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2/14/2023
Typical low-fantasy fare. Hambly's quality of writing stands out, but the plot doesn't. Sun Wolf the mercenary is captured and coerced to train the titular "Ladies of Mandrigyn" whose men are being held captive in the mines as slaves for an evil wizard-king (Altiokis). Sun Wolf's second, a female warrior called StarHawk, sets out to try and retrieve him, but is set upon by many obstacles of her own.
Would have had difficulty finishing if not for the enjoyment of Hambly's prose style. Admittedly, the pace and interest picks up in last 1/3, but its a case of too little, too late. This is actually the first of a trilogy, but no motivation to continue on basis of uninteresting plot.
Don't let this sub-par book turn you away from Hambly, however. She is worth reading again.