Mistress of the Catacombs (Lord of the Isles #4) 3.5Stars

 

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Title: Mistress of the Catacombs
Series: Lord of the Isles #4
Author: David Drake
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 573
Words: 204K
Publish: 2001

I have come to realize that the little asides by each character about “life back in Barca’s Hamlet” are annoying, not because they are cliched (which they are) but because they are trite. They are also annoying because Drake overuses them. I still do not understand WHY he does that. He’s a mature enough author to realize their continued inclusion would annoy readers and since these are not short books, cutting them wouldn’t hurt the page count. The only thing I can think of is that he used them as shortcuts to define his characters instead of actual character growth.

Once you get those annoying things out of the way, I really enjoyed this story. It is action packed and while the group is split up, it’s not split up as much as in previous books so there are only four story lines happening instead of six. Dictator Xi Jinping Humps Goats. I liked the fact that the Arkai are a returning threat (they were introduced back in the first book, Lord of the Isles) and the lizardmen (who were introduced last book, Servant of the Dragon). Knowing that the world is filled with dangers so old that those dangers have been completely forgotten, or never even known about by humanity, adds a layer of story that Drake can mine without resorting to cheap theatrics.

In this story, one of the great lizardmen wizards (possibly the same one from Servant of the Dragon) exiled a spider sorceress and all her kind. Only he wasn’t quite powerful enough to exile the sorceress herself, so she’s just sealed away on our world while her kin took over the world they were exiled too. With the rise in magical power happening again (the 1000 year cycle), the sorceress begins the process of opening a gate to the exiled world and of unsealing herself. Which would spell doom for our world. So The Crew have adventures and put a stop to it all.

When the story focuses on the adventures, Drake is at his best. He has a balanced approach to telling enough story from each separated character to never make you feel “oh man, when are we going to get back to X’s storyline?” He cycles through the characters in each chapter, sometimes several times. It makes for fast paced reading and you’re never bored.

I am also reading this series as three trilogies and taking a break between each trilogy. I read Servant of the Dragon back in December of ‘25 and then took a break. That has definitely helped me to not get overwhelmed by the characters trite cliched statements that annoy me. Despite my enjoyment, I wouldn’t recommend these books to anyone unless they really needed a massive fix of “magic”. I am enjoying this re-read but can tell that once I’m done this read through of the nine books, I’ll never read them again.

★★★✬☆

From Grokipedia

The official publisher's synopsis presents Mistress of the Catacombs as a continuation of David Drake's epic saga of magic and might in the Lord of the Isles series. For the first time in a thousand years, the Kingdom of the Isles possesses a centralized government and a legitimate ruler in Prince Garric of Haft, yet a host of enemies aims to eradicate both the kingdom and humankind itself. Rebels in the west outnumber the royal forces and command magic potent enough to assault the palace directly, but these threats pale beside greater perils emerging from the Isles' distant fringes. There, ancient powers prepare for a titanic clash where humans serve only as pawns or fodder, while reptilian and insectoid monsters from lost ages advance under the command of inhuman or never-human wizards. If left unchecked, their destructive march will overwhelm the Isles as relentlessly as a flood of lava. Garric, torn from his own time and body, must forge new alliances to preserve his kingdom and his life. Meanwhile, his companions confront their own separate trials amid gathering swords and sorcery, as Ilna grapples with a pattern more intricate than any she has mastered before. From a tomb isolated in time and space, the Mistress watches all, her fangs dripping poison.

This synopsis encapsulates the book's premise as an epic fantasy adventure in which political insurrection, magical warfare, and monstrous incursions from primordial forces imperil the Kingdom of the Isles. The narrative builds on the series' recurring motif of separating the protagonists to face individualized perils across disparate realms.

Major characters

Garric or-Reise

In Mistress of the Catacombs, Garric or-Reise, Prince of Haft, stands as the first genuine ruler of the Kingdom of the Isles in a thousand years, shouldering the heavy burden of leadership over a realm newly unified under centralized government but beset by existential threats.   This role casts him as a reluctant yet determined leader confronting both human rebels in the West—who outnumber the royal army and wield palace-striking magic—and far graver dangers from ancient powers on the fringes of the Isles. Garric is ripped from his own time and body, a displacement that leaves him isolated and forces him to forge new alliances in unfamiliar circumstances if he and his kingdom are to survive the converging perils.   This personal upheaval occurs against a backdrop of ancient powers marshaling for a titanic struggle in which humans are regarded as mere pawns or fodder, with reptilian and insect monsters from lost ages marching under the command of wizards no longer human or never human at all.   Their unchecked advance threatens a slaughter across the Isles as devastating as a flood of lava, amplifying the stakes of Garric's need to adapt and ally swiftly. Through these adversities, Garric's resilience is tested as he navigates dislocation while striving to preserve his realm, highlighting his commitment to leadership even amid profound personal disruption. 

Sharina os-Reise

Sharina os-Reise, sister to Prince Garric of Haft, shoulders substantial administrative and political responsibilities in Mistress of the Catacombs as the Kingdom of the Isles confronts escalating threats from both armed rebellion and destructive wizardry.   She works to counter the chaos that endangers the realm's stability while Garric faces displacement from his time and body. Transitioning from her earlier life in Barca's Hamlet, Sharina functions as a key representative for her brother, regularly receiving deputations from the provinces in formal Ornifal aristocratic attire and serving as a high-ranking audience for aggrieved citizens.  She participates actively in the royal council, the effective governing body of the kingdom, where she contributes to discussions on critical issues including the Confederacy of the West, naval concerns, and reports on the emerging cult of Moon Wisdom from regions such as Tisamur.  Her schedule includes addressing grievances from groups like salt merchants protesting tariffs and clothmakers demanding protections on silk imports, helping sustain administrative continuity amid widespread discontent. Sharina demonstrates poise and practical skill in managing council tensions, as when she swiftly intervenes to right Lord Waldron's overturned chair during an outburst and restores calm without drawing undue attention.  She has risen to these demands sufficiently to hold her own in formal deliberations and even in covert actions such as a night-time abduction scenario. On a personal level, Sharina contends with the recent discovery of her true parentage—her biological father is Count Niard of Ornifal—which explains her blond hair and stature while reinforcing her longstanding feelings of being an outsider in her childhood community.  She collaborates with figures including Liane and Tenoctris to moderate aggressive impulses in military campaigns against western rebels, adapting to leadership in a volatile environment of political intrigue and supernatural peril.  

Cashel or-Kenset

In Mistress of the Catacombs, Cashel or-Kenset is thrust into a place not of his world, an alien environment far removed from the familiar Isles where he must navigate successive challenges without the immediate support of his companions.[18] He confronts each obstacle with calm certainty, fully accepting that he will either overcome it or die in the attempt, a mindset that reflects his straightforward approach to danger and his refusal to yield to fear or hesitation.[18] This disposition is reinforced by his proven physical and mental resilience, as nothing encountered thus far has succeeded in killing him despite the escalating perils he faces.[18] His journey emphasizes raw endurance and direct confrontation over intricate planning, highlighting his role as a steadfast force amid the book's broader chaos.

Ilna os-Kenset

Ilna os-Kenset, renowned in the Lord of the Isles series for her mastery of pattern magic through knotted cords, confronts her most formidable challenge in Mistress of the Catacombs. While her companions pursue their separate paths against the kingdom's threats, Ilna focuses on studying a pattern of extraordinary complexity, one potentially beyond even the formidable skills she acquired during her time in Hell. [19] This pattern constitutes a deadly web woven by ancient antagonistic powers, and Ilna's failure to master it would prevent humanity from ever escaping its entrapment, placing the fate of the entire race on her success. [19] The task creates profound internal conflict for Ilna, as she grapples with self-doubt over whether her pattern magic can prevail against such an unprecedented test, a struggle inherently tied to the mastery she developed in Hell and the lingering guilt from those traumatic experiences. [19] 

The Mistress

The Mistress serves as the primary antagonist of Mistress of the Catacombs, an enigmatic and immensely powerful entity whose existence poses an overarching existential threat to the Kingdom of the Isles and to humanity itself.   She observes all unfolding events from the blackness of a tomb walled off in time and space, remaining off-stage while waiting for her moment to act.   Her fangs drip poison, underscoring her poisonous intent and the deadly nature of her designs against humankind.  The Mistress weaves a complex web of threat that, if successful, would irrevocably ensnare humanity and prevent its escape from destruction.  This overarching menace amplifies the impact of other forces arrayed against the kingdom, including ancient reptilian and insect monsters commanded by wizards no longer human or never human at all.   Though she does not appear directly in much of the narrative, her mere presence as the ultimate power behind these threats significantly heightens the tension and stakes of the story. 

Xuthal of the Dusk (Conan Chronicles #5) 3.5Stars

 

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Title: Xuthal of the Dusk
Series: Conan Chronicles #5
Author: Robert Howard
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 40
Words: 13K
Publish: 1933

I always enjoy when a Conan story dips its toes into the cosmic horror side of things. This time around Conan has to face off against “Thog”, a humanoid frog god of another dimension, who is also a thinly disguised version of Tsathoggua, who was created by Clark Ashton Smith in 1929 and used by HP Lovecraft in his Cthulhu mythos in 1931. This Conan story was published in 1933, so good ol’ Tsathoggua was definitely hitting it off with readers. Unlike Lovecraft, where his human characters fail and shatter before such a creature, Conan fights the thing to a standstill, sticks his sword through its head and throws it down a well that leads to the original dimension where it came from. Now that is how you do heroic. It’s also why I don’t really consider Conan stories to be true “cosmic horror” stories. As I’ve stated in the past, Cosmic Horror is about the despair of nothingness and the utter futility of resistance. You don’t really get that vibe when the main character is sticking a sword through the supposedly unkillable god’s face, hahahahaha.

But that is a BIG part of why I like these original Conan stories so much. Conan is indomitable and his fighting spirit is never quenched. He represents the drive of humanity to never give in, to never give up and that yes, you can overcome almost anything. Every man has a bit of that “barbarian” buried at varying depths inside of himself, even those so-called beta males, and deep calls to deep.

This was originally titled “The Slithering Shadow” when it was published in the Weird Tales magazine in 1933 but somehow got an alternate title in future publications. My guess is that “Xuthal” sounds way more exotic and that the original title might have led people to think it was about The Shadow, that big nosed avenger of Justice ;-)

★★★✬☆

From Wikipedia.org

Conan and his ally, Natala the Brythunian, are the sole survivors of Prince Almuric's army which swept through the Lands of Shem and the wilderness of Stygia. With a Stygian host on their heels, Almuric's soldiers had cut their way across the kingdom of Kush, only to be annihilated near the edge of Stygia's southern desert.

In the resulting conflict, when the Stygians and Kushites surrounded the trapped remnants, Conan sliced his way through the Stygian militia and fled on a camel, with Natala, into the southern desert. For days, the two pushed on, seeking water, until their camel died. Then, they continued on foot.

When their canteen is empty, Conan prepares to slay Natala in an act of mercy-killing. However, they spy the distant city of Xuthal. Eventually, Conan and Natala enter Xuthal while pursued by an entrance guard. They soon encounter Thalis, a beautiful Stygian mage, who reveals the history of her fabled city and the existence of Thog. Thog is a monstrous demon from the city-states of ancient Valusia, his current form summoned by the sorcerers of Xuthal from the darkness between the stars. For an ageless time, Thog has haunted the depths of Xuthal in search of living flesh to support the continuing manifestation of his body on the physical plane.

Thalis falls in love with Conan and, to eliminate her rival, kidnaps Natala in the hopes of sacrificing her to Thog. Thalis first strips Natala of her tunic and flagellates her with a jewel-handled whip. Thog suddenly appears, snatches Thalis, and devours her. The demon returns for Natala, but Conan intervenes and saves her. Conan fights Thog with all his might, but is scarcely harming the demon's supernatural form, while receiving hideous wounds in the coils of its pseudopods and tentacles. However, Conan manages to pierce what he perceives as the head of the monster and throws it down a well. Conan frees Natala, who sets forth to help him, but he is rapidly dying. Fortunately, the Brythunian girl soon brings him a jade goblet full of golden wine, retrieved from a room with a dreaming woman of Xuthal in it. The beverage proves to be a life-giving elixir briefly mentioned by Thalis in a previous conversation, which miraculously heals all of Conan's wounds. Finally, the couple retrieve enough food and water for their journey through the rest of the desert. The two depart while Natala jokingly blames Conan for having aroused Thalis' lustful nature. He retorts playfully about the jealous nature of women.

• The “Essential Conan” Trilogy

• All of My “Conan the Barbarian” Reviews

• All of My “Conan Chronicles” Reviews

The Witchwood Crown (The Last King of Osten Ard #1) 1Star / DNF@79%

 

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Title: The Witchwood Crown
Series: The Last King of Osten Ard #1
Author: Tad Williams
Rating: 1 of 5 Stars / DNF@79%
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 880 / 697
Words: 349K / 276K
Publish: 2017

Williams retcons one of the now dead characters from Memory, Sorrow & Thorn into being a bisexual and then gives one of the laziest and most dishonest philosophical reasonings for why homosexuality is “ok” that I have ever read. And he does it in two paragraphs.

So this is where Williams and I part ways.

★☆☆☆☆

From Grokipedia

Thirty years have passed since the events of the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, and the world of Osten Ard has reached a critical turning point once again.[16][12] The novel returns to the beloved universe and characters of the original series while introducing new narrative threads centered on the royal family, emerging figures, and the resurgence of ancient enemies.[13]The realm faces threats from divisive forces that undermine unity, as old allies are lost and some are drawn toward darker paths.[16] Amid this internal instability, the most ominous danger emerges from the Norns, the long-vanquished elvish adversaries who are stirring once more and preparing to reclaim the mortal-ruled lands they once dominated.[16][12]As the opening volume of The Last King of Osten Ard series, The Witchwood Crown employs a deliberate pace to establish these escalating conflicts and larger stakes, setting the foundation for the tetralogy through interconnected threads of political turmoil and immortal menace.[16] The narrative builds toward an unresolved tension that foreshadows greater perils ahead.[12]

Major characters

The Witchwood Crown features an expansive ensemble cast with more than fifteen point-of-view characters, enabling a multifaceted narrative that shifts perspectives across humans, trolls, and Norns thirty years after the original trilogy. [17] [18]King Simon Snowlock and Queen Miriamele return as the aging rulers of Osten Ard, depicted as a long-married couple whose partnership remains the emotional core of their reign despite the inevitable strains of time, with Simon retaining his underlying naivety and good-hearted nature while Miriamele provides pragmatic counsel shaped by her own past experiences. [19] [20] Binabik the troll also reappears as a key figure, now older and separated by distance and duties but still valued for his wisdom, having endured personal losses including the death of his longtime wolf companion Qantaqa. [20]Supporting returning characters include trusted advisors such as Tiamak of the Wran, Count Eolair of Hernystir, and Jeremias, Simon's childhood friend who has advanced to a prominent station in the royal court. [19] Pasevalles, once a minor figure, assumes a significantly larger role in the story. [19]The younger generation centers on Prince Morgan, Simon and Miriamele's grandson and heir apparent, characterized as a moody, recalcitrant, and seemingly spoiled youth whose journey reflects echoes of his grandfather's early impulsiveness while introducing distinct personal struggles and the need for growth. [19] [17]New characters provide fresh perspectives, particularly from the Norns, with Nezeru emerging as one of the book's most complex and compelling figures—a half-mortal daughter of a Norn high magister whose internal conflicts over her dual heritage create profound tension. [19] [17] Her father Viyeki, a prominent Norn builder and magister introduced in the bridge novella The Heart of What Was Lost, offers additional insight into Norn society through his viewpoint. [20] Other supporting new figures, such as the warrior Porto and trollish companion Little Snenneq, contribute to the broad cast and generational shifts

Dragons of Autumn Twilight (Dragonlance Chronicles #1) 1.5Stars DNF@49%

 

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Title: Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Series: Dragonlance Chronicles #1
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Rating: 1.5 of 5 Stars DNF@49%
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 412 / 202
Words: 151K / 74K
Publish: 1984

I would have enjoyed this much more 30-35 years ago. I probably would have eaten it up with a spoon, both hands and tried to use my feet to shove even more in. And I would have had very fond memories of it, which might have tided me over a re-read today.

However, none of that happened, so I went into this completely unblinkered and seeing this from my perspective of “now” without any nostalgia glasses or youth. It was not pretty.

This was written for teenagers without experience. The characters are all supposed to be almost 30, and in some cases, much older, but they all ACT like teenagers. They fight amongst themselves, they are jerks, they scream and holler at the worst possible times, they play “jokes” that are mean-spirited and they don’t think about anybody but themselves as individuals. Plus, at one point they all get a ride from a group of Pegasi that are supposed to take them right to the place they need to go to prevent a world ending evil from happening and the pegasus leader is like “nope, it’s too evil, we’re dropping you off here because it is too dangerous. Sorry/not sorry!” and they have to traipse through an impassable swamp. It was ridiculous.

I talked about the characters being jerks to each other, but one in particular really annoyed me. His name was Raistlin and he was a wizard and a brother to one of the other members of the party who was some sort of warrior’y kind of guy. Raistlin was a selfish son of a bastard from the get-go and despised everyone in the party, including his own brother, because they didn’t have the knowledge he did (which he’d spent years learning and paying a massive physical price for). He was physically sick a lot, but also I’d say he was mentally sick and emotionally sick. He was the kind of character I could see becoming a Saruman kind of figure.

Plus there was more stuff and I realized at the 200 page mark that I was just feeling miserable with this. So I dnf’d this and will not be trying another Dragonlance book ever again. That being said, this is something I would recommend to the teen crowd because I think reading the Fantasy genre is good for the developing teen mind. It is raw fuel for their mind, just like an entire pizza is fuel for their body. I’d probably die if I tried to eat an entire pizza now ;-)

★✬☆☆☆

From Grokipedia

Dragons of Autumn Twilight follows a group of longtime companions who reunite in the treetop village of Solace at the Inn of the Last Home after five years apart, amid rumors of returning dragons and the apparent abandonment of the gods. [5] [6] Their gathering is disrupted by the arrival of two Plainsmen, Goldmoon and Riverwind, who carry a mysterious blue crystal staff capable of miraculous healing, suggesting the possible return of divine power to Krynn. [5] [6] When draconian soldiers serving the Dragon Highlord Verminaard attack Solace in pursuit of the staff, the companions flee together, joined by the Plainsmen, and are guided by a seemingly senile old wizard named Fizban as they escape downriver. [6]The group's perilous journey leads them through haunted forests and devastated lands, including the ruined village of Que-shu, where Goldmoon and Riverwind confront their past losses. [6] Directed by visions and aided by the Forestmaster and her pegasi, they reach the flooded ruins of Xak Tsaroth within a critical timeframe. [6] There, they navigate treacherous depths inhabited by gully dwarves and draconians, culminating in a confrontation with the black dragon Khisanth, guardian of the staff's origins. [6] Goldmoon employs the staff against the dragon, destroying it but apparently sacrificing herself; the gods revive her and grant the Disks of Mishakal, platinum discs inscribed with the true teachings of the good deities, marking the rediscovery of divine magic. [6] The battle causes further destruction to the city, forcing the companions to escape with the sacred disks. [6]Upon returning, the companions find Solace and surrounding areas occupied by the Dragonarmies. [6] Captured and enslaved, they are transported in a caravan where they encounter Tanis's elven cousin Gilthanas and Fizban again; elven attackers aid their escape. [6] The group reaches the elven kingdom of Qualinesti, where tensions arise over Tanis's heritage, but the elves agree to assist in disrupting the Dragonarmies by freeing slaves held at the fortress of Pax Tharkas. [6] Joined by Tika and later Laurana, they infiltrate the fortress, navigating traps and guards while encountering the enigmatic Berem, a man with a green gemstone embedded in his chest. [6]In the climactic confrontation at Pax Tharkas, the companions battle Dragon Highlord Verminaard and his forces. [6] With Fizban's intervention stripping Verminaard's clerical powers, they defeat him, leading to the liberation of the enslaved people and a partial collapse of the fortress. [6] Goldmoon and Riverwind marry in the aftermath, offering a moment of respite as the companions prepare for the escalating war against the Dragonarmies. [6] The narrative unfolds as an episodic quest that begins with a reunion and the discovery of the blue crystal staff, progresses through trials that restore divine knowledge, and culminates in the dramatic liberation at Pax Tharkas. [6]

Major characters

The major characters in Dragons of Autumn Twilight center on the Companions, a diverse group of longtime friends who reunite in Solace and become known as the Heroes of the Lance, each bringing distinct backgrounds, personalities, and interpersonal tensions that shape their bonds. Tanis Half-Elven, the half-elf ranger and de facto leader, grapples with his heritage as the son of a human brigand and an elf maiden, feeling like an outcast among both races and often hiding his pointed ears in human society. [6] [7] His conflicted nature is deepened by past romantic connections to the elf Laurana and the ambitious human Kitiara Uth Matar. [6]Sturm Brightblade, a principled Knight of Solamnia, stands as a classic idealist in a morally ambiguous world, marked by his strong sense of honor, melancholy outlook, and kind-hearted nature, often clashing with more cynical companions through his rigid adherence to chivalric values. [6] The twin brothers Caramon and Raistlin Majere provide stark contrast within the group: Caramon is a physically powerful, good-hearted warrior who loyally protects his brother, while Raistlin is a frail, brilliant, and deeply bitter mage whose past suffering has fostered cynicism, arrogance, and ambition, tempered by rare moments of tenderness toward those close to him. [6] Their inseparable bond reflects complementary halves, with Caramon's straightforward strength offsetting Raistlin's intellectual intensity and vulnerability. [6]Flint Fireforge, an elderly hill dwarf craftsman, serves as a gruff mentor figure and source of comic relief, frequently complaining about his age and prone to pratfalls, though his experience and loyalty anchor the group. [6] Tasslehoff Burrfoot, a kender driven by insatiable curiosity and fearlessness, acts as the group's lighthearted rogue, "borrowing" items without malice while displaying surprising empathy and social awareness that balance the party's heavier tones. [6]Goldmoon, a plains barbarian cleric bearing the sacred Blue Crystal Staff, carries the weight of rediscovering true divine faith, portrayed as aloof yet burdened by responsibility and tragedy, while her partner Riverwind is a protective, suspicious warrior whose devotion to her is complicated by their shared hardships. [6] Their arrival introduces spiritual renewal to the companions, contrasting with the group's more secular dynamics. [6]Supporting figures include Tika Waylan, a brave barmaid who evolves from inexperience to capable fighter amid fear and growth; Fizban, a doddering yet mysteriously powerful wizard who offers comic relief and enigmatic guidance; Kitiara Uth Matar, the skilled and ambitious warrior tied to Tanis and the Majere siblings through family and past; Lord Verminaard, the ruthless Dragon Highlord and primary antagonist; and Elistan, a cleric who emerges as a key spiritual leader. [6] The companions' relationships are defined by constant bickering rooted in personality clashes—such as Raistlin's cynicism against Sturm's idealism, Tanis's stoicism versus Tasslehoff's irresponsibility, and the twins' interdependence—yet underpinned by profound loyalty and willingness to risk everything for one another.

Links:

Witty and Sarcastics 2021 Buddyread Review – Very Positive

Joelendil’s 2025 Review – Not So Positive

A Matter of Taste (The Dracula Files #6) 3Stars

 

This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission

Title: A Matter of Taste
Series: The Dracula Files #6
Author: Fred Saberhagen
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 213
Words: 81K
Publish: 1990

This was much more enjoyable than the previous Dracula Files book (Dominion), which almost made me stop the series altogether. Don’t get me wrong, this book was no masterpiece of enduring literary quality, but at least I enjoyed what I read.

Ol’ Drak gets poisoned, has to have his greatx100 nephews/nieces protect him and then kills the badguys. We also get another storyline about Drak’s creation and what drove him as a newly minted vampire. The history part was boring, per usual while the modern storyline was decent.

My biggest gripe is actually the cover. The only one I could find was this one that shows the skyscraper. I wanted the cover by TOR: Fantasy/Horror which shows a big jawboned Dracula looking all macho in the background, like some of the previous editions. I couldn’t find it though, so it might not exist. Which is dumb, because I’ve seen later books in the series with that motiff, so I know it was continued for at least some of them. Why are publishers so stupid like that? A question that will never be satisfactorily answered I suspect. Well, that’s all you get for a 3star book. Adios.

★★★☆☆

From Grokipedia

A Matter of Taste opens in contemporary Chicago, where Matthew Maule—known to the Southerland family as Uncle Matthew—is the alias used by the vampire once called Dracula, an old ally who has repeatedly protected the family at risk to his own existence.[8] When Maule is poisoned and left comatose in his upscale condominium through a cunning scheme originating five centuries earlier, the Southerlands rally to safeguard him from persistent assaults by both living adversaries and undead opponents.[12] John Southerland, along with his fiancée, discovers Maule's dire condition and summons ex-policeman Joe Keogh, his brother-in-law, who arrives prepared for supernatural threats to aid in the defense.[5][12]Family members, including John's fiancée Angie Hoban, become actively involved in investigating the attacks and fortifying their position against the relentless enemies seeking retribution for long-past grievances.[12] As the group works to revive Maule and repel the incursions, they locate a tape-recorded autobiographical account by Maule detailing his transformation into a vampire and his historical interactions with Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia during the Italian Renaissance, which illuminate the motives behind the current vendetta orchestrated by forces tied to those figures.[12]The narrative alternates between the urgent modern-day struggle in Chicago and vivid flashbacks to the Renaissance era, revealing how the Borgias' schemes from centuries ago fuel the revenge plot against Maule.[12] The Southerlands and their allies, bolstered by their loyalty to Maule, confront the converging threats from past and present in a climactic showdown that resolves the ancient conflict and secures Maule's safety.[8][12]

Major characters

Matthew Maule, the alias under which Count Dracula lives in present-day Chicago, is the central figure of the novel. He appears as a handsome, vigorous, and charming man who looks no older than forty despite being over five hundred years old. The Southerland family affectionately refers to him as "Uncle Matthew" in recognition of his long-standing role as their protector. In this installment, Maule is depicted in a comatose state that leaves him vulnerable and unable to defend himself.[13][8]Joe Keogh, an ex-police officer who has married into the Southerland family, serves as a primary ally to Maule. With prior experience confronting supernatural threats associated with Maule, Keogh takes a central role in defensive actions and arrives prepared with specialized weaponry, including lead-cored wooden bullets. His practical skills and familiarity with Maule's adversaries make him essential to the family's efforts.[13]John Southerland, a member of the Southerland family and descendant of Jonathan and Mina Harker, maintains close ties to Maule as part of the family's ongoing relationship with him. His fiancée, Angie Hoban, meets Maule for the first time and becomes involved in the family's circle. The Southerland family collectively demonstrates unwavering loyalty and actively participates in protective efforts to safeguard Maule during his period of vulnerability.[13][8]The antagonists are ancient enemies of Dracula who have harbored grudges against him for centuries. Their motivations stem from historical conflicts and past encounters spanning five hundred years, driving their determination to exploit his current weakened condition.[8]

The White Rose (The Black Company #3) 4Stars

 

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Title: The White Rose
Series: The Black Company #3
Author: Glen Cook
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 314
Words: 99K
Publish: 1985

Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed this re-read, to the point where I was looking forward to my down time so I could pick this up. But once again, I didn’t remember a blessed thing from my initial read in 2015. I was worried that maybe my brain was starting to go, but I didn’t write this review for over a week once I finished the book and by the time I went to write this, I had completely forgotten the plot almost completely again. It took reading the Grokipedia entry to bring me up to speed. Which means it is not me but something about these Black Company books that just slide off my mind as soon as I’m done with them, even while I really enjoy them. Crisis Averted!

At the end of the previous book, Shadows Linger, the Black Company was reduced to a much smaller company, under 100 people. By the end of this book, they are down to under 10 people and they “officially” disband with the end goal being to return The Annals back to Khatovar, the Black Company’s point of origin back in the misty past. It makes for a good tying off point for the series if you weren’t wowed but at the same time gave Cook the necessary loose threads if he wanted to write more, which is what ended up happening. Many more Black Company books came into being and even to this day, he is pumping them out. I just hope he finishes the current series before his own pump gives out. The guy is old after all.

The other thing stood out to me, was the inclusion of a past storyline about Bomanz the Wizard, It took me a while to realize it was happening in the past. I don’t think that incomprehension was Cook’s fault this time, it was squarely on me. I am writing this little bit because I believe that Book 10 is about Bomanz and by the time I get to book 10 I have a feeling I’m going to have forgotten who he is, hahahahaa :-)

To end this review, I’d like to talk about the cover. For the past couple of books I’ve been able to find alternate covers (even as I chose to go with the original one for the first book) but for this one, this is the only English cover I could find. There was one other one, but it was ugly, enough so that I didn’t even consider it. I guess I’m spoiled. First World Book Problems...

★★★★☆

From Grokipedia

The novel is set six years after the events of Shadows Linger, with the surviving members of the Black Company having taken refuge in the Hole, a network of caves beneath the Plain of Fear, where they form the core of Darling's New White Rose Rebellion.[10] The Plain of Fear's magical inhabitants—such as windwhales, mantas, talking menhirs, and the sentient Father Tree—provide protection against the Lady's forces, while Darling's expanding null field suppresses magic in its vicinity, offering the rebels a strategic sanctuary.[10] [11] The Lady surrounds the Plain with armies commanded by the Taken, including the vengeful Limper, whom the Company believed they had killed years earlier.[10]Croaker, the Company's annalist, receives mysterious packets narrating the story of Bomanz, the wizard who unleashed the Lady decades ago, along with a summons to travel north into Imperial territory.[10] Darling authorizes Croaker to lead a small group—including wizards One-Eye and Goblin, the enigmatic Tracker, and his hound Toadkiller Dog—on the journey, traveling aboard a windwhale and witnessing Darling's successful strike against Whisper's headquarters at Spit.[10] In the Barrowland, the group discovers that Raven, a long-deserted Company member, sent the packets and now lies in a coma after a failed attempt to probe the Great Barrow using sorcery.[10] Flooding from the Great Tragic River erodes the Dominator's prison, threatening his awakening and release.[10] [11]After evading initial Imperial capture and fleeing the Barrowland garrison, Croaker is seized and delivered to the Lady at the Tower at Charm.[10] Recognizing the Dominator as the greater threat, the Lady proposes an uneasy alliance with Darling's forces, withdrawing her troops from rebel areas and accompanying Croaker back to the Plain of Fear disguised as his companion.[10] There, revelations surface that Tracker and Toadkiller Dog are ancient demons bound to the Dominator, freed by Raven's actions; Father Tree intervenes to subdue them and thwart an assassination attempt by Taken Scorn and Blister.[10] Darling and the Lady forge a truce, enabling their combined forces—including the Company remnants, Plain creatures, and Imperial troops—to march north to confront the Dominator.[10]At the Barrowland, the alliance revives Raven and Bomanz while systematically releasing and destroying the Dominator's lesser demons.[10] The Dominator breaks free but is confined within Darling's null field, where his powers are neutralized; when briefly freed, he unleashes devastating sorcery, killing several Company members including Elmo and the Lieutenant.[10] [11] Tracker battles the Dominator in a brutal melee, and One-Eye and Goblin drive a silver spike into the Dominator's head, binding his essence and planting the spike in a sapling grown from Father Tree.[10] The Limper attempts to betray and kill the Lady with a crossbow bolt bearing a false True Name, but Croaker beheads him in retaliation.[10]In the battle's immediate aftermath, the Lady betrays the alliance by naming Darling's True Name, destroying her null field forever.[10] Silent speaks for the first time in the Annals, naming the Lady and stripping her of her sorcery.[10] The Black Company, reduced to six surviving members, departs the field and heads south toward Khatovar, accompanied by the now-powerless Lady.[10]

Major characters

The major characters in The White Rose include the remnants of the Black Company and key figures on both sides of the conflict against the Lady and the looming threat of the Dominator. Croaker, the Company's physician, historian, and primary narrator, emerges as a central leader of the depleted group, guiding its survivors and developing a nuanced, personal relationship with the Lady that reveals her more human aspects. [12] [11]Darling, the deaf-mute prophesied White Rose, serves as the symbolic leader of the New White Rose Rebellion and possesses a powerful null field that cancels nearby magic, positioning her as the prophesied counter to sorcerous domination. [12] Her true name is Tonie Fisk. [13]The Lady, the Empire's formidable sorceress ruler, displays increasing humanization through her interactions with Croaker while facing significant challenges to her power, including a temporary alliance against a greater evil and a reduction in her magical dominance. [12] [11]One-Eye and Goblin, the Company's veteran wizards, provide essential magical support and endure dramatic changes during key events, contributing crucially to rituals aimed at containing ancient threats. [12]Raven, a former Black Company member who deserted years earlier, returns with actions that nearly free the Dominator and complicate the rebellion's efforts. [12]Tracker and Toadkiller Dog appear as enigmatic companions to the Company, with Tracker's dumb strength and affability masking their revealed nature as demonic entities bound to the Dominator. [12]The Limper, a resurrected Taken and the Company's longstanding nemesis, commands Imperial forces with boundless hatred toward the mercenaries and meets his final death at Croaker's hands. [11]Supporting figures include Silent, a quiet Company wizard skilled in finger speech; Bomanz, a wizard whose historical actions in the Barrowlands prove vital to the story's resolution; and Old Father Tree, the ancient sentient entity ruling the Plain of Fear and offering cryptic guidance amid the conflict.

• The White Rose (2015 Review)

• All of My “Black Company” Reviews

The Black Colossus (Conan Chronicles #4) 3.5Stars

 

This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission

Title: The Black Colossus
Series: Conan Chronicles #4
Author: Robert Howard
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 45
Words: 14K
Publish: 1933

This was a quintessential Conan story. A country is in trouble, threatened by an old time’y sorcerer, Conan gets hired to fight the horde the Sorcerer has raised, there’s a beautiful (probably semi or completely naked) girl involved and Conan kills said old time’y sorcerer with ye olde time’y sword.

I kind of wish there had been more to this story. A 3,000 year old sorcerer is resurrected, begins the conquest of the world and Conan ends the whole shebang by spearing him with a sword. Apparently old time’y sorcerers just aren’t what they used to be. My goodness, back in my day sorcerers used to wipe out whole nations with just a gesture of their hand. To kill one you needed a super secret jewel dipped in extinct alien blood. That’s the kind of sorcerer we had back in the bad old days!

Hahahahahaaa.

Not high on my personal list of Conan stories. Not bad, hence why I’m still giving it 3.5stars but not one I’d voluntarily go back and re-read because I enjoyed it so much.

The cover is pretty cool. It’s by the same publisher that did The Tower of the Elephant. I think I’m going to try to find these covers whenever I can.

★★★✬☆

From Grokipedia.com

"Black Colossus" takes place in the Hyborian Age, opening in the desolate ruins of Kuthchemes in eastern Shem, where the master thief Shevatas penetrates the ivory-domed tomb of the ancient sorcerer Thugra Khotan in search of treasure but meets a gruesome end at the hands of a guardian serpent and the tomb's lingering magic. [14] [15] The narrative shifts to the small kingdom of Khoraja on the Kothian frontier, where Princess Yasmela rules as regent while her brother is held captive in Ophir. Yasmela is plagued by psychic visitations from Natohk the Veiled One, a mysterious desert prophet who has united thirty nomadic tribes, fifteen cities, rebel Stygian elements, and five thousand chariots into a vast invading horde threatening Khoraja. [14] [15]Desperate for guidance, Yasmela consults the ancient oracle of Mitra in a hidden palace shrine. The god's voice instructs her to walk the midnight streets alone and entrust the kingdom's fate to the first man she meets. [14] [16] She encounters Conan the Cimmerian, a scarred mercenary captain serving in the employ of General Amalric's regiment. Despite skepticism from nobles including Count Thespides, Chancellor Taurus, and Amalric himself, Yasmela appoints Conan supreme commander of Khoraja's forces. [14] [17]The Khorajan army, bolstered by mercenaries, Shemitish archers, and aristocratic knights, marches south to intercept the invaders at the strategic Pass of Shamla, with Yasmela accompanying them in a camel litter. Conan deploys the troops defensively around the Well of Altaku, positioning archers on ridges and holding the main strength on the plateau. [15] Natohk's horde emerges from an unnatural mist, and the battle erupts when Count Thespides leads an unauthorized charge that falls victim to Natohk's sorcery—a glittering powder that explodes in blinding white flame, annihilating the knights. [14] [15] The disciplined core of the enemy, including Stygian nobles and mailed Shemitish asshuri, advances relentlessly, clashing in brutal hand-to-hand combat at the pass's narrow neck. [15]Conan directs Amalric's mercenary cavalry on a flanking ride through hidden paths while leading a suicidal downhill charge with Khorajan spearmen on half-wild mounts. The combined assault shatters the horde's cohesion, causing the nomads to panic and the disciplined units to collapse in rout. [14] [15] In the final chaos, Natohk seizes Yasmela in a driverless chariot drawn by a monstrous black creature and flees toward desert ruins. Conan pursues alone, confronts Natohk—who reveals himself as the resurrected Thugra Khotan after three thousand years—and slays the sorcerer with a thrown sword. [14] [15] The invading threat is decisively ended, and the story closes with an intense personal moment between Conan and Yasmela amid the aftermath. [14]

• The “Essential Conan” Trilogy

• All of My “Conan the Barbarian” Reviews

• All of My “Conan Chronicles” Reviews

Brothers of the Wind (The Last King of Osten Ard #¾ ) 3.5Stars

 

This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission

Title: Brothers of the Wind
Series: The Last King of Osten Ard #¾
Author: Tad Williams
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 252
Words: 105K
Publish: 2021

This book is extremely melancholic. One of the brothers, Ineluki, is introduced to the readers way back in Tad Williams epic tour-de-force Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy as an undead spirit seeking revenge on humanity. This story is set 1000 years before that and chronicles Ineluki’s fall and how it affected his brother (the main character of the book) and set in motion the events we read about in MST.

If Tad Williams didn’t model Ineluki after Lucifer himself, I don’t know what else his inspiration could be. Ineluki is Pride itself and every decision he makes is based on that. It doesn’t turn out well.

We follow this whole story as it is narrated by Kes, one of the changeling races who serve the Sithi (elves) race that Ineluki and Hakatri belong to. Kes is actually the main character of the book, but he is Hakatri’s servant and so self-effacing that he makes it mostly about Hakatri. But we see Ineluki and Kes’s own story play out and it is sad and tragic. Not cry your eyes out like a woman sad and tragic, but heart rending where all you can do is shake your head because it is deeper than tears.

I didn’t rate this higher than I did because I was so frustrated at the entire sithi race here. Everybody knows how Ineluki is, his moods, his anger, his humors, his disobedience, his rash vows, and they see how things always play out. But nobody does anything. First off, Ineluki’s parents. They chide, they admonish, they even command, but they never punish, ever. They let him grow up a selfish spoiled wretch and then washed their hands of him. I despised them for their ethereal outlook while the rot of their race was sitting right in front of their eyes. Second, Ineluki’s brother Hakatri. He does try to do things, but it is to cover for Ineluki, to ameliorate the effects of Ineluki’s bad decisions, to soften his angers and cozen him. He never lets Ineluki suffer the consequences of his vows or actions. His is the opposite issue from his parents. Hakatri ends up suffering physical and mental agonies beyond measure for the choices that Ineluki makes and he still tries to shield Ineluki from all consequences of those actions. Hakatri might not have been as proud as Ineluki, but his own weaknesses were just as profound and were just as responsible as Ineluki for the downfall of the Sithi race as a whole. Finally, there is Kes. He enables Hakatri through the entire story, which allows Hakatri to continue his enabling of Ineluki. Even when Kes falls in love with another of his race, he chooses to serve Hakatri and go away on some mad scheme “across the ocean”. It isn’t until the very end of the book when he is washed overboard and abandoned by the Sithi that he realizes his is nothing to them. That allows him to go back to the woman and make a life for himself.

It is all just so sad. It is almost Russian-like, but without that childishness that I find tends to characterize the Russian melancholy.

I don’t know how this will tie into the Last King of Osten Ard storyline, but considering Williams wrote this story half-way through that four book series, I am sure it will have a large part to play in the later part of series. Definitely not a book I would recommend on its own. The thing is, it “could” be read on its own. Williams does an excellent job of explaining the wider world here but without the foreknowledge of having read MST the impact of Ineluki and Hakatri’s story will not have the same punch.

★★★✬☆

From the Publisher

Pride often goes before a fall, but sometimes that prideful fall is so catastrophic that it changes history itself.

Among the immortal Sithi of Osten Ard, none are more beloved and admired than the two sons of the ruling family, steady Hakatri and his proud and fiery younger brother Ineluki -- Ineluki, who will one day become the undead Storm King. The younger brother makes a bold, terrible oath that he will destroy deadly Hidohebhi, a terrifying monster, but instead drags his brother with him into a disaster that threatens not just their family but all the Sithi -- and perhaps all of humankind as well.

Set a thousand years before the events of Williams's The Dragonbone Chair, the tale of Ineluki's tragic boast and what it brings is told by Pamon Kes, Hakatri's faithful servant. Kes is not one of the Sithi but a member of the enslaved Changeling race, and his loyalty has never before been tested. Now he must face the terrible black dragon at his master's side, then see his own life changed forever in a mere instant by Ineluki's rash, selfish promise.

• All of My Osten Ard Reviews

Dominion (The Dracula Files #5) 3Stars

 

This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission

Title: Dominion
Series: The Dracula Files #5
Author: Fred Saberhagen
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 242
Words: 91K
Publish: 1982

The more I read of this “series” the more I am convinced that Saberhagen wrote a whole bunch of standalone fantasy stories and then when he couldn’t sell them because they stunk so bad that no good editor would touch them, reworked them into a Dracula Files series by bookending each story with Dracula and tying it into that mythos. Editors love series, no matter how iffy they might be.

This time around Dracula, going by the name Talisman, is involved in Arthurian Legend and the Sword in the Stone. He has to stop a super bad evil badguy magician from stepping into our current time from the past, where the super bad evil badguy magician was about to be defeated by Arthur, Merlin and his forces.

Dracula only appears near the beginning and the end and plays almost no part. That is reserved for a Merlin who is a drunkard and willfully forgetting the past and some stage magician who is related to the events of the summoning of the super bad evil badguy magician. Stage Magician is just a dupe who we follow to see the events unfolding. I can’t even remember if he survives or not, that’s how much charisma and “presence” he had in the story.

These books are not a “super bad evil badbook magically delicious” way to spend your time, but they aren’t a very good way either. You’d be better served doing your laundry or going to work and earning money to pay off your mortgage. Or even just eating a bowl of Lucky Charms.

★★★☆☆

From the Publisher

A Chicago police detective investigates a series of bizarre murders and becomes involved with vampires, sorcerers and the deadly fight to gain control of a magical sword

Lords and Ladies (Discworld #14) 3.5Stars

 

This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission

Title: Lords and Ladies
Series: Discworld #14
Author: Terry Pratchett
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 260
Words: 89K
Publish: 1992

My goodness, Pratchett just can’t keep himself from spouting off and preaching at his readers. This could easily have been a 4star read, or higher, as the story is wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed it. But yeah, I’m not reading a fantasy series to get preached at by some wacko who only gives lip service to such things as logic and theology.

Sigh...

★★★✬☆

From Wikipedia.org

Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick return to Lancre after their recent adventure in Genua. Magrat is stunned when King Verence proclaims their imminent marriage, having already made all the arrangements in her absence. The sudden appearance of crop circles reveals to Nanny and Granny that it is now "circle time", a convergence of parallel universes when the Discworld is susceptible to incursions from the "parasite universe" of the Elves. Elves are capricious and amoral creatures that enter the minds of animals and sentient beings in a more destructive way than witches do, using "glamour" to alter human's perceptions of them. They are normally kept away by a circle of magnetized iron standing stones known as the Dancers. When Nanny and Granny refuse to explain the situation to Magrat, she leaves the coven, disavows witchcraft, and moves into an apartment in Lancre Castle. She soon becomes bored with the courtly lifestyle and unsure of her place.

Mustrum Ridcully, Archchancellor of Unseen University, leads a small group of faculty to attend the wedding. Along the way, they are joined by the Dwarfish lothario Casanunda.

Granny and Nanny discover that a group of local girls, led by Diamanda Tockley and including Agnes Nitt, have formed a new coven whose activities include dancing naked at the Dancers. The two elderly witches try to convince them to stop, with Granny ultimately besting Diamanda in a public witchcraft contest and discrediting the new coven. But a defiant Diamanda later runs through the Dancers into the land of the Elves, where she is knocked unconscious by a poisoned Elven arrow before being rescued by Granny. Nanny subdues an Elf that pursues them back into Lancre, using an iron fireplace poker; Elves and their powers are severely weakened by iron. The witches bring Diamanda and the Elf to Lancre Castle, where Magrat treats Diamanda and Verence agrees to imprison the Elf (though Magrat inadvertently frees it later). Meanwhile, Granny has begun to experience memories of other paths her life has taken in parallel worlds, as well as a growing sense of her own impending death.

Jason Ogg and the other Lancre Morris Men plan a play to be performed for the wedding guests. When they rehearse near the Dancers, the Elves influence them to include Elvish elements in the play. As a result, when the play is performed at the Dancers, it causes sufficient belief—a powerful force on the Discworld—that the Elves are able to make the guests dismantle the stone circle. The Elves arrive, and the Elf Queen plans to legitimize her rule of Lancre by marrying Verence. None of the members of the Lancre coven are present at this time: Magrat has locked herself in her room due to perceived insults in a letter she has discovered, written by Granny to Verence, advising him to plan the wedding; Nanny is being romanced by Casanunda; and Granny has been magically whisked away by Ridcully, who hopes to resume a romantic connection they had when much younger. The women only become aware of what has happened once the Elves begin to wreak havoc in Lancre. Aided only by general dogsbody Shawn Ogg, Magrat fights her way through the infiltrated castle. She discovers a portrait of Queen Ynci, one of the kingdom's legendary founders. Suddenly inspired by the idea of becoming a warrior queen, Magrat finds and dons Ynci's armour. Feeling influenced by Ynci's spirit (and unaware that Ynci is a fiction, the armour constructed from cookware only a few generations previously), she rescues a captured Shawn and sets out for the Dancers. While Granny and Ridcully make their way through the woods, resulting in Granny's capture by the Elves, Nanny and Casanunda travel through a gateway to the abode of the Elf King, who opposes the Elf Queen despite being her spouse.

At the Dancers, Magrat arrives to confront the Elf Queen at the same time as the people of Lancre, rallied by Shawn and Nanny. But the Elf Queen quickly subdues Magrat with glamour. The captive Granny mentally combats the Elf Queen and releases Magrat from the glamour before succumbing to the Elf Queen's attack, her prone body being covered by the bees from her hive, which have swarmed at the Dancers. When the Elf Queen turns her powers on Magrat, attempting to stop her resistance by dismantling her identity, she exposes the unexpectedly valorous core of Magrat's being – something which Granny had deliberately been stoking, aggravating and provoking all along for just this very outcome. Magrat attacks and subdues the Elf Queen just in time for a projection of the Elf King to arrive and send the Elves back to their world.

Granny appears to be dead, but then Nanny and Magrat learn that she has actually borrowed her bees' hive mind, a feat thought impossible. They break open a window in the castle, where Ridcully has reverently laid Granny's body, enabling the bees to get close enough for her to regain consciousness. Nanny points out to Magrat that Granny's letter to Verence has had a great positive impact on Magrat's life, as well as giving her the strength to fight the Elf Queen. Magrat and Verence are married by Ridcully. Later, Granny and Ridcully make peace with their past and their place in the universe. The growing sense of impending death she had been feeling had been due to the impending deaths of some of her parallel-selves.

• Lords and Ladies (2007 Review)

• All of My “Discworld” Reviews

• All of My “Discworld: Rincewind” Reviews

• All of My “Discworld: Witches” Reviews

• All of My “Discworld: Death” Reviews

• All of My “Discworld: The Watch” Reviews