SERVANT OF THE DRAGON

Third entry in Drake’s fantasy series (Lord of the Isles, 1997; Queen of Demons, 1998). Prince Garric, now effectively King of the Isles, is counseled by King Carus, a version of himself who lived a millennium ago. Garric intends to reunite the kingdom and encourage egalitarianism. On Ornifal, however, a gigantic bird pops out of a hole in reality, whisking away Garric’s sister Sharina to who knows where—or for what purposes. Meanwhile, a thousand years in the past, the wizard Purlio has been absorbed by an evil-ammonite Great One; together, they’ve captured and confined the batty wizard Ansalem and stolen his powers. Soon, having built a time-bridge to reach Garric in the future, they’ll invade with armies raised from the dead. Problem: to defeat the dead, Garric must be dead himself. Well up to previous standards; should please the faithful.