QUEEN OF DEMONS

Part two of Drake’s fantasy magnum opus (Lord of the Isles, 1997). Among the many adventures occurring here, the old wizard Tenoctris, the huge warrior Cashel, and the talking ape Zahag must rescue the noble Sharina from the clutches of the malignant queen of the title, who hopes to grab that nucleus of evil known as the Throne of Malkar. Meanwhile, soon-to-be-king Garric and helpers must tackle an ancient, godlike Beast that’s duped the current weak King of the Isles, Valence III, into providing human sacrifices; the Beast’s only way out of its prison is to secure the Yellow King’s Key. Overall, more shapely than the inaugural volume, and beguilingly set forth—but of genuine originality, of concept or execution, there is none.