Sanctuary: Joust #3 (Dragon Jousters) Hardcover – May 3, 2005
by Mercedes Lackey 
Book 3 of 4: Dragon Jousters
 
In the third novel of the best-selling Dragon Jousters series, The Altan serf Vetch has escaped the enemy kingdom of Tia, only to find his homeland, Alta, enslaved by the evil Priest-Kings. With a small band of followers, Vetch must gather a secret army of dragon riders to rid their world of war and magical domination once and for all.
 
From Publishers Weekly
In Lackey's well-crafted third Dragon Jousters book (after 2004's Alta), wing-leader Kiron, the former serf known as Vetch, and a disparate group of refugees from the countries of Alta and Tia flee to the desert, to a hidden refuge that the gods have uncovered and named Sanctuary. In Sanctuary, Kiron and a small cadre of Jousters are safe from the evil Magi, who are draining Alta and Tia of their "gifted ones." Kiron and the Jousters with their magnificent dragons, who have as much personality as the human characters, must learn to co-exist in a land of extremes. Kiron discovers that it might be possible to deal with some of the freed dragons of Tia who have gone wild. Even though Sanctuary may be concealed from the diabolical Magi, no one living there can forget their presence. Once again, Kiron and friends must face their fear and brave danger to help save Alta from the Magi's depravity. Spot-on dialogue and just the right amount of exposition mark this rip-roaring adventure as superior fantasy fare.
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From Booklist
The Magi continue their evil machinations in the sequel to Alta (2004) by draining the powers from other magic workers to enhance their own and to keep themselves young. They also have developed the Eye of Light, a terrible weapon that can kill anything in its path. Kiron and his fellow jousters and dragons, together with some members of the royal family and friends, are forced to flee into the desert to a lost city now known as Sanctuary. They know they need to hide from the Magi and increase the number of jousters and dragons to wage a war. Refugees from both Alta and Tia begin to straggle into Sanctuary, seeking asylum. The jousters make desperate forays to rescue those being drained of their powers and get set for the forthcoming battle with the Magi. The tension is palpable throughout as Lackey wraps up the trilogy begun by Joust^B (2003) in fine style, remaining true to the characters and their world. Sally Estes
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