Once A Hero

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Neal Roclawzi, called Elfward, was born under multiple omens. Stackpole interweaves the story of Neal's fight to destroy the empire of the horrid Reithrese and to build a new, human one with that of the consequences of his fight 500 years later. Each narrative is concerned with the struggle of elves and humans to overcome their ingrained enmity as well as the machinations of their common foe. Both fights concentrate upon possessing Neal's enchanted sword, the bearer of which is destined to fashion an empire, either of Reithrese slavery or human freedom. Stackpole's rich world provides a brilliant tapestry across which Neal and his fellows stride with all appropriate pageantry, while the Reithrese are as nasty a set of villains as ever complicated a fantasy plot. Dennis Winters