Luthien's Gamble

The fortress city of Montfort has been liberated and restored to its true name, Caer MacDonald, but for how long? Luthien Bedwyr and his comrades - the irrepressible "highwayhalfling" Oliver deBurrows, the beautiful rebel Katerin O'Hale, the fearless half-elf Siobhan, and the dwarf leader Shuglin - have no time to celebrate. The humans, elves, and dwarfs of their peasant revolution have captured a city. Their nemesis, the demonic Wizard-King Greensparrow, has conquered most of the world.
To quell the "minor riot" Greensparrow sends the smallest division of his Praetorian Guard. The eleven thousand killer cyclopian warriors vastly outnumber the defenders of Caer MacDonald.
Against such impossible odds, Luthien's only advantage lies in Eriador's harsh winter; his only chance lies in rousing the fierce tribes of Eriador's wild countryside to his cause; and his only hope lies in finding the mysterious mage who once helped Luthien recover the legendary sword and cape of the Crimson Shadow.

The battle to free Eriador from the grip of the tyrannical Wizard-King Greensparrow continues in this fitfully rousing sequel to The Sword of Bedwyr. Although the humans, elves and dwarves led by young Luthien Bedwyr, The Crimson Shadow, have retaken the city of Montfort from Greensparrow and have restored the city's ancient name of Caer MacDonald, the battle for freedom has just begun. An army of "cyclopians" led by the vicious Belsen Krieg advances to crush the rebels, who must gain allies from those reluctant to take on dangerous forces. The ancient wizard Brind D'Amou, who sparked recent events with his gift of a magical cape to Luthien, joins the rebels as an adviser and leader. Luthien himself, abetted by followers and comrades, devises brilliant tactics that destroy his immediate enemies and earn him much-needed allies. Salvatore's battle scenes are robust, but his fantasy is dully derivative, and Luthien's meandering about his love life is awful.
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