Set in a very solid and carefully realised 10th century pseudo-Europe, Kate Elliot's Crown of Stars series shows an unusual degree of attention to historical detail and an even more unusual degree of skill in weaving the detail into the story. Volume one, The King's Dragon, ended with its several protagonists in very mixed circumstances. Prince Sanglant was last seen chained to the throne of the Eika raider, Bloodheart, while lowly Alain, a merchant's foster-child had been accepted as the bastard son of Count Lavastine; as for Liath, a magically-gifted orphan once the abused slave of the (quite despicable) priest, Father Hugh, she had been accepted ...  Read the complete review

Imagine my delight when I discovered a new series of thick, substantial fantasy novels to get my teeth into! Well, okay, perhaps not so new – the first volume was published in 1997, but this author is certainly new to me and to dooyoo. This is the second volume of the “Crown of Stars” series, the first being King’s Dragon and the third, The Burning Stone. The only other published work mentioned on the book jackets appears to be a collaboration with Melanie Rawn and Jennifer Roberson, The Golden Keys (I’ve not read this one). On investigation, Kate Elliott is an American author who also writes as Alis A. Rasmussen. She has a ...  Read the complete review