Night of Madness

October 30, 2000
Set in his popular fantasy world of Ethshar of the Spices, Watt-Evans's (Dragon Weather) newest is a sweet yarn about magic gone awry and a young noble's coming of age through adversity. Chubby, good-natured Lord Hanner is his Uncle Farran's errand boy. He works as a liaison between his uncle, who is chief adviser to Lord Azrad the Sedentary, and the community of wizards, witches, sorcerers, necromancers, etc. Since the rules set up by the Wizards' Guild include "No mixing different sorts of magic. No mixing magic and government," all Hanner can do is learn about magic, not practice it. Then comes the Night of Madness, when people awaken with terrible dreams and strange powers. This new magic creates unusually powerful warlocks; moreover, it affects many regular citizens and members of government, breaking the rules set by the Wizards' Guild. Magical mayhem ensues, and Hanner must learn the rules of the new magic, keep command of his small army and learn to control his own burgeoning powers as his uncle, the Wizards' Guild and Lord Azrad fight among themselves for control of Ethshar. Swiftly paced, with likable characters, this novel leaves open many questions that may someday be answered in further installments.

November 15, 2000
A strange object falls from space, unleashing a wave of madness and magic upon the land of Ethshar of the Spices. As newly made warlocks vie for power and mayhem rules unchecked, a young nobleman seeks to bring some sort of sense to the chaos--despite his status as an outcast and a traitor. Veteran fantasy author Watt-Evans (Touched by the Gods) brings new life to his popular "Ethshar" series with a tale of wizardry and witticisms that belongs in most fantasy collections.

Copyright 2000 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2000
The magical world of Ethshar of the Spices suffers a catastrophe one spring night. Hundreds of citizens acquire a form of magical power known as " warlockry"--a development attended by much loss of life and property and many people vanishing. Lord Hanmer, an amiable, overweight hanger-on of his uncle Lord Faran's, is flung into the center of the action when he and Faran turn warlock, and Faran starts organizing what looks like a bid for power against Ethshar's secular and magical rulers. Hanmer faces the mysterious dangers of his own and other warlocks' powers, the hostility of the Wizards' Guild, the rulers' desire to exile all warlocks the citizenry doesn't lynch, the need to care for his sisters and his true love, and such mundanities as feeding several dozen warlocks besieged in a mansion. With perseverance, ingenuity, ethics, and humility, Hanmer becomes first chairman of the council of warlocks, a new part of the government of Ethshar. Although so understated that it loses some emotional impact, this is a fine piece of work.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)