A MEETING AT CORVALLIS

Border hostilities have been building for some time as the warlord of Portland tries to expand his empire throughout the post-change Pacific Northwest Territory. The prior books in this series provide valuable background in the development of the distinct cultures and tensions that are at play in this volume. Todd McLaren returns with a calm narration, interspersed with faster-paced, intense descriptions of skirmishes and major military confrontations. McLaren draws on a rich store of accents to create the characteristics and personalities of the separate cultures that have emerged. He moves smoothly between dialogue, internal monologues and asides, graphic description of battles, and detached observation of political intrigue. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2008]