Shadowplay is the second book of the Shadowmarch series by Tad Williams. It came out two days ago and it appears to be available only in hardcover (http://www.amazon.com/Shadowplay-Shadowmarch-Vol-Tad-Williams/dp/0756403588/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-9330807-1783018?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173364652&sr=8-1) :( . I haven't bought it yet, but given that it's by Tad Williams, one of my favorite contemporary fantasy authors, I still like to recommend it to you. From the Booklist about Shadowmarch:

Williams opens another of the intricate, intriguing sagas that are his stock-in-trade. In a once turbulently conflicted land of humans, elves, and dwarves, an old truce is starting to unravel. The frontier called the Shadowline, between the Twilight Lands and those of humans, is being breached. The first Marchlands kingdom in the path of Twilight invaders is in disarray, for its king is a prisoner, and not all accept his elder son's regency. What's more, the cruel empire of the south is moving north. So the Marchlands are caught between two foes while having to deal with internal intrigues and inexperienced rulers. When the prince regent is killed, apparently by one of his closest advisors, the surviving regents are an impetuous princess and a disabled prince. Trust at court and in the kingdom dwindles even as Twilight forces attack, and responsibilities the princess never dreamed of or prepared for fall upon her. A page-turner, if you can keep the who, where, and when straight (the appended lists of people and places help). Frieda Murray Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Only thing of his I've ever read was Tailchaser's Song (http://www.amazon.com/Tailchasers-Song-Tad-Williams/dp/0886779537/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1495648-0661606?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173369859&sr=8-1), which I quite enjoyed.

At the time (~20 years ago, yikes!) it was a bit too intricate for me to seek out more by him, perhaps I ought to revisit that now. :)

So is it high fantasy or high novel? And what does that mean? :)

I read Tailchasher's Song as well. When it came out it was thought of an extension of the theme from a book called if I remember correctly called Watership Down, which was about the "secret" life of rabbits.

I enjoyed Tailchaser's Song immensely, yes I admit freely that I am a cat person. I still quote and remember fondly a number of passages from that book.

The concept of a "Heart Name" is still part of my mental landscape. :nice: