Sunday, June 22, 2014

Book Review: Elder Scrolls Novels: The Infernal City and Lord of Souls

Elder Scrolls Novels: The Infernal City and Lord of Souls
by Gregory Keyes
Titan Books, 2010 & 2011, Great Britain.

The happenings in these two books occur 40 years the incidents in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Lord of Souls is direct continuation of the story started in the Infernal City. An flying city of Umbriel appears from the Oblivion (realm of the Daedric demon lords) and insectoid creatures start harvesting the souls of  people living in the continent of Tamriel. Umbriel also creates an undead army and proceeds toward the Imperial city.

Annaig, a young alchemist girl and her Argonian (lizard man) friend Mere-Glim infiltrate the flying city by using levitation potion. At the same time prince Attrebus and Colin (imperial security agent and assassin) try to stop the crisis with help of Sul, a Dunmer (dark elf) previously trapped in Oblivion.

Annaig and Mere-Glim find out that the inhabitants of Umbriel gradually become part of the city and can not leave. They become the slaves with Annaig becoming a chef for Daedric lords and Glim working in Sump, an area used to grow the inhabitants living in Umbriel. The kitchen is an dangerous place to work because the rival chefs often attempt to murder their rivals. Also other notable persons trying to save Tamriel are female orc-warrior Mazgar and wizard Brennus who are defending the refugees and Imperial city.

The books assume that the reader knows something about Elder Scrolls universe, its different races and how the magic works (the games themselves contain massive amounts of lore and detail, with vastness comparable to Lord of the Rings). The story bridges some happenings that occurred after Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and before Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, such as the destruction of Vivec city and most of Morrowind (so much for saving the neighbourhood in Elder Scrolls III). As a game tie-in the story is good and exciting fantasy adventure.

Rating:Good

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