The Vacant Throne: A Band of Four Novel (Band of Four)

From Publishers Weekly Best known as the creator of Forgotten Realms, the Dungeons & Dragons-based heroic fantasy series, Greenwood continues to give his audience exactly what they want stereotypical heroes and villains caught up in predictably dirty schemes full of violence, magic and PG-13 humor in this sequel to 2000's The Kingless Land. The Four gruff warrior Hawkril, sly thief Craer, grumpy healer Sarasper and beautiful sorceress Lady Embra Silvertree assisted Kelgrael Snowsar to assume the throne as the rightful "Risen King" of Aglirta, yet there are still plenty of lords who'd rather see someone else in his place. To quiet their complaints, Snowsar decrees that he will hold a "recoronation" at the start of the new year, after everyone has decided which side to take, for or against him. Meanwhile the king sends his faithful Four off to recover the missing fourth Dwaer-stone, a magical gem that, when added to the three they already possess, will give the king and his allies the power to defeat any enemy. Of course the Four immediately become the target of every bad guy in the realm, even as Snowsar busies himself with avoiding assassins at every turn. A choppy, haphazardly constructed story speeds along from one unnecessary side trip to another. While new readers looking for an undemanding, fast, furious read may find this book a reasonable way to kill an hour or two, they're unlikely to come back for more. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From The sequel to The Kingless Land (2000) establishes that the troubles of that land, Aglirta, are by no means over. The Dwaerindim Stones have lifted the curse of the Sleeping King, but the feudal magnates, long accustomed to having their own way in the matter of private wars and armies, also have abundant resources and few scruples about using them to preserve their position. Some of those resources are magical and threaten to provoke a situation beside which the curse is petty. Hawkril the warrior, Craer the thief, Sarasper the healer, and Embra Silvertree the Lady of Jewels have to match wits and weapons against the ruthless feudality and to seek out a powerful magical secret whose possession confers the rule of Aglirta--or worse. Greenwood's background in game-related fiction shows again, but so does his singular sense of humor, and his world-building skills compensate for occasional slow pacing. Roland Green Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

aglirta Is Known As The Kingless Land. Once Prosperous And Peaceful, It Has Fallen Into Lawlessness, Studded With Feuding Baronies Engaged In A Constant State Of War . . . But The Land Is Kingless No More.

the Legendary Sleeping King Has Been Reawakened By The Efforts Of The Valiant Band Of Four:

-hawkril, A Bold And Brave Warrior Gifted With Great Strength And Fortitude

-craer, The Crafty And Clever Thief

-sarasper, The Learned And Wise Healer

-lady Embra Silvertree, The Mystical Lady Of Jewels, A Powerful Sorceress

with The Aid Of The Dwaerindim Stones, The King's Curse Has Been Lifted . . . But It Will Take More Than The Dwaerindim To Restore Him To The Long Vacant Throne Of The Land. Ambitious And Devious Barons Are Ready To Challenge Him For The Throne, While Dark, Inhuman Forces Wait For The Chance To Bring Aglirta Under Its Evil Shadow. The Band Of Four Must Quest For A Powerful Secret That Will Restore The Kingdom To Its Former Glory.

publishers Weekly

best Known As The Creator Of Forgotten Realms, The Dungeons & Dragons-based Heroic Fantasy Series, Greenwood Continues To Give His Audience Exactly What They Want Stereotypical Heroes And Villains Caught Up In Predictably Dirty Schemes Full Of Violence, Magic And Pg-13 Humor In This Sequel To 2000's The Kingless Land. The Four Gruff Warrior Hawkril, Sly Thief Craer, Grumpy Healer Sarasper And Beautiful Sorceress Lady Embra Silvertree Assisted Kelgrael Snowsar To Assume The Throne As The Rightful Risen King Of Aglirta, Yet There Are Still Plenty Of Lords Who'd Rather See Someone Else In His Place. To Quiet Their Complaints, Snowsar Decrees That He Will Hold A Recoronation At The Start Of The New Year, After Everyone Has Decided Which Side To Take, For Or Against Him. Meanwhile The King Sends His Faithful Four Off To Recover The Missing Fourth Dwaer-stone, A Magical Gem That, When Added To The Three They Already Possess, Will Give The King And His Allies The Power To Defeat Any Enemy. Of Course The Four Immediately Become The Target Of Every Bad Guy In The Realm, Even As Snowsar Busies Himself With Avoiding Assassins At Every Turn. A Choppy, Haphazardly Constructed Story Speeds Along From One Unnecessary Side Trip To Another. While New Readers Looking For An Undemanding, Fast, Furious Read May Find This Book A Reasonable Way To Kill An Hour Or Two, They're Unlikely To Come Back For More. (apr. 18) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Aglirta is known as the Kingless Land. Once prosperous and peaceful, it has fallen into lawlessness, studded with feuding baronies engaged in a constant state of war . . . but the land is kingless no more. The legendary Sleeping King has been reawakened by the efforts of the valiant Band of -Hawkril, a bold and brave warrior gifted with great strength and fortitude -Craer, the crafty and clever thief -Sarasper, the learned and wise healer -Lady Embra Silvertree, the mystical Lady of Jewels, a powerful sorceress With the aid of the Dwaerindim Stones, the King's curse has been lifted . . . but it will take more than the Dwaerindim to restore him to the long vacant throne of the land. Ambitious and devious barons are ready to challenge him for the throne, while dark, inhuman forces wait for the chance to bring Aglirta under its evil shadow. The Band of Four must quest for a powerful secret that will restore the kingdom to its former glory. With the aid of the Dwaedrindim Stones the curse of the Sleeping King has been lifted from Arlirta, the Kingless Land. But it will take more than the Dwaerindim to restore him to the throne. To achieve their goal the Band of Four must search for a powerful secret that will restore the kingdom. As the once-prosperous and peaceful Aglirta, the Kingless Land, falls into chaos and lawlessness, the valiant Band of Four (Hawkril, Craer, Sarasper, and Lady Embra Silvertree) set out to restore the Sleeping King to the throne. But ambitious and devious barons are all ready to challenge him. Birds whirred, called, and shed droppings copiously in the ruined, riven place that had until recently been a high-domed library (though it had been a very long time since its shelves had known books, and its aisles the tread of folk intending to read them).