Queen of Demons

Queen of Demons follows the travels and adventures of memorable characters: Garric, his sister Sharina, their friend Cashel and Cashel's sister Ilna, and Tenoctris. Their journey takes them across the world of the Isles toward a confrontation with contending forces of evil, as the confluence of magic is reaching a millennial peak. The thousand-year-old sorcerer, The Hooded One, has been defeated after a great supernatural battle, but there remain a living king and queen in power - both bent on seizing control of the known world.
Queen of Demons reveals some of the dark powers of the evil queen of the Isles, and includes enough powerful magical conflict to satisfy even the most jaded fantasy reader.

As the protagonists in this sequel to Lord of the Isles (1997) journey through multiple worlds, Drake conjures a sense of enchantment?and danger?with original and convincing settings, situations and characters. Moreover, unlike too many fantasy characters, these protagonists mature through their adventures. Garric, aided by the ancient but lively spirit of King Carus, assumes the throne and grows into the unexpected?and often boring?demands of true kingship. His sister, Sharina, finds more male protectors but also learns to protect herself. Cashel rescues a princess?though the result is no fairy tale, and Cashel's sister, Ilna, seeks worthwhile purposes for her weaving-magic and expiation for the sins of its past uses. Liane emerges as a major character, dependable adviser to Prince Garric; other intriguing folk are introduced, from a drug-addicted wizard to Zahag, an ape magically given speech but still nonhuman in personality. If anything, the book covers too many stories, and so the reader is relieved when the protagonists are united at book's end. And though the evil eponymous Queen and the blood-hungry Beast have been defeated, more adventures await in implied future volumes.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In the sequel to Lord of the Isles , young Garric, would-be king of the Isles, and his companions are now long gone from their homes and struggling to survive and succeed in the larger world of the Isles. Drake interweaves at least four subplots that involve or menace the companions, who, in their toils, meet, most memorably, Zahag, an ape magically endowed with speech. Meanwhile, current king Valence is losing his grip on power, thanks largely to sorcery, and his ambitious queen, who is responsible for much of that sorcery, is trying to seize it for purposes that bode ill for the companions. The many subplots and characters sometimes make the book seem more convoluted than complex, and readers of its predecessor will certainly find it easier going than will newcomers. But the world building and characterization here are among Drake's best, and the magic is well thought out. Drake clearly has embarked on a fantasy saga as big as Eddings', Jordan's, and Goodkind's and as eminently worth reading. Roland Green

Along with his companions, Garric or-Reise, the descendant of a legendary king, travels through a series of strange and mystifying lands as he seeks out the great Beast whose evil threatens the Isles. This sequel to Lord of the Isles (LJ 4/15/97) showcases Drake's talent for epic fantasy. Imaginative world-building and attention to magical details make this a good choice for most fantasy collections.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.