Prince of Dogs (Crown of Stars)

Readers return to the war-torn kingdoms of Wendar and Varre, and the intertwined destines of Alain, Liath, Sanglant, and Fifth Brother, who now builds an army to do his father's--or his own--bidding in a world at war. Original.

Second entry in Elliott's doorstopper fantasy series (King's Dragon, Feb. 1997) set in the old/medieval-Europeflavored kingdom of Wendar. Following an invasion by the vicious, barbaric, nonhuman Eika and their terrible dogs, King Henry makes plans to recapture the city of Gent--where his immortal bastard son Sanglant, the prince of dogs, is being kept chained and humiliated by the Eika warlord Bloodheart. Elsewhere, young King's Eagle Liath, pursued by her nemesis, Hugh, strives to rediscover her past and master the magic within her. Alain, Count Lavastine's adopted heir, desires only peace but can't disregard his oath to the Lady of Battles. And Fifth Brother, Bloodheart's least-favored son, is developing his own agenda for dealing with both his father and the humans. A solidly engrossing addition to a worthwhile series. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Believed slain in the doomed battle for the city of Gent, Sanglant, the bastard son of King Henry, hovers on the edge of madness as a prisoner of the barbarian Eika conquerors. While Sanglant's lover Liath struggles to unlock her hidden magic powers, Alain?lowborn son of Count Lavastine?wages a private battle to prove himself worthy of his father's trust. Continuing the story begun in King's Dragon (DAW, 1997), Elliott weaves together the destinies of star-crossed lovers, ambitious churchmen, and barbarian invaders in a dazzling medieval fantasy set in an alternate Europe. Reminiscent of Katherine Kurtz's Deryni series, this engrossing saga should appeal to fantasy lovers and fans of historical epics alike. Recommended for most fantasy collections.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.