The Haunted Wizard (Wizard in Rhyme, A) [Mass Market Paperback]

Christopher Stasheff (Author)

Book Description

Series: Wizard in Rhyme, A | Publication Date: January 4, 2000

CAN THE WIZARD OF RHYME SOLVE A ROYAL CRIME?

There's little love lost between the kindly monarchs of Merovence and the scheming sovereigns of Bretanglia. But when the brutish Prince Gaheris--heir apparent to the Bretanglian throne--is murdered during a brawl in a Merovence tavern, any pretense of civility between the two kingdoms flies out the window faster than the mysterious brigand who committed the dastardly deed.

While the outraged king and queen of Bretanglia declare their intention to lay siege to Merovence, royal wizard Matthew Mantrell suspects the slain prince was done in by one of his own "loyal" subjects.

As both sides gird for battle, Matt sets out--with trusty dragon in tow--to catch the killer. But the road to royal justice is rocky indeed, and a powerful sorcerer, a sinister cult of false druids, and a mischievous spirit are just some of the obstacles Matt must conquer--by wit or wizardry--to save his enchanted land from unholy forces of darkness . . .

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

CAN THE WIZARD OF RHYME SOLVE A ROYAL CRIME?

There's little love lost between the kindly monarchs of Merovence and the scheming sovereigns of Bretanglia. But when the brutish Prince Gaheris--heir apparent to the Bretanglian throne--is murdered during a brawl in a Merovence tavern, any pretense of civility between the two kingdoms flies out the window faster than the mysterious brigand who committed the dastardly deed.

While the outraged king and queen of Bretanglia declare their intention to lay siege to Merovence, royal wizard Matthew Mantrell suspects the slain prince was done in by one of his own "loyal" subjects.

As both sides gird for battle, Matt sets out--with trusty dragon in tow--to catch the killer. But the road to royal justice is rocky indeed, and a powerful sorcerer, a sinister cult of false druids, and a mischievous spirit are just some of the obstacles Matt must conquer--by wit or wizardry--to save his enchanted land from unholy forces of darkness . . .

About the Author

Christopher Stasheff spent his early childhood in Mount Vernon, New York, but spent the rest of his formative years in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has always had difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality and has tried to compromise by teaching college. When teaching proved too real, he gave it up in favor of writing full-time. He tends to pre-script his life but doesn't understand why other people can't get their lines right.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (January 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345392485
• ISBN-13: 978-0345392480
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #431,554 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another solid novel in an interesting series., January 22, 2000

By 

Chris Summers - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Haunted Wizard (Wizard in Rhyme, A) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is a continuation of an interesting series by Mr. Stasheff. I like "historical" fantasy, and this is a fun little romp through an alternative England and Ireland (Bretanglia and Erin). While not as detailed and intricate as some other "historical" fantasy authors (such as Guy Gavriel Kay), this is a well written and entertaining book, with a firm emphasis on adventure and action, with plenty of political manoeuvering and backstabbing, chivalry, magic, and good vs. evil to keep anyone satisfied.

The plot in this book is somewhat predictable at times, such as the virtuous Prince who was "killed" but comes back from the dead to claim his throne from his evil brother, with the help of the good guys of course; and who killed the initial heir to the throne of Bretanglia became fairly obvious to me early on in the book. These gripes aside, I still enjoyed this book, and I recommend anyone who has enjoyed previous books from this series to read this one. However, this may not be the best book to read if you haven't read any of the other books in this series, as you may not understand all the background information that this book is refering to (in other words, read the first book, Her Majesty's Wizard, and all the sequels in order, before you read this one -- trust me, its worth it). The good thing about all the books in this series, including this one, is that each one has a distinct ending, and does not leave you hanging until the next one.

All in all, this book is a good continuation to a fun and entertaining series, and I am eagerly awaiting the next one!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Have a merry jaunt thru olde Bretanglia!, January 7, 2000

By 

DC - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Haunted Wizard (Wizard in Rhyme, A) (Mass Market Paperback)

In the Haunted Wizard,Stasheff spins an artful yarn that weaves several eras of English history[ in this universe anyway] into a merry old jaunt thru Bretanglia. For fans of the play and movie "The Lion in Winter", this book captures the wonderful scheming and backbiting of an ambitious royal family in medieval Europe. The use of Celtic and Druidic rituals and magic fits in wonderfully with the premise for this series. Matt Mantrell,The Lord Wizard,continues to keep one entertained in this book with his integrity, mastery of wizardry and his abilty to land on his feet. Other titles I would recommend would be Tad Williams' Dragonbone Chair;Stephen R. Donaldson's A Man rides Through;Margret Weis' The Lost King

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, February 21, 2009

By 

Cooper Lanting "Egnaro ninja" (Flagstaff) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Haunted Wizard (Wizard in Rhyme, A) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you like Stasheff, This book is very enjoyable. I had no problems with ordering or recieving.