The Dread

December 12, 2011
An unexpected death kicks off this epic but forgettable dark fantasy, the direct sequel to The Sworn (2011) and sixth overall in Martin’s sprawling saga. The Winter Kingdoms are threatened by Temnotta, a long-isolated nation now on the warpath. Isencroft is on the verge of civil war after the king is assassinated. A serial killer stalks the streets of Principality City, killing young women and angering ghosts. Summoner-King Martris Drayke must balance the use of forbidden magic with the desperate needs of his kingdom, even as he fights for the soul of his infant son. As all of these crises come to a head, the heroes and leaders of the Winter Kingdoms are tested like never before. Ambitious in scope and meticulous in detail, this adventure has no shortage of intrigue and action. Unfortunately, it’s bogged down by a sizable cast, myriad plot lines, and a slow start.

February 15, 2012

Tris Drayke, the Summoner-King of Margolan, travels north to fight a war for which he is unprepared, while his wife, Kiara, inherits the crown of Isencroft's King Donelan after his assassination. Across the sea, a new threat arises that requires both Tris and Kiara to uncover its nature in the conclusion to this two-book cycle (The Sworn) set in the world of the "Chronicles of the Necromancer" series.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.