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Shadows Linger by Glen Cook

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Sat, 05/07/2011 - 08:34 — SaberSnail

 Shadows Linger is the second book in the Black Company series by Glen Cook. It's actually a pretty old series. This particular book was written in 1984. The series is a fantasy story about a mercenary company. The story can be somewhat grim at times, and the company does not always find itself fighting on the good side of things.

This particular book swaps back and forth between an inn owner who begins to get caught up in the side business of selling bodies to what seems to be some evil creatures with an unknown purpose and the people who are generally the main characters in the company who are (under orders of their employer) attempting to figure out what is happening and stop the evil creatures. Wrapped up in it all is a man who left the company in the first book in order to protect a girl who seemed destined to overthrow the great evil in the world.

I enjoyed the book very much. The setting is very interesting, with magic being a strange and power force. The author has been very creative in detailing the creature and people who have magical power in this setting. The background is also slightly complicated by the fact that while the company is working for someone who is currently the "evil overlord" type, it turns out that she fears the escape of someone who is even worse, and more evil. So, it's like there are three sides, the generally inept and unorganized rebel good guys, the bad guys, and the really bad guys. The company works for the second of those.

The story is well told, with a strong sense of style that works quite well. The pace is quick. The characters are believable. The events of the story are exciting. All in all, very well done.

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