Hinterland

Author: James Clemens
Published: November 7, 2006 (Roc)
Category: Fantasy
Series: Godslayer Chronicles #2
Rating: 9/10

A satisfying sequel to Shadowfall. If a series is that good, I won't take a break in between the books.

In an attempt to bridge the rift between Tashijan, led by Argent Ser Fields and Chrismferry, led by God-Regent Tylar Ser Noche (he gets his Shadowknight status back after the events of Shadowfall), Fields plans an elaborate ceremony to bestow another Shadowcloak and black diamond-pommeled sword upon Tylar. They hope that the ceremony, which invites the Hands of other gods, will do much in uniting Myrillia against the threat of the Cabal (the faction trying to free gods from their bonds to the land, willingly and unwillingly).

However, an unnatural snowstorm is ripping through Myrillia, seeming to head straight for Tashijan. After Tylar's party arrives at the Citadel of the Shadowknights, the storm locks everyone inside. Unfortunately for everyone there, the storm is not the only thing to worry about. From the end of Shadowfall, we see the growing threat hiding beneat the Citadel; it's a dark army of zombie-like Shadowknights. They were kidnapped and poisoned with dark Graces, and over centuries, this army has grown rather massive. It created lots of opportunities for action of the horror movie type.

While Tylar pursues a lead to figure out the source of the ice storm, more information is revealed about the Godsword, more importantly, a way to make it more powerful. His party enters the Hinterland (unsettled land with rogue gods roaming), hoping to kill the storm before it destroys Tashijan.

At the end of Hinterland, Tylar and Kathryn's romance seems to start up again, and things seem to be on the mend, with the remaining gods uniting with Tylar and the Shadowknights against the Cabal.

Of course, the last couple pages introduce a new twist to the saga with a Frankenstein-like god creature. I'm frustrated now because I won't find out what it is until the third book, but there's no information on when it's going to be published!