On the Trail of the Wind's Tears: a sequel to On the Trail of the Ruthless Warlock

by Lynne Armstrong-Jones

Overview

In On the Trail of the Ruthless Warlock, a band of warriors and two sorceresses-with advice from the Witch of the Great East Wood-joined forces to battle a powerful warlock. Now they are called to a new quest when sorceress Veras senses something strange; tears in the wind. The Witch needs their help!

With her new husband the swordsman Nico and the sorceress Creda, she and their warrior friends travel to the Great East Wood to face new challenges . . . a powerful force is trying to seize control of the weather!

While they struggle against this force, Veras and Nico face their own challenges as they adjust to married life and Veras's surprise pregnancy, all of which is complicated by the presence of sorcerer Xyron-Veras's former lover. Can the group overcome their doubts and differences to find some way to protect the Great East Wood and the surrounding areas?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781525582653
Publisher:	FriesenPress
Publication date:	01/21/2021
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Lynne Armstrong-Jones is the author of the well-received fantasy novel On the Trail of the Ruthless Warlock. She wrote this sequel in response to comments from readers wanting to know what happened next to the characters they enjoyed in the first book. She lives in London, Ontario, Canada, with one husband and three cats.

Editorial Reviews

2020-12-16
In Armstrong-Jones’ fantasy sequel, heroes must confront interpersonal conflict as they rush to the aid of a friend.

It has been three years since the swordsman Nico and his wife, the sorceress Veras, returned from the Great Quest to “defeat the warlock.” Now Nico and his friend Joul Zann battle enemies of the crown at the kingdom’s border. Nico is gravely injured, and he convalesces and then travels with a troupe of other injured men heading to Espri. They stop in the town of Edgewood to drink at the Hound’s Tooth pub; after Nico drinks too much, he ends up in the barmaid Nara’s room, where he enjoys an extended stay. Meanwhile, in Espri, Veras frets over her husband’s whereabouts. She also worries that her surprise pregnancy will upset him, as his last wife died soon after giving birth to a son with whom he has no contact. Then Veras receives an anonymous note about Nico’s infidelity. Meanwhile, the Witch of the Great East Wood is dying, and she releases her “tears in the wind,” a magical summons for help acknowledged by Superior Creda, the sorceress from the Tower of Giefan. When Nico returns to Espri, he and a heroic band—including the sorcerer Xyron, Veras’ former lover—travel to the witch’s cave to help. In her latest novel, Armstrong-Jones focuses on a nuanced portrayal of Veras and Nico’s relationship while also illustrating the perils of a natural world out of balance. Creda, who can experience the perspectives of forest animals, is key to the band learning what ails the Witch. Indeed, many witches care for nature, but as the Witch of the Great East Wood explains, “Despite our best efforts, selfishness and greed are destroying the balance in our world.” Fantasy elements, such as a dragon and dueling spells, are used sparingly to maximize their narrative punch. Although the author’s environmental message is a valuable one, it’s the emotional give-and-take between Nico and Veras that readers will find most engaging. Those hoping for a traditional confrontation between good and evil, however, may need to wait for a subsequent series entry.

A thoughtful tale that eschews bombast in favor of measured storytelling.

Kirkus Reviews