cover image The Ivory Lyre

The Ivory Lyre

Shirley Rousseau Murphy. HarperCollins Publishers, $12.95 (250pp) ISBN 978-0-06-024362-3

In this second volume of the Dragonbards Trilogy, Tebriel must use his skills to fight the evil that is conquering his world. Dacia is the only country thathas not succumbed to the mind enslavement perpetrated by the ""unliving.'' They are, however, using Dacia as their headquarters. Why hasn't Dacia fallen? Tebriel must use his wits and courage, as well as his magic, to find the answer, which lies in the ivory lyre. This well-crafted fantasy has a depth and scope reminiscent of Tolkien. Like Bilbo, Tebriel has a small but important part to play in a larger war. The first chapter recaps the important events in Nightpool, the earlier book, so that this volume stands on its own. Ages 12-up. (March)