Book Review

Revenge of the Dwarves, Markus Heitz
The drama continues in the third book of the series. But even though it picks up with the resolution to the events from the last installment, it behaves as the first of another couplet like the first two books were. The world must now extend to the mysterious Outer Lands from which all of Girdleguard's troubles originate. Attacks from without the borders slowly introduce a group of foreign Dwarves, a race of good Orcs, and a peek at the race that the late Djerůn belonged to from the Outer Lands as well as reacquaint the readers with the previous characters. But it doesn't give too much away at once and focuses mostly on the action giving the momentum to the antagonists for most of the book. It makes for a stressful read along with the breakdown of Tungdil's marriage and the tainted return of his foster father, but there's still plenty of comic intervention although it's a bit uneven at times. It comes together in the last third of the story to build to the cliffhanger climax that leaves much unfinished business for the next book to clear up.
I have to say I'm not happy with the translation this time. There was a different translator for this book and the narrative isn't as smooth in general. Also the editing leaves a lot to be desired this time. Lots of typos and the wrong names in the wrong places.
All in all I liked it but so far it's not as good as the first two. But I'm confident that once the story is resolved in the next book it'll be another winning couplet.