Alain Fenner :-A young man who sought Shannows help against brigands. Shannow told him to deal with it himself and to not let the brigands take the advantage. Fenner dies, shot in the back as he tries to shut down a gambling establishment. Upon his death Shannow undertakes the "cleansing" of the town.

Araksis :- Pendarric's Chief Astrologer. It is he who sets up the sipstrassi stone in the tower in order to catch "the sword of god" It is also he who Nu knocks to the ground when attempting to stop the capture of the "sword."

Bali :- Nu's friend who gave him a sipstrassi stone and told him of his vision sending Nu on his quest. Is killed by Daggers persuing Nu for heresy.

Beth McAdam/Newson :- Shannow's love interest. Starts the book by crossing the great wide with her family searching for a new start in Pilgrims Valley. She and her two children, Samuel and Mary thwart some Brigands on the journey. Her husband Sean McAdam died on the journey to Pilgrims Valley.

Cheena :- Former Guardian and Samuel Archers (see Wolf in Shadow) wife. She hates Shannow believing that Sam's death was due to him. Helps amongst the people of the Bears, Wolvers and the Dianae. Also known as the Dark Lady.

Clem Steiner :- Perhaps the fastest gun in the new world. Faster than Shannow he hopes to make his name as the man who slew him. He is warned against going against Shannow by being told. "I didn't say he could out draw you. I said he would kill you." This is "dream" is put to one side when the Daggers attack Pilgrims Valley.

Edric Scayse :- Leader of Pilgrims Valley (also a man who believes he owns everything and is used to obtaining his desires through a show of force if need be.) A man who makes money where he can. It is Scayse who sold Sharazad the guns for her Army. Who then turns them on Pilgrim Valley's inhabitants.

Harry Cooper :- A brigand leader who Beth meets on her way to Pilgrims Valley. Is killed because he wouldn't let his men "share" Beth and sends them away. Beth also removes the caps from his bullets so they don't work when his men turn against him.

Ishmael "Bull" Kovac :- An honest man in the employ of Edric Scayse. Helps to build Beths farm when she leases land from Scayse. Also rescues Szshark from the Bears.

Josiah Broome :- A pacifist who abhors violence of any kind. Also leads the way when asked to vote on whether they had Nu over the the Lizard men by saying "By their works shall I judge them." And refuses to hand him over. Others agree and Nu keeps his freedom.

Kerril :- Leader of the Bear People. It is he who Shannow talks too.

Lieutenant Charles Taylor :- In his trance it is he who Shannow "becomes" hearing his voice and last words before they became "trapped" by the Sipstrassi Stone.

Lindian :- One of three hunters assigned by Pendarric to slay Shannow.

Magellas :- One of three hunters assigned by Pendarric to slay Shannow.

Nu Khasisatra :- A ship builder and prophet priest of Chronos, who forsees the fall of Atlantis and against his fears preaches the coming disaster to the people. He is sent to find the "sword of god" by his friend, Bali, and with a sipstassi stone as a gift travels to Shannow's time seeking the object of his quest. Being a good man he uses his stone to heal a convoy of sick people and preaches about love throughout his journey telling Samuel McAdam about his father being a good man and having a fine house in heaven. With Shannow's aid he gets back to his own time and rescues his family from the coming disaster and sails away from the fall of Atlantis on the Arcanau.

Oshere :- Leader of the people of the Dianae after his brother Shir-ran underwent and left them during his transformation into a lion. An act which in their society is seen as becoming closer to god.

Parson :- A man obsessed with passing on his faith to other people. It is he who leads the town people of Pilgrims Valley to "clean it up" of brigands. When Pendarric speaks to him he believes that the daggers forcing them towards the wall was a sign of god to bring the Black Whore (Azmiga) down. He then takes over leadership of the daggers and goes to bring the "Sword of God" to earth. As he dies he realises he was tricked.

Pashad :- Nu's Wife who questioned him about preaching his visions to the populace. When asked by Sharazad if she knew of his location he answered warily so as not to tell any information about some of Nu's friends who could also be "heretics"

Rhodauel :-One of three hunters assigned by Pendarric to slay Shannow.

Sharazad :- Pendarrics plaything and as such was given command of the daggers to explore the new world that they had found. When she showed her ineptitude at military organisation she was whipped and had her errors pointed out. Died when her camp was attacked by the bears.

Shir-Ran :- Ex-Leader of the Dianae and older brother to Oshere. Transforming into a lion which according to their people was a sign of becoming closer to god. Saves Shannow after his wound at the end of Wolf in Shadow at the beginning of The Last Guardian.

Szshark :- Leader of the Daggers (Ruazsh.) Is rescues by Bull Kovac from the bears.

My Views

Shannow returns in the second of a trilogy. For me the opening line I thought was a little weak after the previous installement but said that the novel takes the reader on another action packed tale in Shannows world.

Throughout the novel we see some of the characters who have influenced other novels make an appearance with a darker feel showing them before they entered the other books demonstrating again that the world has not only good intentions but sometimes dark designs. A definite buy as clem would say "Damn straight."

The only other thing I have to say about the Shannow books is that you must read them in the chronological order as at times some of the tales will confuse the readers of not have as much impact as they should have done.

Others Views