Return of the Wizard King

Corrie (The Adventures of Corwyn) launches his Wizard King trilogy with this spellbinding but overstuffed fantasy. The Elyellium of the Republic of Colloni seek to return their empire to its former glory by uncovering centuries-buried knowledge in the ancient ruins of Taka Lu Lama. A ragtag group of elves, humans, and a dwarf—Gilban, Alara, Vinder, Cadrissa, and Dugan—embark on a quest to beat the Elyellium to it. Meanwhile, Rowan, a Knight of Valkoria, is tasked with the same mission by his queen. Halfway through their separate journeys, Rowan and the group cross paths and band together, encountering enemies and allies along the way. But when they reach the ruins, the last wizard king of Tralodren awaits them, revealing that he has secretly orchestrated their expeditions for his own nefarious purposes. Though the characters are multifaceted and it’s a joy to watch the complex, overlapping narrative strands start to come together, the pace doesn’t pick up until the halfway mark and the cliffhanger ending leaves many pressing questions unanswered. Though it’s not without its bumps, this promising series opener will leave many readers curious to know what comes next. (Sept.)