Lord of the Silent Kingdom

The Instrumentalities of the Night, Book 2

By: Glen Cook

Narrated by: Erik Synnestvedt

It's cold. The wells of power are weakening and the forces of Night grow strong. The gods are real, and still have some power, mostly to do harm. The Instrumentalities of the Night are the worst of these.

Piper Hecht, born Else Tage, survived a battle with the Instrumentalities. Now he's Captain-General of the armies fighting a crusade for Patriarch Sublime V. Intrigues swirl around the throne of the Grail Empire, as the imperial family's enemy, Anne of Menand, raises money to help the perpetually indebted Patriarch finance his crusades. To reduce his own vulnerability, sickly young Emperor Lothar assigns his two half-sisters - his immediate heirs - to their own realms.

Now Piper Hecht learns that the legendary sorcerer Cloven Februaren, referred to as the Ninth Unknown, is still alive, more than 100 years old, and on Piper's side. As the dynastic politics of the Empire become even more convoluted, it's clear that while the old gods may be fading, they're determined to do everything they can to bend the doings of men to their own advantage. Sieges, explosions, betrayals, Anti-Patriarchs, and suspicious deaths will ensue as the great chess game plays itself out, with Piper Hecht at the center of it all....

©2007 Glen Cook (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[F]ans will enjoy the sword fights and potent magic, all motivated by complex religious and political power struggles." (Publishers Weekly)

Great series!

Thick and juicy story. Lots of subplots going in many different directions keep things very interesting.

Narration is horrible

What did you like best about Lord of the Silent Kingdom? What did you like least?

the book might be worth reading in printed form.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Lord of the Silent Kingdom?

could not stomach the narration. I did not listen to much of it.

How could the performance have been better?

use a better narrator. Michael Durbin is a good narrator perhaps he would have made it worth the money, as it is id rather have my money back to try a book I can actually enjoy.