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<\/a>This book<\/a> is the second in the three books that make up the complete set of stories that Howard wrote featuring Conan the Cimmerian. As you will remember, I read the first, The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian<\/em> in January<\/a>.<\/p>\nThis book features three tales: <\/p>\n
“The People of the Black Circle”<\/strong> features Conan carrying off the queen of a country to use as ransom for some of his followers. She’s seeking revenge on a band of magicians for the death of her brother, and as Conan and she flee from a magician following them, they team up to defeat the magicians.<\/p>\n “The Hour of the Dragon”<\/strong> is the only Conan novel, and it tells the story of how Conan loses the kingdom of Aquilonia and works to get it back.<\/p>\n “A Witch Shall Be Born”<\/strong> talks about a female ruler deposed by her presumed dead twin sister who was left to die at birth because she had a witch’s mark upon her. Instead of dying, she goes onto become a witch and impersonates her sister, a benevolent ruler, until Conan puts a stop to it.<\/p>\n One of the knocks I had on the first book was that the stories were a little formulaic and repetitive at times; with this book and the three stories within it, Howard has concocted some more elaborate plots that are difficult to sum up in the single sentences above. Which is good.<\/p>\n Not only am I continuing to be impressed with this series, but I think I’ll pick up some of Howard’s non-Conan work. Maybe with Christmas’s gift cards.<\/p>\n Books mentioned in this review:<\/b>
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