The lost war

Anderson (Carpet Diem) effectively uses the perennial fantasy trope of a group of disparate characters on a vital mission in the gripping epic that launches his Eidyn Saga series. The kingdom of Eidyn has just survived a brutal conflict, but instead of enjoying peace, its monarch, King Janaeus, faces tense domestic challenges: a virulent plague may have mutated; demons who were summoned by Janaeus's imprisoned adversary, Mynygogg, remain at large; and violent scavengers known as Reivers pose a threat to unarmed civilians. In the midst of this turmoil, the monarch tasks Aranok, a magician serving as his envoy, to rescue Taneitheia, the deposed queen of nearby Gaulle, from a revolt, hoping that she will ally herself with Eidyn. Aranok assembles a motley crew for the mission, including a soldier, a naval captain, a White Thorn warrior, a priest, and a blacksmith--but as their expedition grows increasingly dangerous, he wonders who among them he can trust. Anderson's talent at crafting memorable characters will whet appetites for the sequel. Raymond Feist fans will be especially enthralled. (May)