After a mood-setting introductory novel, Merciel's follow-up look at the character of Isiem hews much more closely to the series' roots in a roleplaying game: her conflicted renegade wizard finds a party and goes on a quest.

In broad strokes, much of what happens here will be familiar to people who've read Merciel's original fantasy novel, "Heaven's Needle": a talented but morally diverse group of adventurers band together to fight a greater evil, trying to stay alive while maintaining their sanity as they face off against eldritch horrors. In the specifics, "Nightblade" differs a lot from Merciel's (superior) earlier work: the characters here are more mercenary, they're seeking treasure instead of trying to save the world, the (greater) evil is more stationary. More than any of her books, "Nightblade" feels like it could be an actual RPG adventure — which is ironic, since Merciel is a friend and I know from personal experience that many of her earlier books really were adapted from her RPG adventures. The sort of giant deathtrap dungeon Merciel throws her motley crew of characters through here is right in her wheelhouse, producing an enjoyable read for fantasy fans even if it lacks the evocative horror set-pieces of "Heaven's Needle" or "Nightglass." ( )