The Black Wolves

September 28, 2015
Elliott opens a trilogy set in the world of her Crossroads books with an uneven epic centered on a dynasty’s internecine power struggles and the questions of correct governance in a conquered country. King Anjihosh wrested the land called the Hundred from the rule of corrupt demons, but his reign could not last forever. The loyal captain of the king’s Black Wolves regiment, Kellas, attempts to protect Anjihosh’s successor, King Atani, from the demons, until everything goes drastically wrong. Decades later, reputation ruined, Kellas is called out of retirement to protect yet another king and must decide where his loyalties lie and whether Anjihosh’s wishes for the well-being of the Hundred still have any chance of being carried out. Elliott blends interesting characters with a well-drawn world and occasional powerful scenes, but the pacing is confusing and the prose is clunky. Long stretches of dullness intrude between shorter moments of the genuinely delightful. Most epics need trimming, but this one could use some extra development to help readers connect with minor characters as they undertake small but plot-necessary actions. Agent: Russell Galen, Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary.

August 15, 2015
Elliott (Cold Steel, 2013 etc.) kicks off an intriguing new fantasy trilogy with-what else?-a doorstopper. King Anjihosh now rules the land known as the Hundred, having wrested it away from fearsome demons (they are strong, all but unkillable, and have the ability to manipulate human memories) in battle. His elite troops, the Black Wolves, operate mostly in secret, and of these the most trusted is Capt. Kellas. Princess Dannarah dreams of becoming a reeve-royal scouts and messengers who pair-bond with and ride ferocious giant eagles-and resists being married off to cement a foreign alliance. But then her brother, Prince Atani, overhears something he shouldn't have and runs away. Sent in pursuit, Kellas too learns more than is good for him. The narrative abruptly leaps 44 years into the future. Anjihosh is long dead. Kellas served his successor, Atani, until the latter was treacherously murdered, whereupon Kellas was retired in disgrace and the Wolves disbanded. Now, King Jehosh, fearing a power struggle with his mother, Queen Chorannah, recalls an old but still hale Kellas. Dannarah, once marshal of the reeves but deposed by Jehosh in favor of incompetent sycophants, and Kellas, united in their loyalty to the late Atani, trust the monarchs not at all-and the mystery of Atani's death rankles. Sophisticated, multifaceted worldbuilding sparked by original flourishes, populated by characters we quickly come to care about and whose motivations drive intricate, absorbing conspiracies-the whole vehicle mired in the kind of ugly, messy structure designed largely to conceal what's going on from readers and characters alike. One seriously annoying flaw detracts from what otherwise is a stellar performance.

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Starred review from November 15, 2015

The Black Wolves were the elite warriors of the Hundred, created by King Anjihosh after he overthrew the ruling demons. Anjihosh has been dead for over 20 years, and Kellas is one of the last of the Black Wolves. He retreated from court ages ago, but Dannarah, daughter of Anjihosh and sister of Atani, who ruled after him, convinces Kellas to return to court to save Atani's son, Jehosh, and the country his grandfather shaped. VERDICT Elliott (Jaran; Cold Magic) sketches in a delightfully complex landscape full of court intrigue, religious upheaval, culture clashes, and the mysterious demons who seem to be pulling many of the strings in play. Her world draws on a melange of Eastern cultures that resist straight mapping to our own history books. There is a fair amount of time hopping and flashbacks, but Elliott's strong narrative will keep readers engaged. This series opener is set in the same world as the author's "Crossroads" trilogy. New readers should be able to jump right in.--MM

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2015
Veteran fantasy writer Elliott returns to the world of her Crossroads trilogy with a sophisticated and challenging tale that launches the follow-up Black Wolves trilogy. The Hundred is a land once ruled by just that many councils and village conclaves. Then King Anjihosh dispatched the demons, rebels, and other unsavory elements threatening the peace and brought order to the kingdom. His elite fighting force, the Black Wolves, led by Captain Kellas, is tasked with keeping the peace and ferreting out possible threats to the throne. Elliott throws a curve to readers as the second part of the novel jumps 44 years forward with the Black Wolves disbanded and Anjihosh's grandson, King Jehosh, facing multiple threats to his rule. The aged Kellas is recalled to aid the king, but it may be too late. Elliott has a gift for creating a landscape that is at once sweeping and intimate, with minor characters often as memorable as the major players. Strong female characters and a distinctive Asian setting add to this twisty and intricate story and will appeal to readers who enjoy intelligent high fantasy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)