Shadowbred

Well now, I guess this is where all the stuff done in the Erevis Cale trilogy pays off. Don't start this one before that previous trilogy - it's more like a 6-book series. Book 1 is basically where a major Realms event officially starts brewing. All the pieces are in place, and all that's left, is to set things in motion.

The pace of the book starts off leisurely, as we see the different players in the plot starting their engines and shifting in gear. The pace just keeps racking up to a strong finale, and dangles you off a cliffhanger - just like the previous trilogy (the cliffhanger part).

The plot is quite incredible; a massive conspiracy by Shar's faithful to plunge Sembia into civil war, Mask's mysterious behind-the-scenes machinations, then throw in ulterior motives and ties to previous back stories and you have a winner.

The protagonist of this book is Cale, since Magadon is a plot device and Riven doesn't show up until much later. We see Cale dealing with the aftermath of the previous trilogy, coming to grips with himself and his situation. Then getting called back to his old life in Sembia and stumbling upon conspiracy after conspiracy. I would say Cale didn't change much, despite the attempts at character growth - he's still the same old, struggling with the same emotions, but maybe to a lesser degree. But that's what makes him an interesting character.

Topping that would be the villains. We have agents of Shar placed in key positions of power, manipulating things to their dark ends. The Shadovar takes up a prominent part of the spotlight, showcasing what Cale is up against. I always find it refreshing when two evils (well, Cale's not exactly evil, but his deity is) go up against each other, and very entertaining when the author pulls it off with just the right motivations. All of the villains here are very well fleshed-out characters.

As the book ends with the first clash between the protagonists and the primary villains, yet another party shows up right at the end - the plot hasn't finished unfolding yet, not by far it seems.