The Heron Kings’ Flight

Lewis returns with a high-energy, atmospheric follow-up to The Heron Kings. While on a critical mission, the eponymous independent guild of warriors are ambushed by Marchmen troops and 19 of their members are killed. Heron Kings Aerrus and Linet set out to exact revenge, but peacetime soldier Eyvind escapes unscathed. Returning to Vin Gannoni, Eyvind’s surprised to learn of a planned large-scale invasion by Phynagoras, the “Emperor of Kings.” Eyvind must again flee for his life when he is accused of being a spy—and he finds safety in the most unlikely of places by bringing news of the invasion to the Heron Kings and forging a tentative alliance with the guild. Together, they take his discovery to King Osmund—who promptly abandons his people to wait out the invasion in hiding. Now it’s up to the Heron Kings themselves to form a defensive plan and halt Phynagoras’s advance. Lewis makes it easy for new readers to jump into this world, and though the plot unfolds slowly due to a massive cast and myriad political fronts, there’s plenty of gory action in the heart-stopping fight scenes. This pulse-pounding adventure is sure to please. (May)