cover image The Dinosaur Princess: The Dinosaur Lords, Book 3

The Dinosaur Princess: The Dinosaur Lords, Book 3

Victor Milán. Tor, $24.99 (464p) ISBN 978-0-7653-3298-1

Milán shifts focus from grand battles to Machiavellian intrigue, but the Empire of Nuevaropa is in no less peril in this worthy third Dinosaur Lords alternate history adventure (after Dinosaur Knights). While Emperor Felipe presents accolades to the heroes who were victorious over the Horde of the Grey Angel Raguel, his younger daughter, Montse, is kidnapped by Trebizon agents. Jaume, prince of the empire and beloved of Montse’s older sister, Melodía, rides out to rescue the princess with his knightly companions. Melodía, who feels isolated in the capital and powerless to affect revenge against the duke who raped her, finds an unlooked-for ally in the cunning matron of the imperial family, Dame Rosemaría. The supernatural Grey Angels continue their efforts to incite humanity to destruction by secretly supporting the faction that views Montse’s abduction as an act of war. Their mortal enemies, the Fae, have their own reluctant champion in the recently elevated Duke Karyl, the only man who’s survived crossing swords with a Grey Angel. Milán easily shifts from one character to another, giving the reader views of these conflicts that range from personal to international. This continues to be an excellent series that combines combat, magic, skullduggery, and pageantry with memorable characters. Agent: Kay McCauley, Zeno. (Aug.)