The Dark Hand of Magic by Barbara Hambly

[meganbmoore]

Still being hunted after the end of The Witches of Wenshar, Sun Wolf and his lover, Starhawk appear to be done for when they’re rescued by members of their old mercenary troop. It seems that their current siege is stalled thanks to a hex placed on it by a wizard, and the troop’s new leader wants to hire Sun Wolf to find out who’s behind it. He agrees, at least partly because he’s still looking for a mage powerful enough to train him.

The plot was fun, and it was interesting to see Starhawk and Sun Wolf return to the mercenary life after a year without it, and see how their viewpoints had change. But while Starhawk was as wonderful and pragmatic as always, Sun Wolf irritated me with his wishywashyness over some things. A little too much “save Starhawk or save an entire town” going on. Not to mention that, while it may be realistic to not cheat on your girlfriend primarily because you know she’ll dump you if you do, it’s not overly attractive when it almost comes across as the only reason. Though at least he and the text both realized he wasn’t showing his best side.

Both sequels to Ladies of Mandrigyn are good, but I think they get by more on the strength of the first book than on their own merits.