The Outlanders (The Lon Tobyn Chronicles) by David B. Coe

The second book in the “Lon Tobyn Chronicles” picks up approximately four years after the events of book one, "Children of Amarid". One of the main characters from that first book has spent much of those four years interrogating their only prisoner from the attacks of the neighboring lands of Lon-Ser. He convinces his friends in the Order of Mages that is in their best interest to attempt to form a peaceful coexistence with that land but others within the Order are not inclined to agree. The resulting internal struggle forms the beginning of much drama that unfolds in this second novel.

Once again, the author does an excellent job of world-building, this time concentrating on Lon-Ser which is a much more advanced civilization than the rather typical fantasy setting of Tobyn-Ser introduced in book one. Their use of mechanical and technological advancements would grant them a huge advantage in any conflict. But such advancements of course, do not prevent individuals from craving power and prestige and thus their political leaders often advance by assassinating their predecessors. 

This novel does suffer a tiny bit from “middle book” syndrome. While I enjoyed the settings, the characters, and the plot development, I knew there was a final novel still to come. So the climactic moments, while nicely done, were perhaps a little less climactic than what will likely be the case in book three.  Having said that though, I greatly look forward to that final novel to see how all these characters interact and whether or not peace will reign.