As with the previous volumes the characterizations are extremely well portrayed, although thinner on the ground than before. The intensity of these relationships is correspondingly stronger as the ever-present threat of the primordial jungle encroaches more and more upon the characters. A minor character from the first book makes a reappearance in a very promnent role and is superbly written: superficially likable the character is also unspeakably cruel, selfish and sadistic. These traits are the only facets of his nature that have kept him alive in the jungle.

Gath of Baal, superwarrior that he is, is in his element in the living labyrinth of giant trees, ferns, orchids, insects and animals- once more he battles to control the primal-beast within himself: a recurring theme in the series, magnifcenly portrayed early in the book in a scene involving the `Odokoro'. Beast-hunters whose overdoses on various potions and drugs have begun to devolve them into the beasts of their pre-human past.

The plot is simple but involves several twists and turns, none of the characters remaining unscathed by the all-consuming jungle with only one law- that of the title. The action is as brutal and pacey as the other volumes, featuring one of the best rulers to appear in a fantasy novel- Chyak, the consort to the queen of cats.

As far as I am aware there is nothing quite like this on the market anymore with the exception of the reprints of the Conan series and Michael Moorcock's eternal champion sequences- although all three are very distinct from each other.

Another swashbuckling novel brimming with imagination, conflict and strong characters well worth any fantasy fan's money, that deserved to sell far more strongly that it appeared to.