Lament of Frost (Will of the Wayfinder #3), by Lily Anne Crow
2 Aug 2024The Book
Synopsis:
As the dust settles on the desolation left by the ancient queen and her undead army, Thaniel yearns to return home with one of the Dhulruk, his dearest companion, Reima.
Yet the fate of a Wayfinder is never simple.
When Reima learns her northern mountain home is at the mercy of waning magic, she and Thaniel must embark on a treacherous journey through frigid mountains and unnamed danger. When they arrive at the Silver City, a marvel of Dhulruk engineering hidden beneath an icy lake, Thaniel finds more questions than answers. Not only are the magical systems falling into disrepair, but most of its inhabitants are locked in an unsettling slumber. Those who should be stewards of the city are driven apart by conflicting philosophies and stubborn traditions, their inaction pushing the city to the edge of disaster. Between troublesome creatures of ice, a cunning Conservator, and a mysterious band of champions from a bygone era, Thaniel and Reima discover there is much more at play than simply the failing magic of a Dhulruk city in decline.
With companions both new and familiar, Thaniel and Reima must mend what is broken in order to safeguard the sleeping citizens and restore hope amidst the chaos of impending battle. But with powerful enemies closing in, it seems even Fate is against them. Will this spell the end for the Silver City, or will Thaniel find a way to save Reima's home before tragedy strikes?
My Review
Lament of Frost is the third book in the epic fantasy series Will of the Wayfinder, written by the Canadian author Lily Anne Crow; it starts a new arc of the story. After stopping the Queen of Dust's plans, Thaniel and Reima wanted to spend some time resting; however, when Reima discovers that the Silver City, stronghold of the Dhulruk people, is at the mercy of waning magic, they will be again on the road, in a dangerous journey that will expand the magnificent world created by Crow.
By sea, and later across the mountains, we will be discovering a new region of the map, leading us to new creatures and races, in a really cold-environment; a travel that is marked by danger and urgency, as Reima is fearing for her people. Together with Tamiel, a companion from a previous adventure (no spoiler) and Callum, a great addition to the party, they will journey through dangerous and difficult terrain.
However, the most difficult part of their mission will be found at the Silver City, as their magical systems are failing due to the sabotage of ice creatures, and the factions are at the border of a civil war. A strange place for Thaniel, who will need all the help from their companions to help repair the systems and stop the Dhulruk people from a bigger catastrophe.
Not only the world gets expanded in this new instalment, but also the magic system is fleshed; from a vague idea we pass to a more detailed system in which there are more factors than the will of the user. Exploring how the Dhulruk live and how they build is another of the biggest selling points of this book, as it is quite different from what we could expect in comparison with humans.
Particularly, I find that the only weak point of this book is how the pacing is structured. While during the journey part is quite fast, it slows too much when our heroes reach the Silver City; it picks after a bit, but you can feel it dragging a bit, especially taking in account how descriptive the prose is.
Said that, Will of the Wayfinder is an excellent series if you are looking to let your imagination fly, explore new places while still sharing some elements with epic fantasy classics; and Lament of Frost is a perfect example of what you can expect. Solid third instalment.
The Author/s
Lily Anne Crow
Lily Anne Crow is a storyteller of dark fantasy and epic fantasy tales, where you never know what lurks in the shadows, and almost anyone can rise to the rank of hero. She has been writing stories of the fantastic since she could hold a quill. Her debut novel, If Light Above, is the first in the series titled A War of Whispers.
Though Lily has been training young Magisters for fifteen years, she desires a change of scenery and is aiming to make story-telling a full-time occupation. She is a lover of all things wild and magical, from sweet wine to exotic beasts, and from starry skies to snowy mountain-tops.
When she’s not writing, Lily enjoys spending time with her closest people and her most beloved creatures, delving deep into nature, or discovering new parts of her fantasy world, Erlahain.