THE CHILDREN OF WRATH

Concluding volume of the trilogy (Prince of Demons and Beyond Ragnarok, not reviewed) whose backdrop is a dubious concoction of Norse gods, Celtic myth, and family saga, embroidered with standard fantasy designs. Here, the elves must save the world by re-creating the shattered gem known as the Pica Stone. Unfortunately, eight shards are scattered on eight different planes of existence, so a quest must be organized to retrieve them. Among the familiar characters chosen for the quest will be: warrior Kerval and her husband, the knight Ra-khir; Kerval’s other significant other, the prince and former thief Tae, along with light elves, warriors, and a street urchin who immediately gets lost. Even if the quest succeeds, there’ll be a battle among the gods of Asgard, as Odin squares up to Colbey (don’t ask, okay?). Full-body immersion for fans of the trilogy, who clearly prefer their narratives sluggish, talky, and prone to dwell on the insignificant.