Ravencaller

January 27, 2020
Dalglish broadens the scope of his Keepers series with this impressive, no-holds-barred high fantasy. The city of Londheim is in turmoil following the events of Soulkeeper as the goddess-worshipping humans struggle to adjust to dragon-sired monsters, creatures they believed to be blasphemous myth, awakening from 800 years of sleep. Militant dragon-sired factions launch attacks to reclaim their former city, and fearful, ignorant humans respond with violence toward all monsters, leaving little hope for those who seek peaceful coexistence, among them good-hearted warrior priest Devin; fierce former sex slave Jacaranda; onyx fairy Tesmarie; and adorable firekin Puffy. When an especially violent dragon-sired sect retakes the city’s poorest district, aided by poisonous mushrooms and human cultists, Devin, Jacaranda, and friends work to protect their home. Meanwhile, Devin’s sister, Adria, a religious leader, has developed the power to perform miracles. But the more wonders she enacts, the more her faith in the church waivers. Through myriad perspectives, Dalglish weaves a complex political web, raising moral questions about war, religion, and land rights and eschewing easy answers. The philosophical strains are tempered with plentiful action sequences and sweet romance, keeping the pace up and the pages turning. This smart epic fantasy promises more good things from the series to come. Agent: Michael Carr, Veritas Literary.

February 15, 2020
When the world changes, will you change with it? A boy who takes pleasure in causing pain meets a monster who can teach him to do much more. A Soulkeeper puts his reputation on the line to stop the abuse of soulless humans--while concealing his relationship with an "awakened" formerly soulless woman. A religious woman given unimaginable power over human souls by a monster struggles to determine right from wrong, faith from blasphemy. In a world where mountains walk, prayers can change the physical world, and magical creatures like talking rabbit-soldiers have awoken from a centurieslong slumber, no choice is simple. The Soulkeeper Devin has chosen to befriend creatures like the faery Tesmarie while his spellcasting brother-in-law, Tommy, believes the newly awakened magical creatures have as much right to the land as humans do. In a time when most humans are reacting with fear and anger to their changing world, seeing the world in shades of gray can be dangerous. Meanwhile, Devin's sister, Adria, finds that her new powers are testing her faith and bringing up questions she'd rather not confront. As new magical threats to the human population arise, all of these characters will be pushed to their limits, and the decisions they make may determine the fate of humanity. Picking up where Soulkeeper (2019) left off, this second book in a planned trilogy raises the stakes for every character, complicating the moral choices they face. The plot rockets along from one magical battle to the next, but Dalglish deftly weaves in rich character development alongside all this action. Fans will love the second installment of this dark fantasy about very human characters beset by inhuman dangers.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 15, 2020
In the first book of Dalglish's Keepers trilogy (Soulkeeper, 2019), a demigod dragon unleashed black waters across the Cradle and threatened to destroy the city of Londheim. In this second installment, more magical creatures have been released from their slumber, and some want to return the dragon-sired to prominence above humanity, while others see a hope for coexistence. Soulkeeper Devin Eveson continues to protect the city's population, and his sister, Mindkeeper Adria, is trying to reconcile her ever-growing powers with the governance of the three goddesses and the Keeping church. Dalglish employs short chapters and alternating points of view to create a strong sense of urgency in the narrative, and the combination of fast-paced action and intricate character relationships adds to the depth of the story. While the myriad skirmishes and all-out urban battles are gory and violent, the dialogue of the characters, sometimes mid-fight, is witty and humorous. With strong world building, imaginative monsters, and a capable system of magic, this series will please readers who enjoy dark epic fantasy with engaging characters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)