The nameless land

Elliott again mingles affairs of the heart with affairs of state in this enchanting sequel to The Witch Roads. The tale opens with deputy courier Elen, her nephew, Kem, Prince Gevulin, and the rest of the prince's guards at the very edge of the Tranquil Empire facing the Far Boundary Pall, a misty miasma that will steal the life of any human who touches it and that obscures completely the nameless land to the North. When the hostile forces of Lord Duenn approach, the party have no choice but to escape into the Pall, ferried by the gagast Fulmo, a being immune to the mists. It's a path that Elen has traveled before: she fled the nameless land years ago--but not so long ago that she isn't still remembered, both for good and ill, when they emerge from the mists. Meanwhile, Gevulin's political plotting has extended into this northern land, adding to an already tense political situation. As Elen faces difficult memories and Gevulin schemes, their best shot at returning home comes from an unlikely ally. Elliott skillfully expands her series' fascinating worldbuilding, contrasting the highly structured Tranquil Empire with the squalid and chaotic nameless land and digging into its nonhuman cultures and complex history. Fans will hope that Elen and co. have much more adventuring ahead of them. (Nov.)

At the edge of the Tranquil Empire, Deputy Courier Elen finds herself forced into leading Prince Gevulin and his group past the Pall and into a land that few believe actually exists. Elen knows where she's going, for this is the land of her birth and where she spent her childhood enslaved alongside her sister Aoving. The relationship between the prince and El remains tense, as the haunt who took over the prince's body--the one Elen fell in love with--has left on his own quest, leaving her heartbroken and in the prince's power. Yet for all of his power, Prince Gevulin has enemies--some known, some not, and some as close as they can be. Surviving the harrowing trip north will take all of Elen's knowledge, both current and past, to make sure they all survive, but even that may not be enough. VERDICT Elliott's follow-up to The Witch Roads again highlights the growing bonds of family and friendship centered around Elen. Strong worldbuilding and character development and the desire to see how it all ends will keep readers engrossed. The duology will especially entertain those who enjoy fantasies with political intrigue.--Kristi Chadwick