Well of Darkness

September 4, 2000
The founding parents of the game-tie-in fantasy novel here launch a role-playing-game-related high fantasy trilogy in which game knowledge is irrelevant to reader enjoyment. This is a classic tale of the rivalry of two half-brothers, the sons of King Tamaros of Vinnengael: the virtuous elder Helmos and the frustrated and ambitious young Dagnarus. Along the way, Dagnarus wins the friendship and loyalty of his whipping boy, Gareth, who in due course trains as a mage and adept in forbidden Void magic, dangerous to the user but deadly to the user's enemies. Shortly after King Tamaros believes that he has made peace among the four races (human, dwarves, elves and orken), Dagnarus and Gareth together begin to undo all the king's work, unleashing a war of all against all made even worse by the lethal Void magic and the rivalries of potentates, particularly human and elven. This is a story assembled from archetypical elements, all at least slightly touched with originality. Dagnarus is a thug but also a heroic soldier, and his elven lover prefers to become one of the Void-spawned undead Vrykyl rather than be parted from him. Elven political institutions irresistibly recall the Tokugawa era of Japan.The dwarves are not metal-working troglodytes but horse archers, living light and traveling fast. Weis and Hickman (Dragons of a Fallen Son, etc.) are still not much more than good plain cooks as stylists, but here they are writing at an entirely respectable level.

September 15, 2000
Here begins the Sovereign Stone trilogy. Related to a role-playing game, it stands on its own in fine style. The protagonist, Gareth, nine when the story begins, is whipping boy to his contemporary, Prince Dagnarus, who is already frustrated because he knows that his older half-brother, Prince Helms, is to succeed their father, King Tamaris. As Dagnarus' only friend, Gareth puts aside scruple after scruple and, to aid the prince's ambitions, becomes adept in the forbidden Void magic. A singularly nasty civil war in the realm of Vinnengaelean ensues. Swords and sorcery are unleashed ruthlessly, and the kingdom's other races--elves, dwarves, and orken--join in. Weis and Hickman raise a fairly standard plot far above mediocrity with ingenious world-building touches; for instance, the dwarves are horse-archers, and the Vrykyl are a singularly gruesome variety of the undead. Moreover, they render Gareth and Dagnarus' friendship convincingly; the characters' motives are plausible and fully developed, and both retain human appeal. Consider this a high point in Weis and Hickman's partnership.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)

September 15, 2000
Chosen to serve as the whipping boy of the young Prince Dagnarus, Gareth becomes his master's friend and confidant as they grow to manhood and become embroiled in the affairs of the land. Tempted by dark powers, Gareth seeks to assist the prince in his search for love and glory, unaware of the greater paths each must follow to fulfill his destiny. The best-selling combination of Hickman and Weis have once again joined forces to create a rich and vibrant fantasy world populated with varied races and complex, believable characters. Based on the "Sovereign Stone" role-playing game, this epic series opener belongs in most fantasy collections.

Copyright 2000 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.