Warrior (The Hythrun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy, Book 2) [Hardcover]

Jennifer Fallon (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Hythrun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy, Book 2 | Publication Date: September 19, 2006

It is eight years since Marla Wolfblade buried her second husband. In that time, she has become the power behind Hythria's throne -- as much from a desire to control her own destiny in any way she can, as to protect her son, young Damin.

But while Marla plays the games of politics and diplomacy, the High Arrion of the Sorcerers' Collective is plotting to destroy her -- and the entire Wolfblade line.

And while Marla's power and fortune are great, they may yet not be enough to protect herself and her family from the High Arrion's wrath -- and her only ally and confidant, Elezaar the Fool, is toying with the idea of betrayal.

For he has discovered that the infamous Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power are not so useful when his own family is involved...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Australian author Fallon's solid second installment of her Wolfblade fantasy trilogy (after Wolfblade), Damin Wolfblade, heir to the High Throne of Hythria, learns "the Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power" from the dwarf Elezaar at the insistence of his powerful mother, Marla, High Prince Lernen's sister. The teenage Damin, along with his siblings, stepsiblings and various other young relatives, find themselves caught up in court intrigue and backstabbing schemes, not to mention an assassination plot or two. As Damin grows to manhood, he learns whom he should hold close, whom he should keep at a distance and just how much of his keen intelligence and political skills he needs to hide. Damin is indeed his mother's son. While this middle book's somewhat predictable maneuvering for position engages the reader's interest, one is left hoping the concluding volume will offer more swashbuckling action. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School–It's been eight long years since ambitious Marla Wolfblade buried her husband and claimed royal power for herself. This second volume in the trilogy shows her shift in focus from securing her own power to transferring it to her teenage son, Damin. Elezaar, the dwarf who taught her everything she knows, takes young Damin under his wing and teaches him the Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power, a fantasy-world version of Machiavellian methods. Damin proves an apt pupil, but just as he nears the age of taking the throne, the lord High Arrion of the Sorcerers' Collective, a dark and devious faction within the kingdom, decides to turn the young ruler into a puppet or tear the throne away from him. Damin must decide whom he can trust and how to claim what belongs to him. With strong characters and layers of political subtext, Fallon creates a tight tale of intrigue, espionage, thievery, and assassination attempts. Despite being the second part of a trilogy, this volume stands on its own as a coming-of-age story. Those looking for action-packed, sword-wielding quests will likely find Damin's story slow but those craving subtle variations within the field of fantasy will find much to enjoy.–Matthew L. Moffett, Ford's Theatre Society, Washington, DC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; First Edition edition (September 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765309904
• ISBN-13: 978-0765309907
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #987,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jennifer Fallon was born in Melbourne, Australia, and lived in there until she was 11 when her father, a senior public servant, was transferred to the national capital, Canberra. She lived in and around Canberra for about 8 years and went to school at Catholic Girls High School (now Mercy College) in Braddon. She is the ninth child in a family of 13 girls.
The author lived in the Northern Territory from 1980 to 2010.
Jennifer has two daughters and a son. She has had over 50 foster children and friends refer to her home as "the ashram" due to the large number of strays people that still inhabit her house at irregular intervals.
Jennifer has worked as a youth worker, a store detective, shop assistant, an advertising sales rep and executive secretary, among other things. She has managed 2 hire car companies, an ISP, a video shop, been a state manager for an international cosmetics company and worked as a project manager for Territory Health Services. Jennifer is an accredited workplace trainer and has a Masters of Arts in Research and also the regular movie reviewer for ABC Radio in regional Western Australia.
In 1995, after her late husband famously advised her to 'quit writing and be a better housewife, because you're never going to get published', Jennifer decided to either get published by the year 2000 or give up writing and get a real job. Significantly, being a better housewife did not factor into her plans.
Her first series, The Demon Child Trilogy, was released in August 2000 in Australia and hit the bestseller list the first week it was released and was shortlisted for the 2000 Aurealis Awards as the best Fantasy of 2000.
She has since been shortlisted for another Aurealis, the David Gemmell Legends of Fantasy award and the Romantic Times Best Fantasy award.
Her books are released all over the world and translated into a number of different languages.
Jennifer now lives in New Zealand where she writes full time and runs up the Reynox International Writers Centre.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great fantasy, September 21, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Warrior (The Hythrun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy, Book 2) (Hardcover)

Eight years ago, Marla Wolfblade buried her second spouse, but vowed at the time to strengthen her royal power so she would no longer be vulnerable and to protect her offspring especially her teenage son Damin, heir to the High Throne of Hythria. Now she is the true ruler of Hythria though her brother High Prince Lernen sits on the High Throne. Directed by Marla, the dwarf Elezaar teaches Damin "the Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power" so that when his time comes, he will not just be ready; he will maintain his rule.

However, as Damin is prepared to take over the throne, the High Arrion of the Sorcerer's Collective plan to either use him as their puppet or overthrow him and put a more malleable ambitious puppet on the High Throne. As powerful and influential as Marla has become, she may not be able to prevent the court intrigue especially the assassination attempts on her, her son and her other children.. However, Damin proves sharp as he turns into an adult, but that may prove ineffective as the attacks appear to be from those who he should be able to trust with his life.

There is less action in book two of the Wolfblade Trilogy than in its predecessor (see WOLFBLADE), as WARRIOR is more a cerebral coming of age tale with political manipulations that would make Machiavelli proud. The story line focuses on Damin becoming adept with "the Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power" and who he should consider an ally or an enemy. However, his abilities fail him when he begins to realize his greatest adversary is not the High Arrion, but someone in his inner circle who appears to be a traitor. Fans will enjoy Jennifer Fallon's middle thriller that is light on the sword but heavy on the intrigue. WARRIOR is great fantasy

Harriet Klausner

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Read!, March 12, 2007

By 

Fantasy Fiend "fantasy fiend" (Ravenna, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Warrior (The Hythrun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy, Book 2) (Hardcover)

I've read The Hythrun Chronicles, and now the first two from The Wolfblade Trilogy from Jennifer Fallon and would highly recommend them. Through the Hythrun Chronicles Damin Wolfblade was a wonderful character to read and she brings him even more to life in The Wolfblade Trilogy. He's witty and intelligent and a bit mischevious. I am eagerly anticipating the next volume in the series Warlord.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, January 9, 2008

By 

tbird77 "tbird77" (Ithaca, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Warrior (The Hythrun Chronicles: Wolfblade Trilogy, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

I finished the first book and liked it enough that I went to get this one the day after I finished the first. About 600 pages and I finished in 2 days---think I liked it. Nothing to really make you stop and think but if you are looking for a book for pure enjoyment and you like fantasy, I would recommend Jennifer Fallon's books.
She does make her characters real and I do trully dislike Marla's brother in law. The man manages to kill off all 3 of his siblings in the first book and not look at all guilty. Some how he manages to squirm his way into a position of power and every bad thing he does ---and he does do an awful lot of dreadful things---are somehow not his fault. A lot of the plot you just know will happen, not really any twists I didn't foresee. But I trully did enjoy and would recommend to anyone who likes fantasy mixed with a touch of the erotic.