In the sequel to The Fifth Ring
, Graham abandons that novel's direct-to-action approach in favor of a more densely political, character-driven tale that is, sadly, not as entertaining. Mathew Lewin, hero of the first novel, still holds an enchanted ring that gives him enormous powers. Only two such rings are thought to exist, but strange disturbances lead Mathew and his friends to suspect that at least one other ring exists and is in the hand of an enemy. The action accelerates about halfway through, but the preceding 200 pages are tiresome at best, a dreary litany of rambling dialogue and redundant narrative. Graham portrays a sprawling, realistic milieu with its own flavors and conventions, but the amount of extraneous detail and the sheer number of characters is numbing. In addition, the geopolitical structure of his world gives readers little insight into the power plays and battles that unfold as the story draws to a close. An intriguing plot and some likable characters are present, but unfortunately, they rarely rise to the surface. (Jan.)
