From Library Journal
Believed slain in the doomed battle for the city of Gent, Sanglant, the bastard son of King Henry, hovers on the edge of madness as a prisoner of the barbarian Eika conquerors. While Sanglant's lover Liath struggles to unlock her hidden magic powers, Alain?lowborn son of Count Lavastine?wages a private battle to prove himself worthy of his father's trust. Continuing the story begun in King's Dragon (DAW, 1997), Elliott weaves together the destinies of star-crossed lovers, ambitious churchmen, and barbarian invaders in a dazzling medieval fantasy set in an alternate Europe. Reminiscent of Katherine Kurtz's Deryni series, this engrossing saga should appeal to fantasy lovers and fans of historical epics alike. Recommended for most fantasy collections.Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Kirkus Reviews
Second entry in Elliott's doorstopper fantasy series (King's Dragon, Feb. 1997) set in the old/medieval-Europeflavored kingdom of Wendar. Following an invasion by the vicious, barbaric, nonhuman Eika and their terrible dogs, King Henry makes plans to recapture the city of Gent--where his immortal bastard son Sanglant, the prince of dogs, is being kept chained and humiliated by the Eika warlord Bloodheart. Elsewhere, young King's Eagle Liath, pursued by her nemesis, Hugh, strives to rediscover her past and master the magic within her. Alain, Count Lavastine's adopted heir, desires only peace but can't disregard his oath to the Lady of Battles. And Fifth Brother, Bloodheart's least-favored son, is developing his own agenda for dealing with both his father and the humans. A solidly engrossing addition to a worthwhile series. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

FROM OUR EDITORS

If you've read the first novel and you're wondering if the second book lags at all, don't. If anything, there's more going on, as Alain comes into his own and Liath, battling her paralyzing fear and self-doubt, changes the course of a second battle for Gent, and what it contains in the wake of Bloodheart's conquest. I want to say more -- but to say more is to give away not only the end of this book, but chunks of the previous one as well. These books are a lot of fun -- perfect winter reading!

—Michelle West

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Sanglant--the Prince of Dogs, King Henry's bastard son: though believed dead by all who could succor him, he is being held captive in the city of Gent by Bloodheart, the Eika warlord. Cursed by his mother's blood with an inability to die, he struggles to maintain the last shreds of his sanity in the hope rescue may yet come....

Liath--now a King's Eagle, and still grieving over Sanglant, she strives to unlock the secrets of her past while seeking to evade the traps set for her by an obsessively ambitious man. But even a post in King Henry's court offers her little protection from those determined to claim the forbidden knowledge she has hidden....

Alain--raised in humble surroundings but now proclaimed a Count's heir, he is increasingly troubled by visions of the enemy he befriended and the Lady of Battles whom he's sworn to serve. A man who desires nothing more than peace, he is about to be thrust into the heart of war with the Eika....

Fifth Son--least favored child of Bloodheart, he has returned to the lands of his own people to build an army to do his father's bidding. If he survives this mission, he will become a force to be reckoned with....

And even as King Henry continues his progress through his troubled realm, defeating rebellious lords and gathering their promises of troops to use at Gent, Sanglant, Liath, Alain, and Fifth Son are fighting their own battles against almost overwhelming odds. Only time will tell who will prove triumphant as all are caught up in the dangers and turmoil of a world at war.

FROM THE CRITICS

VOYA - Joyce Davidson

Only a few months have passed since the Eika captured the city of Gent, but much has changed. Everyone in the Kingdom mistakenly believes that the King's son, Sanglant, is dead. Sanglant will spend the next year of his life fighting the dogs he is chained with, just to stay alive. Liath is now a King's Eagle, learning that the magic she fears is not found in the book but in herself. Alain, now the Count's son, discovers that you can never go home again, and must prove himself a warrior and leader to his new father's men. Fifth Son goes back to the home of the Eika and begins to create his own powerbase. Then there are Anna and Matthias, the last two human children in the city of Gent; Hugh, who would do anything to get Liath and her book back under his control; and Ivan, a prisoner in a monastery who sees miracles where others see heresy. All are gathered together for the battle to retake Gent, and no one knows that Sanglant-the Prince of Dogs-is waiting for them. If your library does not have Volume One of the Crown of Stars series, The King's Dragon (DAW, 1997/VOYA June 1997), do not even consider buying this book. This story does not stand alone. It is a long and detailed fantasy novel with a large cast of characters for serious fantasy readers. The complex details of the alien Eika culture are fascinating and although there are a few serious flaws and things do get bogged down in detail at times (I also wish Liath would grow a spine), it is an excellent story. The wonderful cover by Jody Lee will attract readers who might otherwise be put off by the length of the book. VOYA Codes: 5Q 2P S (Hard to imagine it being any better written, For the YA with a special interest in the subject, Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).

Library Journal

Believed slain in the doomed battle for the city of Gent, Sanglant, the bastard son of King Henry, hovers on the edge of madness as a prisoner of the barbarian Eika conquerors. While Sanglant's lover Liath struggles to unlock her hidden magic powers, Alainlowborn son of Count Lavastinewages a private battle to prove himself worthy of his father's trust. Continuing the story begun in King's Dragon (DAW, 1997), Elliott weaves together the destinies of star-crossed lovers, ambitious churchmen, and barbarian invaders in a dazzling medieval fantasy set in an alternate Europe. Reminiscent of Katherine Kurtz's Deryni series, this engrossing saga should appeal to fantasy lovers and fans of historical epics alike.

Library Journal