Alliances
Overview
Alliances, written by Paul B. Thompson and Tonya C. Cook, is the second novel in the Elven Exiles trilogy of the Dragonlance saga. It continues the sweeping story of the displaced elves of Qualinesti and Silvanesti as they struggle to reclaim identity, culture, and safety in a world that no longer welcomes them.
Where the first book, Sanctuary, focused on the elves’ desperate flight and search for refuge, Alliances deepens the political and emotional landscape. It weaves themes of exile, survival, diplomacy, and the bonds of kinship—exploring what it means to rebuild a people scattered by war and betrayal.
Main Characters
Kerianseray (Kerian) – The Lioness of Qualinesti, Kerian continues to lead the refugees with fierce loyalty and grim determination. Her role as both warrior and mother is challenged as the stakes rise.
Gilthas Pathfinder – The former puppet ruler of Qualinesti and now exiled leader. In Alliances, he works to unite the fractious survivors and seek broader support through diplomacy.
Alon – Kerian’s and Gilthas’s son, caught between legacies of leadership and rebellion, struggling with his own coming of age.
Nerakan Agents and Human Factions – Political forces both threatening and potentially helpful, complicating the elves’ search for safety.
Setting
The novel moves across Ansalon’s shifting political and cultural terrain. The elves are scattered in borderlands and hostile human territories, where alliances must be forged with former enemies.
The harsh, often xenophobic conditions mirror the emotional exile the elves endure, reinforcing their struggle to find home not just in place, but in spirit.
Plot Summary
The exiled elves of Qualinesti and Silvanesti are desperate for survival, having lost their ancestral homes. As they settle in makeshift camps, rifts grow among them—between former nobles and commoners, between those who want to fight and those who favor diplomacy.
Kerian leads militarily while Gilthas travels in search of allies. He negotiates with human powers, attempting to win respect and a place for his people through words rather than war.
Meanwhile, threats loom from Nerakan factions and other opportunistic enemies. Kerian must keep the community safe while dealing with betrayal from within.
The novel crescendos with choices that will define the elves’ future—whether they can remain united long enough to forge a new identity, or whether internal strife will scatter them permanently.
Themes
Cultural Survival – The novel grapples with preserving elven traditions while adapting to a new, harsher reality.
Diplomacy vs. Warfare – Gilthas and Kerian represent contrasting paths to salvation: alliance-building and armed resistance.
Exile and Identity – The characters confront what it means to be elven when their homeland, customs, and political structures are gone.
Generational Conflict – Young elves, like Alon, challenge their parents’ ideals, embodying the tension between legacy and reinvention.
Tone & Style
Alliances is thoughtful, emotionally resonant, and politically rich. It balances intrigue and introspection with occasional bursts of action.
The prose is accessible but elegant, with a focus on character dynamics and social commentary.
Reception
Praised for:
Strong character development, especially Kerian and Gilthas.
A nuanced take on political exile and community rebuilding.
Grounding high fantasy in realistic emotional stakes.
Some critiques:
Pacing may feel slow to readers expecting battle-heavy narratives.
The focus on diplomacy and internal politics over magic and action.
Final Thoughts
Alliances is a mature, layered continuation of the Elven Exiles trilogy, showing the painful but necessary work of rebuilding after devastation. It treats heroism not as a sword-swinging charge, but as the quiet, daily labor of keeping a people from losing themselves.
Recommended for:
Readers invested in elven cultures and lore.
Fans of character-driven fantasy with sociopolitical themes.
Those who appreciate stories of perseverance, identity, and quiet strength.