Citadels of the Lost
The Annals of Drakis: Book Two
Tracy Hickman

Daw
July 3, 2012 / ISBN 9780756407315
Fantasy
Amazon

Reviewed by Jan Fields

The Annals of Drakis follow the unwanted quest of a young slave who is the hero of prophesy. Only Drakis doesn't want to be a hero. He just wants to live. In the second book of the annals, Drakis has found the dragons he never expected to find and they nearly kill him and his small band. Instead, they end up jumping through a "fold" into a land none have ever seen before.

A land that reflects the glory that humans once created before they were enslaved by the elves.

Though Drakis has no real interest in pursuing the actions he is prophesied, he finds himself pushed further and further into them through circumstances he cannot control. Like much of high fantasy, this novel is filled with interesting creatures from Manticore lion men, to four-armed Chimerians, to terrifying drakoneti, and all are well realized and portrayed. The young hero's sections contrast nicely to the jumps into the complex world of elf politics and deceit and the jumps to follow Soen, an elf sent to recapture Drakis, but who is increasingly pushed further and further into the role of enemy of his own people.

The book's examination of just how much control each character has over his/her respective destiny is compelling. Because I had not read the first book in the series, I had considerable trouble caring about the fates of so many characters - so clearly this is a saga that needs to begin at the beginning. I did enjoy the way the writer avoided the "slice of story" feeling that is so common in the middle book of a trilogy -- the plot arc of Citadels of the Lost is compelling in itself and will keep you reading just to find out what happens and does not leave the reader hanging in frustration. In all ways, a superior middle volume to a fascinating high fantasy trilogy.

Reviews of other titles by this author

Well of Darkness by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Bones of the Dragon by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Journey into the Void by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Mystic Empire by Tracy & Laura Hickman