Dark Hours: The Blood of Ten Chiefs, Vol.5

Wonderful book in almost-new condition!!!! Delivery was a bit longer than expected, but it arrived safe and sound.

Stories include:In Memory Green by Alice Cascorbi and Richard PiniStarting Over by Lynn AbbeyPersonal Challenge by Katharine Eliska KimbrielRiders of the Storm by Mercedes LackeyThe Naming of Stonefist by Allen L. WoldFinder by Nancy SpringerTurnings by Diana L. PaxsonThe Long Hunt by Len Wein and William RotslerFive-Finger Exercise by Esther M. Friesner

DARK HOURS (edited) by Richard Pini features several stories about the past ten chiefs. The stories are exhilerating and hard to put down. I should know, I've read each of the books in the series several times. But there is something different in this book. Two of the stories in the book are cliffhangers. STARTING OVER, a story continued from one of the other books in the series, is about Rahnee and Zarhan. They find themselves in a very difficult situatin with another group of elves (but I don't want to ruin it for someone who hasn't read the story.) The story ends with this dilemna and TO BE CONTINUED... but, I'd like to know WHERE! There is also another story, RIDERS OF THE STORM, about Willowgreen, Graywolf, Rellah, and Two-Spear. This story is also carried over from another of the books. In this story, Rellah's grief for her long dead daughter pushes her to try to interfere with two star-crossed lovers' situation. However, the outcome of the situation remains unresolved. One final thought, does Rellah have anything to do with the magic in THE NAMING OF STONEFIST! Even though, the outcome of these two stories has been driving me crazy, it was worth it! If you haven't already, you should read the other books in the series. Many of the stories are connected and give you insight to the characters and their lives.

The triumphant prose anthology series "Blood of Ten Chiefs" continues with this anthology, and it appears that it just keeps getting better. The duds are few and far between in this book of tightly-written short stories set in the past of the world of ElfQuest - created by Wendy and Richard Pini. This is a series that has satisfied me as a reader more times than even Robert Asprin's Thieve's World series. The startling array of talents in this volume must be seen to be believed. So why isn't this book a perfect 10? Because one of the stories is "To Be Continued," and there still isn't a volume 6. That's why.

Once again a selection of fantasy authors gather to explore the depths and myriad possibilities created by Wendy and Richard Pini. More stories, each one set during the reign of previous chiefs, add depth to the Wolfriders, their ways, their victories and defeats. For fantasy readers of all ages, this anthology - and the others in the series - make excellent reading, time after time.