Benjamin, Curt. The prince of shadow.

(Seven Brothers, Vol. 1). DAW. 511p. c2001. 0-7564-0054-6. $6.99. SA

In a faraway land, the evil Harn race has conquered the land of Thebin and either killed or sold into slavery members of the ruling family. Llesho, the youngest son, has toughened after years of toil as a chained laborer in the pearl beds. A family servant who followed him into captivity dies, but his ghost appears to Llesho to present a pearl with miraculous properties to help him rescue his brothers and reclaim his country. In Llesho's quest to raise an army, various friends accompany him. There is the old witch woman Kwan-ti and family serving man Lleck, who reappear as a Pearl Bay Dragon and a bear. Then there is the Golden River Dragon and his daughter, plus other minor deities and enchanted weapons; all helping him win against dangers both physical and supernatural.

Llesho is seen by the magical creatures to be the key to recovering their rightful places by finding the pearls of the Goddess' necklace, which have been scattered and keep them earthbound. For his part, Llesho must put forth his brave heart and princely determination to regain his country, his family and the Gates of Heaven. The book is immensely detailed with dragons, minor gods, warlords, weapons fighting and landscapes. There are many fight scenes as Llesho learns to become a man as well as a prince; and much subterfuge and plots within plots, as characters are revealed to have other identities, and setups are constructed for the upcoming books. Suitable for D&D fans and anyone else interested in magical combat stories. Liz LaValley, Independent Reviewer, Mattapoisett, MA