cover image The Dragon Hunters

The Dragon Hunters

Paul Genesse, . . Five Star, $25.95 (441pp) ISBN 978-1-59414-825-5

Winged things abound throughout this heavy-handed second installment of Genesse's Iron Dragon fantasy series (after 2008's The Golden Cord ). Some, like the stately alicorns, are kind and good; some, like the fearful wyrm-king Draglune, are horribly vengeful and bent on world domination by means of the all-powerful Crystal Eye. The dragon-princess Verkahna, determined to replace her father, both helps and hinders the little band of dragon hunters led by dwarf war priest Bellor and human crossbowman Drake on their predictable quest to keep the Eye out of Draglune's claws. Genesse stresses the necessity of trust between races and cultures and the perils of bias and dissension, and he keeps the plot moving quickly despite cardboard characters, soggily sentimental romance and frequent apparent deaths followed by implausible resurrections. (May)