They have left one of their band of outcasts in a grave in the wilderness. Now they must continue to the dread underground palace of Hrad Spein; but before they can reach it, they must overcome many obstacles, fight many battles, and evade frightful enemies on their trail.

Once they have breached Hrad Spein, which no army of warriors or wizards has ever done, Harold must go alone into the secret heart of the most dangerous place in his world, fighting legions of mysterious powers to claim the magic horn that will save his beloved land from the Nameless One. And that is volume one.

Pehow introduces a cast of charming, quirky and even loathsome characters into an epic fantasy that offers the full gamut of ogres, elves, undead creatures, along with wizards and the like, in battles that seem to have you there. The action, plotting, and quest hold the reader in thrall, but it is the characters that fascinate. You can't help joining Shadow Harold in his quest. I look forward to the rest of the series and soon. This starts out as a gotta-have-it series but the first stands alone as well. ~~ Pam Allan