of the Isles, shivered in the unseasonably warm night as the wizard Silyon scribed the words of his incantation on the transom of an age-crumbled gateway. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Valence III, crowned King of the Isles, shivered in the unseasonably warm night as the wizard Silyon scribed the words of his incantation on the transom of an age-crumbled gateway. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This is the first book I've read by David Drake, and I was so impressed that I'm now planning to go out and buy some more - starting with the rest of this series.
The characters in the book were all well developed, and they changed and grew throughout the course of the book. Death wasn't just limited to the 'bad guys' - something which sadly often isn't true of many books - which made the book much more powerful.
The imagery was strong, with many scenes described so well that I could almost close my eyes any picture them. At the same time, there wasn't so much detail that it bogged down the storyline. The story moved fast enough to keep a readers interest without sacrificing the storyline in favour of action. Some people might find the multiple viewpoints somewhat confusing and possibly even irritating, but I have always enjoyed this style of writing.
The sheer amount of magic in the story might put some people off, but personally I found it made the book even more enjoyable. It had well laid out and consistent format, which made it easier to suspend disbelief while reading. The use of real words from spells dating back to classical times was another nice touch.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy, although I'd also suggest that they start with the first book in the series - a piece of advice which I failed to follow, although as the book can also stand on its own it was easy enough to pick up the essentials of plot and characters from the previous book.
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is a fabulous book! It continuse where 'Lord of the Isles' left off. The plot is great and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. You'll love it though read the first one first.
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
At first this story appears to have all the elements required for a good, satisfying read. As you progress you realize it's like a stew without the spice. Key elements that catalyze the whole are missing - notably a lack of emotional development in the male/female relationships, and a certain unidimensional feel to the main characters' thoughts as they decide on how to act in each successive situation (the third party viewpoint is too obvious?). The more I read, the more underwhelmed I became.
This is still worth reading for fans of the genre, and it has enough detail & depth to be considered "read if you have the opportunity", but certainly it is not a "must read". Borrow it from the library or a friend, or at least wait for the paperback.
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3.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good story, but bad characterization
Maybe I've just been spoiled, but I get caught up in Drake's almost Robert Jordanesque plots, and I just start to expect things to go they way they do in the Wheel of Time, and so... Read more
Published on 28 Jan 1999
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fairly stock S&S adventure with Drake's good writing.
How many new Sword & Sorcery plots can there be? This fairly tepid plot benefits from David Drake's expected excellent writing, but unless you are a dyed in the wool S&S... Read more
Published on 30 Dec 1998
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good addition to the series.
Quite a good read. Drake keeps the intest level high with more almost meetings between the struggling characters. Cashel gains a new companion. Garric begins to lead. Read more
Published on 22 Dec 1998
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well, Drake has certainly done it again
David Drake, one of the best SF/fantasy Military writers that I've ever read (especially the General series), has now shown to me that he can equally write good hard core fantasy. Read more
Published on 10 Nov 1998
4.0 out of 5 stars
How does humanity continue on in the isles?
This book does ramble, but listening to it on cassette is still quite enjoyable. But after going through both books now, I just have to wonder how people in this world reproduce,... Read more
Published on 1 Nov 1998
1.0 out of 5 stars
It had no plot
This book i had trouble keeping intrest in it had no plot and was very misleading.It was one of the worst books I have ever read! Read more
Published on 7 Oct 1998
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great setting to an original series
This was a great book, I just finished it last night, 600+ pages in 3 nights of about 2.5 hours reading each night, I could not puit it down. Read more
Published on 27 July 1998
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