Prince of Dogs by Kate Elliott

”Prince of Dogs" returns readers to the war-torn kingdoms of Wendar and Varre, and the intertwined destinies of: Alain, raised in humble surroundings but now the Count's heir; Liath, who struggles to unravel the secrets of her past while evading the traps set for her by those seeking the treasure she hides; Sanglant, believed dead by those who could save him, but actually a prisoner in the city of Gent; and Fifth Son, who now builds an army to do his father's bidding--or his own!

It’s taken me almost a year to get back to this series, so I wasn’t clear as to what was going on at first. But the more I read, the more I remembered. And what I remembered most was how much I had enjoyed the first book, and why.

First, I love many of the main characters protagonists. They’re not perfect, but each is trying, to the best of their abilities, to survive and to, perhaps, make a difference. Secondly, while the story is complex, it’s not hard to follow, as each situation, along with its central character, is unique. We see the same story through many different lenses.

Lastly, and I can’t stress it enough, I love that the lines between good and evil, while not completely rigid, are easy to see. I know who it is I want to win in the end.

This second book continues the story of Liath, Sanglant and Alain. While their stories mostly run along different paths, eventually those path intersect in the struggle to retake the city of Gent. That battle will become the focal point of the story, as Liath, Sanglant, Alain, and many of the other characters are drawn into the fight. Their tales keeps you wondering—and reading. As much as I liked the first book, I loved this one. It’s definitely not going to take me another year to begin the next book in the series.