Books like The Bane of the Black Sword

This slim fifth volume of the Elric saga contains four separate novellas, the first three starring our princely albino hero and the fourth featuring one of his old companions, Rachir the Red Archer, now Defender of Tanelorn.The three Elric tales are all fine adventures, and rather sunny by Elric standards (which of course are more than usually dark): “Stealer of Souls” features Elric’s final battle with the evil wizard Theleb Ka’arna, in which Elric is assisted by a few Melniboneon dragons under the command of his old comrade Dyvim Tvar; in “Kings in Darkness,” Elric falls in love with the young and resourceful Zarozinia and encounters some particularly sinister dead: and in “The Flame Bringers” he battles warlord Terarn Gashtek and his horde (after first rescuing a wizard’s soul from inside a cat).As always, though, the shadow of the sword Stormbringer darkens all three tales: Stormbringer his companion and addiction; Stormbringer, his destiny and death.