by
Daniel Hood
ISBN: 0-441-00515-2 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com
This continuation of adventures of the amateur detective, Liam Rhenford, and his familiar the miniature dragon Fanuilh, provides a pleasant exploration of their relationship, as they try to solve crimes both petty and great.
Reviewed by David on May 10, 1998
Genre: Fantasy (Mystery)
Synopsis: When a vacancy for an investigating officer in a circuit court opens up, the amateur detective Liam Rhenford is urged by his friend to accept the temporary duty. In a world where magic and demonology work, and murders by spell and demon almost as familiar as the ones by knife and sword, Liam must use all his experience to solve the crimes that come before the court. However, some mysteries turn out to be even closer to the court, as the newly appointed Quaestor begins to learn.
Full Review: Daniel Hood started this series with Fanuilh. Liam Rhenford, who's been a fugitive, a thief, a sailor, and many other things, finally starts to settle in a coastal city, where he finds friends, the means to live, and surprisingly an occasional occupation of helping the local police sort out particularly tricky crimes. In the first such case, he inherits a miniature dragon, a familiar of a murdered wizard.
Through several books, we saw Liam and the dragon become uneasy friends. Liam gained both experience and respect in solving several magical mysteries in Wizard's Heir and Beggar's Banquet.
This time, Liam finally accepts an official position, that of a Quaestor, and investigator for the court. Traveling through the duchy, we learn more about this magical world.
The world, as well as Liam's inclinations, is surprisingly mundane. The plot is full of details about food, trade, sunny days and country dances. The main character is shown as a courageous, but not a heroic man.
This book is quite enjoyable, as much for the interplay between the hero and his dragon, and the details of the world, as for the main plot and surrounding mysteries. In fact, the mysteries and conspiracies are no more than competent, but the solidity of the main characters, as well as the supporting cast, makes the book, and the series worthwhile.
I recommend starting this series with the first book, Fanuilh. If you like it, by all means snap up the rest of the series.
There is more information on the series at the author's web site, including a mention of the next Fanuilh book, King's Cure.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5; Characters: 7; Style: 5; World-building: 6; Originality: 7;
Ace, March 1998, Mass-market, 297 pages
ISBN: 0-441-00515-2 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com