Breach in the Watershed

In this first of a fantasy trilogy from the author of the paperback Forgotten Realms, the lofty mountains of the Watershed divide the world into three provinces: Dalethica, inhabited by humans; Faerine, the realm of magic; and Duloth-Trol, ruled by the evil god Dassadec and his unspeakable minions. After a thousand-year snooze, Dassadec has conceived a mighty plan to conquer the world. He sends his Lord Minion, the devil Nicodareus, to recruit the human Prince Garamis to obtain the Ice of Three Waters from the top of the world's highest mountain. This special ice, combining Dalethica's water, Faerine's Aura, and Duloth-Trol's Darkblood, has the power to dispel the illusions that prevent humans from crossing into Faerine; thus equipped, Garamis's armies should easily conquer the realm of magic. Along the way, however, various good guys come together to oppose Dassadec's plans. Young mountaineer Rudy Appenfell swears vengeance upon Garamis for the murder of his brothers. Danri, a digger of Faerine, finds that he's tunneled his way completely through the Watershed - just in time to help Rudy against the vile creatures who've broken through from Duloth-Trol. Also coming to Rudy's aid will be Raine, a warrior, scholar, and spy given extraordinary training because she's the subject of a prophecy about the forthcoming struggle against Dassadec. Crude, obvious, contrived, energetic work, likely to satisfy only the least sophisticated and demanding sections of the audience. (Kirkus Reviews)