Burning Realm

The Burning Realm (1988) is the second Fantasy novel in The Shattered World series. In the previous volume, Pandrogas has found the Necromancer and learned both his true history and his source of magic. While saving Pandrogas and Amber, Beorn has shapechanged too long and lost himself to his bear persona. Pandrogas and Amber take Beorn's bear-form to Tamboriyon and set him free in the forest. They agree to part for a commonyear, Pandrogas to return to Darkhaven to guide the new students of necromancy and Amber to stay on Tamboriyon to learn how to use her own powers. In this novel, the commonyear has passed and both Pandrogas and Amber prepare for their rendezvous. Pandrogas takes ship from Darkhaven, but is intercepted by Trisandela, the Lady of Bats. Amber has obtained the rank of Conjuress in the Taggyn Saer system and is uncertain about her feelings for Pandrogas, but returns to the meeting place. When she arrives, Pandrogas is not there and does not come that day. After some soul searching, Amber leaves Tamboriyon to hunt for him. Meanwhile, Kan Konar, cloakfighter from Typor's Fist, has escaped from the web of Zhormallion, the Spider Lord, on Xoth. After reaching the surface, he cannot find his cloak (which has been claimed by Tahrynyar) but does find a damaged dragonship, a chase boat from one of the huge hunting ships. He hears someone, or something, coming and hides within the boat, which is hurled into the Abyss by a cacodemon. After a while, he comes out and looks around, only to find the Lady of the Bats in the boat with him. He learns that she has eased his escape after he has freed himself from the web. Apparently she is just playing Chton politics. Mirren, a werewolf and thief, has survived the sinking of a ship from the tsunami caused by a lesser fragment plunging into the Ythan Ocean on Rhynne. She washes ashore on a small island with an abandoned wizard's tower, former home of Stonebrow, deceased leader of the Circle. She finds seawater stains, fish, and damp everywhere from the tsunami, but also some dry food and clothing. She gathers some money and jewelry and convinces a pair of would-be plunderers to take her to the mainland. Kyra is an assassin on Zarhenna who bungles an assignment. When Mirren applies to be an assassin, Kyra is assigned as her instructor. Since this is a demotion in status, Kyra is determined to make Mirren into a successful assassin. However, Mirren also bungles her first assignment and flees from the Guild With No Name into the labyrinth of Chton tunnels within the fragment. Kyra is given an final assignment, find and kill Mirren or never come back. This novel is a mystery quest with several storylines. Most are soon intertwined with the Lady of Bats in her effort to dominate the Chtons. However, Trisandela's plan encounters a setback as a third party joins the competition for Chton leadership. Recommended for Reaves fans and anyone else who enjoys high sorcery and low politics