Ingulf the Mad

Part of a number of books that take place in Zimmer's fascinating and well drwn fantasy world, Ingulf is especially entertaining. The main character is driven mad by an encounter with the fey folk, and is convincing crazy as he carreers through the rest of the book attempting to win the affection of the elf princess and in the process starts a great slave revolt in the lands of the evil over lords. Brilliant.

This book details the reason for Ingulf's madness and the origins of Carroll Mac Lir. We find out a considerable amount about the structure of society in the dreaded land of Sarlow be warned some of it is quite stomach turning. Making cameo apparences are Svaran the Black, Grom Beardless and Vildren as well as a certain traitor. This book is diffrent in tempo from Paul Zimmer's other books. Due in part to the Focus on Ingulf's angst over his unrequited love for an elven princess and Vildren questioning of his long held belief systems. But have no fear there is still plenty of swashbuckling action and heroism to sate the hungriest conniseur. Interestingly we are introduced to the "Council of Seven" the ruling body that orchestrates the defence against the shadow and maintains the mystic barriers that confine them. What I found enjoyable about this book was the more indepth character study of the key protagonists.And we find out just why Carroll Mac Lir is accounted as the greatest of the heroes of Y'gora. I've been reading Paul Zimmer books for almost 16 years because they still carry a resonance that removes you from this mundane world, a sense of wonder that carries the reader to a continent perpetually at war and to a land far across the sea where heroes still walk and strive against evil.