Thraxas is not your typical fantasy hero. He's in his forties, paunchy, a heavy drinker, a gambler, living on the edge. He is, however, honest and loyal-and the right guy to get one out of trouble. Thraxas is a freelance investigator who also knows how to get into trouble while trying to clear up problems. This volume introduces Thraxas as he helps a princess clear her name. In the process he tries to recover an Elvin magic cloth, which is being pursued by a variety of lowlifes and influential people. A young, shapely warrior named Makri serves is his friend and defender. In the second half of the book, a separate story tells of Thraxas's work overload: finding a dolphin-healing stone, recovering a huge sculpture that disappeared, finding a killer, and thwarting off feuding monk warriors. He also reluctantly helps the Association of Gentlewomen. Lively action and humor move the story along more than the somewhat flat characters. The undercurrent of "in" phrases such as "sharp as elves' ears" and references to interminable heat get to be annoying after a while. Still, the platonic close relationship between Thraxas and Makri and the belief in loyal friendship are refreshing. The element of detective work also makes this tale stand out from formulaic fantasy writing.
