The Vanquish Vendetta — David Lee Stone

In the fifth book of the Illmoor Chronicles, an ancient and sinister force is rising, and the kingdom's much-maligned capital is in serious trouble Viscount Curfew is an impostor, a henchman in an evil scheme to bring Dullitch to its deadly and final destruction. His true form is that of Sorrell Diveal, a ruthless practitioner of dark magic who will stop at nothing to maintain his disguise. From his lofty position in the palace of Dullitch, Diveal can wreak havoc -- and the city is in desperate peril. Unaware of the troubles in Dullitch, King Groan Teethgrit, a hulking mass of muscle who recently ascended to the throne of Illmoor, has arrived in the capital. Along with his brother, Gape, and his partner, the axe-wielding dwarf Gordo Goldeaxe, King Groan has discovered an old and mystical hammer, a valuable relic he hopes to trade with the viscount. But the hammer is much more important than Groan realizes, and with his flair for making a bad situation worse, the stage is set for an all-out battle over the future of Illmoor.