Toll the Hounds

Lore & Background

The story also delves deeper into the political machinations of Taglios, where the remnants of the Shadowmasters' influence still linger despite their defeat in earlier books. The Company finds itself caught between the desperate need to stop the K'Val and the cynical maneuvering of warlords who see the chaos as an opportunity for power. This tension highlights the central theme of the series: that in a world without true justice, survival often requires compromising one's morality to fight the greater evil.

In Their Own Story

The rain fell like nails on the cobblestones of Hounds' Gate, washing away the blood but not the smell of it. Croaker stood at the edge of the breach, his cloak heavy with mud and ash. Across the street, a shadow detached itself from the wall, elongating into something that had too many legs and a mouth full of jagged teeth. It did not roar; it whispered, a sound that scraped against the inside of his skull. 'They are here,' he thought, gripping the hilt of his sword until his knuckles turned white. The Company was broken, scattered, but tonight, they were all that stood between the living and the endless hunger of the dark.

Reader's Guide

The narrative begins with Croaker reuniting with old comrades in a fractured Empire, sensing the return of the Hounds. They travel to the City of Hounds, a place steeped in ancient dread, where they discover the Hounds are being summoned by a cult seeking to overthrow the natural order. As the Company fights through waves of corrupted soldiers and demonic beasts, internal conflicts arise regarding their purpose and loyalty. Key battles include the defense of strategic strongholds against overwhelming supernatural odds, forcing characters like Dancer and Shimmer to confront their past traumas and hidden powers. The climax sees a desperate assault on the source of the Hounds' power, where sacrifices must be made to seal the breach. The story concludes with a pyrrhic victory; the immediate threat is contained, but the cost is high, leaving the Company battered and the world forever changed by the proximity of such darkness.

Did You Know?

• The title 'Toll the Hounds' references the sound of the demonic beasts as they hunt, a motif that permeates the novel's atmosphere.
• This book features significant development for Croaker regarding his control over magic and his relationship with the supernatural forces he has long fought.
• Taglios is depicted as a place where the veil between the mortal world and the realm of dark spirits is dangerously thin.
• Several characters from previous books return, but many are changed by time, loss, or the corrupting influence of the war.