Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Publisher: Tor (Macmillan UK)
Release Date: October 1, 2004
ISBN:1405033533
Awards:  
Format Reviewed: Hardcover
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Genre:   Fantasy

Reviewed: 2004
Reviewer: Rachel A Hyde
Reviewer Notes:
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The Charnel Prince
Kingdoms of Thorn & Bone, No. II
By Greg Keyes

     The Briar King has awoken, and suddenly there are monsters from old stories everywhere. But worse than that is the current political situation: time is running out for Muriele and her lackwit son Emperor Charles and all-out war seems imminent. Somebody has been pulling the strings to engineer all this, and for some reason, Princess Anne must be prevented from inheriting the throne. As assassins track her and Austra down to the faraway country where they hide, and Aspar White's forests are turning on all humans, Leoff, a young composer, is writing a piece of music that is going to inspire people, but to do what?

    Following breathlessly on the heels of the first book The Briar King, here is another tubby tome that carries its length well and actually had me wanting more when I put it down! This is classic high fantasy to please all true fans of the genre, surely including those who usually want something clever and different. Greg Keyes takes the trappings of standard fantasy and makes it sing; the sort of book that makes me remember why I enjoy it so much when it is done well. Political scheming, fearsome monsters, plot twists to keep the reader guessing and lots of action and shifts from one group of characters to another keep the whole thing bubbling merrily like a simmering cauldron. Add to this some interesting and lively characters, some clever word play and a very well realized world for it all to take place in and you have a jolly good book. Underlying all this fun and sparkle is a more serious theme of how religious fanaticism makes nightmares out of everyday things, and wages a war that has no true winners. Highly recommended.