The Kingless Land

May 15, 2002
The prolific Greenwood, known to fantasy readers for his Elminster books, here provides the first in the "Band of Four" series. Four archetypal characters a wily thief, a lumbering warrior, a wizened cleric, and a beautiful sorceress form an unlikely alliance. They campaign to find and use the lost Dwaerindim stones to restore the long-enchanted King of their realm, Aglirta. Greenwood's middling fantasy writing doesn't translate well to audio; narrator Nadia May reads with verve, but murky subplots, repetitive dialog, and rather hackneyed action scenes combine to derail any momentum. The body count is so ridiculously high as to be grotesque, and attempts at wry humor become predictable, as does the story's outcome. Although Blackstone offers this title in a less expensive MP3 format, there is ample other audio fantasy available. Libraries that have fairly general needs may consider the immensely popular Tolkien works. For enthusiasts and libraries with high demand for sword and sorcery. Douglas C. Lord, Hartford P.L., CT

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.