It's been two and a half years since I last read a Dragonlance novel: [b:The Puppet King|534482|The Puppet King (Dragonlance Chaos War, #3)|Douglas Niles|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388378660s/534482.jpg|521985] by [a:Douglas Niles|23895|Douglas Niles|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1303252441p2/23895.jpg]. See my review here. Having read several other books since then, it took me some time to readjust to the world and the writing style.

The war of the gods, which also greatly affects the different races on Krynn, is still going on. In this part of the sub-series, the focus lies on the minotaurs. One name then pops up: [a:Richard A. Knaak|5369|Richard A. Knaak|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1448954369p2/5369.jpg]. He's the minotaur specialist in the world of Dragonlance.

The lands of the minotaurs are placed around the Blood Sea, where a maelstrom threatens the life of every seafarer who has to use these waters. But as the Father of All and of Nothing (i.e. Chaos) has put minions all over the place, the maelstrom hides what you could call 'the evil of the abyss'. These creatures are commanded by a large coil, a large kind of worm (or wyrm?), loyal servant of Chaos and hard to destroy.

Aryx, of noble origin, is the minotaur who has to lead his people to victory. But he's not your typical Hercules or Rambo. In fact, he comes across as a coward in the beginning. It's only much later that he gains more sympathy and realizes that he has to fight, has to show his worth. But all this happens under the command of a rare and actually impossible alliance: humans and minotaurs. The knights of Takhisis are on a conquest, to become all powerful on all of Krynn. Obviously, the minotaurs don't like that, to say the least. But as commander Lord Broedius explains: Let's join forces - but we call the shots, as our queen has presented us with a Vision, in which is shown that we should rule everywhere - or else, none of us will survive the war.

It's a nice, but sometimes dragging, story involving politics, religion/faith (and self-confidence), love, trust, ... The gods fight their own battle against Chaos, as mentioned above, and can't be everywhere at the same time. Sargonnas, for example, chose Aryx to lead the minotaurs to safety, which means the latter became the puppet of the god(s).

There's enough action, although not everything makes sense. Then again, it's Fantasy, it's Dragonlance. It's part of the series' charm.

Of course, not all goes to plan. There are severe losses, as is the case in any war. Loved ones die, sometimes too soon. But some loved ones became loved ones a little too early, if you ask me. So yes, the gods are leaving Krynn more and more behind, mainly due to the battle with Chaos, who seeks to destroy all.

Long story short: Not strong all the way, sometimes dragging, but definitely entertaining. The score is actually between 3 and 4 stars. Two points of critique: 1) Calling each other, at random, by the name, by the species, by whatever else... Several times, it just doesn't make sense to change the addressing. 2) Aryx needed a scabbard for the Sword of Tears (gift from Sargonnas) and all of a sudden, a little later, the sword is in a scabbard. Where did it come from? Have I overlooked something? ( )