Hinterland

by James Clemens

Roc, 462 pp, $24.95

Hinterland is book two of the Godslayer Chronicles.

Following the Battle of Myrrwood, darkness stirs and all of Myrillia is struggling with unease. In the south, an artifact is found, a skull of a god corrupted by dark graces. The work of the Cabal, a faction of daemonic naethryn intent on destroying the Nine Lands. Tylar, former knight and the new regent of Chrismferry must unravel the mystery of the skull, before Mtrilla is destroyed. But that is not the only threat: To mend a growing rift with Tashijan, Tylar returns to the home of the Shadowknights to regain his knighthood. He is trapped by the ravening forces of Ulf, the god of ice, and the rising dark forces from the depths of Tashijan, an order of corrupted shadowknights whose grace has been turned to the dark.

To save the nine lands, Tylar and friends must enter the Hinterland a desolate land in which is filled with rogue gods, dark graces and traps from which no shadowknight has ever returned.

Hinterland is a compelling book, well written, with well-drawn characters, and more plot twists than Heinz has pickle varieties. Save some uninterrupted time as it is hard to put down. You’ll want to collect the series for your library. - Pam Allan