Lycentia, Harrak's Scrolls

Land of Betrovia, Book 2

By: Dave King

Narrated by: Ian Miller

Lycentia... the City of Light... the city where finance, friendship and faith are being blended together to produce what could be a fabulous future for all Betrovians.

Patrik, the recalcitrant innkeeper and Galena, his younger daughter, load up the wagon, lock up The Lonely Fox Inn and head east for Lycentia. The goal? To hand-deliver Harrak's scrolls, the ones Patrik discovered in a musty cave, to Oliver III, the Netherene High Priest. The problem? The scrolls are not what Patrik thinks they are! But how, if at all, can Patrik discover the truth before it's too late?

Who was this Harrak, the supposed author of these infamous scrolls? And why are the Lycentian Netherenes striving to eradicate Harrak's writings? Even to the point of killing those who express faith in those writings? Teophelus, the neophyte priest, is in love with both his calling and Patrik's daughter Galena: So just what are his motives for helping Patrik understand the true meanings hidden within those scrolls?

Edelin, the conniving, self-serving but lonely thief, nearly becomes entangled in a skirmish between Betrovian militiamen and Haarigoian raiders. He manages to elude the carnage and finds refuge in a village on the edge of the untamed Plains of Dreut. But not long after arriving there, he disappears into the night after stealing what may be the most-valuable piece of jewelry he has ever possessed. But might this bauble he now possesses lead Edelin into a future that no one would ever wish for?

Tamara is no longer the elder daughter of an innkeeper: She is now the wife of the King of Betrovia! She has the entire city of Lycentia at her beck and call. But why isn't she happy? Isn't this what she has always dreamed of? What, if anything, can bring her the happiness she desperately desires?

©2012 Dave King (P)2013 Dave King

A worthy sequel to an excellent fantasy novel

What did you love best about Lycentia, Harrak's Scrolls?

I love the way Dave King keeps the focus on ordinary people, rather than filling his story to the brim with heroes.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Lycentia, Harrak's Scrolls?

When you (the reader) realize that certain events are not accidents...

Have you listened to any of Ian Miller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I've listened to his performance in Betrovia, the first book in Dave King's Betrovia series. As before, Ian Miller really imbues the story and the characters with life and personality.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I don't tend to react to books emotionally. The book definitely makes you care for the characters, though.

Any additional comments?

Lycentia definitely moves a bit slower than the first book in the Betrovia series, and I can just imagine that there are some who would be bothered by this. For my part, however, I found it very enjoyable. In truth, some of the best books ever written move no faster.
I love the emphasis the author places on the religious background of his world. This makes the motives and concerns of the people all the more vivid, in my opinion.
Dave King does an excellent job developing his characters in both Betrovia and Lycentia; once again they each feel like living, breathing people with their own personalities, ideas and ambitions. I also think it is fascinating how King keeps his focus on 'ordinary' people rather than on great warriors and heroes. It is refreshing to see an author try something different, and very refreshing to see how well he succeeds with it.
This book definitely left me wanting to see what happens next.