The Second Gate is the third book in a loosely-connected series depicting a dwarven society through the generations. And it differs in a way from the first two books.

The Dwarven colony under the Ice-Cloak peak has been on the rise for the past three centuries. Starting as a ragtag group of poor dwarves finding a better life and fighting to defend their meager living in the first book, through the brazen and reckless heroism of a few to defeat hordes of monsters in the second group, it’s become the most prospering Dwarven kingdom, bringing many of the old kingdoms under its rule. Given the population growth, it’s no longer a united mass, but various classes emerged as in any other large society. And with bustling trade came the greed of a ruler wanting to gain further wealth through tolls and taxes.

This book follows Yale – a smuggler with several other personas (of which the main ones are Yellowhood and the Smuggler Prince, each with a different background) to barter for goods not just with other dwarves, but also with humans and elves. But the king’s greed is coming fast to clash with his interests and he’s hard-pressed to find ways to peddle smuggled goods without notice. The “Second Gate” is his secret passage out of the mountain, built over years in secret, unknown to most – but with King’s patrols being increased, it might not avoid discovery for long…

At the same time, Topaz, a smelter’s daughter, is looking for a husband. Her father crosses one of Yellowhood’s personas by chance, and this event ties the fate of Topaz and Yale together. As trade slows down in the winter, Topaz and Yale get some bonding time, though Topaz is oblivious to the true “trade” of her husband – until one day she learns by chance. Unknown to her, Yale was already considering turning to honest trade because of the increasingly thorough patrols bringing up the risks of being caught.

Shortly after, Yale and one of his contacts are arrested. Topaz faces some tough decisions about what she expects from her future and marriage – and eventually decides that she does care for her husband. As she considers a way to free Yale, a dragon attacks the gates, giving her an opportunity to free her husband with the help of his comrades and her family. As the dragon attacks, Yale’s smuggling passage might be the only way out, not just for her, but for anyone living in the mountain…

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Read date: 8.-21.4.2024
Published: 12.7.2023
Goodreads/Amazon rating: 4,20/4,4
My rating: 70%
Length: 270 pages

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This book is calmer, so to say, compared to the other two. Minimal combat sequences but it still reads fairly well and has a decent pace. That said, as with the previous book, the ending is a bit too open-ended for my taste.