Years have passed since the end of the War of the Lance. The people of Ansalon have rebuilt their lives, their houses, their families. The Companions of the Lance, too, have returned to their homes, raising children and putting the days of their heroic deeds behind them. But peace on Krynn comes at a price. The forces of darkness are ever vigilant, searching for ways to erode the balance of power and take control. When subtle changes begin to permeate the fragile peace, new lives are drawn into the web of fate woven around all the races. The time has come to pass the sword—or the staff—to the children of the Lance.

The War of the Lance is over, but peace never lasts long in Krynn. In the years that follow, a new generation begins to step out from the shadows of their legendary parents. The Second Generation, a collection of interconnected novellas by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, bridges the gap between the Chronicles and the War of Souls trilogy, introducing the children of the Heroes of the Lance—heroes in their own right, but shaped by a different world and forged in different fires.

The book opens with “Tanis’s Son”, where Gilthas, the child of Tanis Half-Elven and Laurana, finds himself manipulated into becoming a political puppet of the elven rulers of Qualinesti. Though he has no wish to lead, Gilthas is thrust into the role of Speaker of the Sun, setting the stage for political turmoil that will play out in future conflicts. His story is one of quiet defiance—a reluctant prince caught in a web of elven pride and betrayal.

In “Kitiara’s Son”, the focus shifts to Steel Brightblade, the illegitimate child of Kitiara uth Matar and Sturm Brightblade. Raised by the Knights of Takhisis, Steel struggles with the dual legacies of his parents: his mother’s ruthless ambition and his father’s unwavering honor. When he is presented with the chance to join the dark knights, Steel’s decision marks a pivotal moment—not only for himself, but for the future of the knighthood and the role he will play in the wars to come.

“The Legacy” returns to the fractured relationship between Caramon Majere and his son Palin. As a young man chosen to take the Test of High Sorcery, Palin is haunted by the legacy of his infamous uncle, Raistlin Majere. Though Caramon fears what his son may become, Palin’s test leads him through visions of Raistlin’s past and confronts him with temptations of power and identity. In the end, Palin proves himself—emerging not as a shadow of Raistlin, but as a mage with his own path.

The stories also touch briefly on Tasslehoff Burrfoot, who—despite being a kender—has played with time itself and continues to affect history in unpredictable ways. His presence hints at larger events yet to unfold and ties the tales together with moments of levity and surprising depth.

Together, these stories form more than a mere epilogue to the original saga—they plant the seeds for a new one. The book ends not with closure, but with the sense that the world of Krynn is shifting once again. New heroes are rising, but the weight of legacy is heavy. The Second Generation is a tale of inheritance, identity, and the first stirrings of the storm that will become the War of Souls.