Lords of Grass and Thunder

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From Publishers WeeklyIn this well-told fantasy set in the same Mongolia-like world as Benjamin's Seven Brothers trilogy (The Prince of Shadow, etc.), the brave yet modest Prince Tayyichiut returns home a hero from a terrible war between the gods and demons. Tayy's uncle, Mergen-Khan, ruler of the nomadic Qubal people, has declared the prince his heir, his bastard sons being ineligible to inherit the khanate. The ensuing intrigues and tussles for the throne go on a tad too long, while some readers may find a last-minute rescue and revival of the protagonist less than credible. Still, the story boasts some memorable shape-shifting characters, including a venomous villain, who's a green serpent woman, and an endearing heroine, Eluneke, who remains lovable even when she turns into a toad. A trip Eluneke makes to the home of the gods, where she struggles to regain her human form, is a high point. As in the Seven Brothers books, Benjamin makes fine use of Mongol culture as background for the Qubal clans, with their love of riddles and their colorful costumes. Agent, JET Literary Associates. (Apr. 5) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From BooklistStarred Review In the beginning of a new Seven Brothers trilogy, young Prince Tayyichiut ("Tayy") returns home from a war between gods and demons. He is adored as a hero by his people, the Qubal, but since his father, the khan, and his mother both were slain by a demon, he is also an orphan. His uncle, Mergen-Khan, assumes custodianship of him, and also the khanate, until Tayy is prepared to take his rightful place. As khan, Mergen names Tayy his heir and does not acknowledge his own sons' status. The resentment this causes creates the perfect reentry point for the demonic evil that was defeated but not destroyed in the war. The powers of darkness kindled thereby grow within those around the prince who wish to further their selfish agendas and whose greatest desire is to eliminate Tayy. Tayy must fight for his life and the future of his people, and the only real hope of success lies in the hands of a young girl, Eluneke, an apprentice shaman who possesses seemingly extraordinary but thus far untested magical abilities. Yet another exquisite, page-turning adventure set in the beautifully crafted Seven Brothers world, with its rich mythology in which the gods are intimately involved with humanity. Paula LuedtkeCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved