The Hollow Queen--The Symphony of Ages

April 6, 2015
Haydon’s eighth Symphony of Ages romantic fantasy (after The Merchant Emperor) is a sprawling epic of demon vaults, dragons, and living statues. The story gets unwieldy but is redeemed by gripping relationships. Wartime demands have taken their toll on the marriage of the Cymerian leaders, Rhapsody and Ashe. Rhapsody, who is literally missing a piece of her soul, fights without truly knowing what she is fighting for, and risks losing not only herself but her family. As Rhapsody and Ashe confront the psychological ramifications of war, their passion and grief are heartrending. However, the vast array of characters dilutes the story’s movement, and their conflicts with one-dimensional villains come to all-too-convenient resolutions. The excellent prose and close attention to the emotional states of beloved characters will please longtime fans, but new readers may wonder what the fuss is about. Agent: Richard Curtis, Richard Curtis Associates.

May 15, 2015

In this sequel to The Merchant Emperor, the Cymerian Alliance is in trouble, and Rhapsody and Ashe rally their supporters while Achmed tries to kill the Talquist emperor to stop the war. Meanwhile, the remaining dragons who protect the world gather to mourn the loss of one of their own.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2015
The eighth book in Haydon's Symphony of Ages series pits the Cymrian Alliance against the inexorable advance of a demonic army seeking to destroy both the mortal world and the world beyond. High-lord Gwydion ap Llauron must broker the assistance of kings, mages, and demi-human civilizations to keep the rising threat from consuming the Known World and whatever unknown lies beyond. Haydon's large cast of characters supports a full-scale tale of warfare and political intrigue that high-fantasy fans will enjoy. Well-paced and descriptive narration, punctuated by extensive and intense dialogue-dominated scenes, makes certain the epic story stays consistently interesting. Fans of the series will be satisfied, and newcomers will find themselves welcome.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)