Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman have struck gold yet again with their latest novel, DRAGONS OF A LOST STAR, book two in The War of Souls trilogy. Following on the heels of 1996's DRAGONS OF SUMMER FLAME, The War of Souls trilogy continues the arc begun with their phenomenally popular Chronicles series. The first installment, DRAGONS OF A FALLEN SUN, set up an epic conflict for the war-torn, dragon-beset populace of Krynn, 40 years after the close of the Chaos War (and even longer since the triumph of the Companions in THE WAR OF THE LANCE).   

DRAGONS OF A LOST STAR picks up where the first book ends. Faith, belief in the old gods, and spirituality are ideas that Krynn has not seen since the Chaos War. Yet now belief and hope are seeping back into the lives of the people of Krynn. A new age is dawning as the people look to someone who begins to unite the world behind one nameless, miracle-performing god.  

Mina has taken Silvanesti and sets her sights on the North, on Solamnia. It is there where the titular War of Souls will occur. An ally from times long past is desperately following Mina to find answers, perhaps even to find the nameless god. This friend is youthful once more, the result of ungodly magic, and has given up hiding in his tower deep in Nightlund along the river of souls. The final battle of the souls, long dead, who rise up to fight the Knights of Solamnia, is one that will never be forgotten and will inexorably change the lives of both the living and the mythic.

The book doesn't just concentrate on old friends and dead souls. The invasion of Qualinesti by the Dragon Overlord Beryl is given some exposition as well. The knights of Nereka, once sworn enemies of the elves, have risen up to defend their homes and, in the process, aid the elves themselves. 

DRAGONS OF A LOST STAR can be counted amongst the best works in the Dragonlance saga. The plot is atypical for Weis and Hickman and includes many twists that will change fans' perceptions of certain old favorite characters. The idea of the one nameless god is also quite an intriguing one. For so long, the peoples of the land have lived in a hopeless world, an Age of Mortals, and yet now they are faced with the news of godly magic and mystery. What will the denouement be for the people of Krynn?

This book is a must for the Dragonlance die-hard. However, if you are new to this or the multiple interlaced series of Weis and Hickman, this book and its cast of characters (almost all of whom come from other books) will be quite confusing and ultimately not that satisfying. Go to http://www.dragonlance.com/ for all the info you could ever need on all the characters and books of the many series. Then try out a book from one of the earlier series, either the Dragonlance Chronicles or Dragonlance Legends, before you read this engrossing but complex book.

   --- Reviewed by Josh A. Fink


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