Path of the Incubus by Andy Chambers.
The second book in the Path of the Dark Eldar, starting directly after the first novel, and the Dysjunction has begun in the eternal city of Commorragh. The Dark City is in flames, and Asdrubael Vect is trying to keep his iron grip on the competing Kabals and Archons. The focus is on Morr from the first book and the Harlequin Motley, interspersed with the political machinations of the Dark Eldar in and around Vect. With this book, you learn more about the incubi and what it takes to be one. The eternal city's current danger is constantly highlighted by the ever-present games for power that still rage in private and public, even with daemonic invasions and barriers failing to hold around the city. Chambers does a brilliant job of showing the Dark Eldar for what they are and all of their sadistic, gory culture.
The threads of some side characters are woven into the main plot, including new and old characters like the budding bromance of Xagor and Kharbyr, a lower-class Archon named Bezieth, and a warlock named Caraeis. There is not quite as much action as in the previous book, with more political maneuverings taking precedence. The fighting in this novel is mainly provided by the Incubus Morr, but it is really done very well, and I found it a fair trade-off. I had only come across the Harlequin Motley in the short novel The Masque of Vyle, and I really enjoyed learning more about him and found some of the back and forth between him and Morr really entertaining. The Novel paces well by mixing the faster-paced aspects and the slower ones nicely, so it doesn't seem like too much of either. If you enjoy the occasional trip into the darker side of the Eldar, then you will enjoy this series, and this novel adds to the series nicely.
bottom image book cover of the version used in the review
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