Tournament of Death 2 — Stephen D. Sullivan

Don't wait for me! Rhiannon the sea elf cried as the first of the human-faced dogs bore her to the ground. Keep going! I'll try to catch up!You may have lived through the first tournament, but this one will kill you....The lost island of Shumakai returns, bringing fabulous treasure, unknown challenges, and almost certain death. Only one person survived the original Tournament Maximus, and now she and her lover find themselves drawn to the isle once more. Joining them are champions from across the World-Sea: humans, elves, dwarves, cat-people, dog-people, mermen, winged folk, and more. From the kung fu temple of Wudan to the wizardly Isle of Prophecy, all have come to face the ultimate challenge. But even the most talented and powerful will surely perish within the Deluvian Temple during Tournament of Death 2.Renowned for his fast-paced imaginative tales, Stephen D. Sullivan is the award-winning author of dozens of books and stories, including trilogies for Legend of the Five Rings, Spider Riders, and Dragonlance.One of the things that I most enjoy about Sullivan's work is its glee, which occurs in two forms, both of which are very much on display in the Tournament of Death series. One is the demonic glee with which he propels his characters through an obstacle course that would give Indiana Jones pause. The other is the giddy delight with which he playfully rampages through popular culture, filling his world with a vast multitude of monsters and heroes from every corner of the pulp imagination, and somehow making it all work. Enormous fun. *****-- David Annandale, author of Death of Antagonis (Space Marine Battles)