Twilight Herald (Twilight Reign) [Hardcover]

Tom Lloyd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 16, 2007 | Series: Twilight Reign

After the shattering events of THE STORMCALLER, the eyes of the Land are on the minor city of Scree, which could soon be obliterated as the new Lord of the Farlan plots his revenge against Scree's rulers. Suffering under an unnatural summer drought and surrounded by volatile mercenary armies that may be its only salvation, the city is a strange sanctuary for a fugitive abbot to flee to, but he is only the first of many to be drawn there. Kings and princes, lords and monsters; all walk the sun-scorched streets while the evenings witness the performance of cruel and subversive plays that work their way into the hearts of the audience. Elite soldiers clash after dark and the city begins to tear itself apart as the sanity of its citizens crumbles, yet even chaos can be scripted. There is a malevolent will at work in Scree and one that has a lesson for the entire Land; nations can be manipulated, prophecies perverted, and Gods denied. Nothing lies beyond the reach of a shadow, and no matter how great a man's power, there some things he cannot be protected from.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this elaborate and character-laden sequel to 2008's The Stormcaller, Isak the White-Eyed, new ruler of the Farlan tribe, tries to save the city of Scree as a magical spell turns it into a cesspit of evil and death. With the aid of a dubious group of comrades, Isak investigates the blessing and curse of his white eyes, which grant him mostly unexplained magical powers and superior strength as well as a powerful rage he must learn to control. As he matures, the plot deepens, with several characters questioning their loyalties and pursuing unclear agendas. The result is a wonderfully dense and often gruesome story of martial might and raw magic. Fans who liked the first book but thought Lloyd could do better will be thrilled to be proven right. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"Gut spilling, sword-slashing fun." --Sandy Auden SFX "Packed with some of the most vividly described action you'll read all year. There's still plenty to make this mean and moody fantasy stand out from the crowd." DEATHRAY --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Gollancz (August 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 057507728X
• ISBN-13: 978-0575077287
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,102,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tom Lloyd was born in 1979 in Berkshire. After a degree in International Relations he went straight into publishing where he still works. He never received the memo about suitable jobs for writers and consequently has never been a kitchen-hand, hospital porter, pigeon hunter, or secret agent. He lives in Oxford, isn't one of those authors who gives a damn about the history of the font used in his books and only believes in forms of exercise that allow him to hit something. Visit him online at http://www.tomlloyd.co.uk.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars complex well written fantasy, March 8, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Twilight Herald: Book Two of the Twilight Reign (Twilight Reign) (Paperback)

The "White Eye" Isak has become Lord of the Farlan tribe following his victory at Narkang (see STORMCALLER). Aiding his claim to overall rule of the Land is possession of two crystal skulls and the sharing of his brain with the soul of dark Elf Aryn Bwr although he is not sure how much help that provides him. Still Isak returns to Tirah in triumph, only someone tries to kill him whom he assumes is baffling Azaer or perhaps a member or the entire group of the deadly White Circle. He suspects seditious actions by others, who either feel they should be in charge or he is unworthy.

Although he knows he must focus on those planning seditious acts and assassination attempts, he sees an opportunity to avenge the downfall of Lord Bahl. He heads to the divided city Scree where insanity rules due to a seemingly "controlled" drought leading to no one trusting anyone and death and danger are everywhere. Isak does not care or fear anyone even those trying to kill him; for he is on a mission of vengeance, which many of the Farlan believes means razing the small city as an example of Isak's power.

The Twilight Herald is a complex well written fantasy filled with political intrigue and backstabbing that make the Democrats and Republicans look like friendly playmates. The story line is loaded with several major action-packed subplots though most remain dangling for the future; but to truly digest especially the first quarter of the novel with so much happening from the onset the audience needs to have read THE STORMCALLER. Isak successfully takes over the role of solo star with Bahl gone as Tom Lloyd provides a deep complicated political fantasy in which Machiavelli and Borgia would feel at home.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every bit as good as the first!,, May 11, 2009

By 

B.K.Price "Fantasy Doctor" (Liverpool,England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Twilight Herald: Book Two of the Twilight Reign (Twilight Reign) (Paperback)

As with the first in the series Lloyd has created a fantasy feast of well written characters and a beautifully vivid world full of magic, war and turmoil. Isak as always is a great character, one of my personal favourites in the fantasy genre, he is young, powerful and often times brutal but we still see is vulnerable side when he is with his friends, this makes the main character much more in depth and satisfying to read.

In this story Isak has to comes to terms with the voice of an ancient Elven King inside of his head and the treason of one of his most powerful Lords. As if this is not enough he is forced to send out his army to a small town called Scree were an enormous amount of magic is being used. In this small town all the powers of the lands are represented there, both good and evil, there in this small town we'll see assassinations, demons raised from the pits of hell and awe inspiring battles. Will the be to much for the young Lord Of The Farlan to control? Or will he rise above the expectations of the world?

If you love fast paced with huge battles, politics and everything in between then Lloyd's work a go. You won't be disappointed!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 star, July 11, 2008

By 

Rosanne Cobb (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twilight Herald (Twilight Reign 2) (Paperback)

Even more enjoyable than the first. Twilight Herald takes the world of the Stormcaller and drives everything further - the world's even more detailed, the plot's intricate and clever and I loved the way gods could subsume each other, haven't seen that in any other book and it worked really well!