The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay

Wow. Just wow. This second book in the Fionavar Tapestry was amazing. I still felt a lot of Lord of the Rings and The Secret Country influences or similarities, but there was added in some Arthurian-ness and a dash of something else… I am trying to think what it is.

At any rate, this continuation of our heroes' quest was absolutely superb--the threads of the tapestry are starting to form a recognizable tableau. The five return home and deal (sort of) with the aftermath of what happened in Book 1. They then quickly find a way to return to Fionavar to help save all worlds from the destruction that is almost sure to come.

I think one thing that made this book seem better to me than Book 1 was that the transitions in points of view and times seemed more natural and less forced. There were also many more times when the five were not together, and I think that helped avoid too much overlap or awkwardness in trying to figure out whether you were about to read something new or a different retelling of what just occurred. The characters, too, really develop in this book. Not just Paul, Kevin, Jennifer, Kim and Dave; but Loren and Matt, our Princes, Sharra, Jaelle, and the lot.

I refuse to give away any of what happens (in case you have yet to read the first book), but I will just say that I squealed with joy when the flying unicorn returned! Okay, fine, the unicorn is a very small part of the Tapestry. I guess I can say that there's a lot of traveling and some fighting…a few powerful children who really come into their own…a bit of magic and seer-related stuff going on here and there…sex…and death. (And sometimes some of that stuff is linked. *sob*)

I loved this book and I can't wait to see how this all gets tied up and how they continue to fight and end the war in just one more book. It's going to be tough!

~9/10~