* FollowTheLeader - The series bears thematic and structural similarities to several that have come before.
** In a world where magic works through geometric patterns, a cycle of conflict with a demonic foe from underground is soon to be broken by a prophesied leader. Unfortunately, there is new conflict over who exactly this leader is. The hero starts out naïve, but grows and adapts after facing a threat from an Antihero who hails from a culture based on the Middle East, while wavering over whether to ally with this character or oppose him. The hero is supported by a cast of characters including his own lover/wife, women warriors who face scorn in a patriarchal society, and even children who have magical abilities beyond their years. In the end, the hero must travel into the underworld itself to face down a demonic matriarch. The Demon Cycle, or Literature/TheRunelords?
** In a world where magic power has faded, a slow but powerful resurgence is nigh. The story is told in rotating points of view, and what at first seems like a straight-forward clash of good and evil characters is muddied when we see the story through the eyes of the erstwhile villains. One of the most powerful magic users is a woman, who largely hides her power and throws her support behind a man who otherwise wouldn't have a good claim to his throne. Human conflicts are potentially fatal distractions from a supernatural threat that is rising in power. The Demon Cycle, or Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire?