Dragons of the Highlord Skies: The Lost Chronicles, Volume Two [Mass Market Paperback]

In this enterprising second volume of the Lost Chronicles (after 2006's Dragons of the Dwarven Depths), Emperor Ariakis pressures Dragon Highlord Kitiara uth Matar into a plan to make sure the Solamnic knight Derek Crownguard hears about, then quests after a dragon orb recently discovered by Dragon Highlord Feal-Thas. As Crownguard's will is weaker than the dragon essence inside the orb, he will become enthralled to it and compelled to do the bidding of Ariakis. Loathing the task but having no choice, Kitiara treks to Feal-Thas's Ice Palace in the dangerous land of Icereach. As Crownguard and his companions join up with the group of renegades led by Kitiara's rival, Laurana, Kitiara's path takes an unexpected turn, leading her to Dargaard Keep to face the dread Lord Soth. Weis and Hickman have once again produced an entertaining high fantasy adventure. (July)
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The Chronicles retold--from evil's point of view.

The story starts in Neraka, where Kitiara uth Matar and Emperor Ariakas hatch a plan to retrieve a dragon orb and thereby destroy Solamnia and the Companions in one fell swoop. But the guardian of the dragon orb, Highlord Feal-Thas, disagrees with this plan. Kitiara must go to Ice Wall to force him to accept Ariakas' will, but her journey does not end there. Thrown out of favor, she conceives a daring plan to enlist the aid of the most feared beings on Krynn--Lord Soth and the Dark Queen. Meanwhile, Laurana and the Companions retrieve the dragon orb and take it back to Solamnia--not knowing that they bring their allies' doom with them.

The second volume of a new trilogy from celebrated authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, The Lost Chronicles details the famed War of the Lance from the perspective of the evil that menaces Krynn. The books are written in such a way that they will be marvelous complements to the original Chronicles, while at the same time accessible and exciting to new readers.

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman published their first novel in the Chronicles series of Dragonlance, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, in 1984. Over twenty years later they are going strong as partners with over thirty novels as collaborators, and alone or together with other partners, over one hundred books, including novels, collections of short stories, role-playing games, and other game products. Tracy Hickman is also the editor of a new "Tracy Hickman Presents" line of Dragonlance novels for Wizards of the Coast, while Margaret Weis is in the midst of her own, popular, solo Dark Disciple trilogy for Wizards of he Coast.

The Lost Chronicle series continues filling in the background of the Dragonlance with this second installment in the trilogy. The quest to recover a dragon orb in a distant land falls to Kitiara Uth-Matar, who is on the dark side and who is destined to confront Laurana, the leader of the forces of good. Sandra Burr draws on the large store of characters she has developed in past productions. She deals with the expository passages with a light touch that keeps them moving at a good pace and skillfully brings out the humor and comic relief. While this is well done, it may not be the best point for newcomers to begin this multi?layered series. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.