That Which The Deep Heart Knows

by Martin Dukes

Adala Radagorian, innkeeper’s daughter, seems an unlikely pawn in the great game played between those rival gods who contest the fate of the world and whose machinations have influenced the course of human history since time immemorial. Possessed of wit, beauty and an education uncommon in her class, she finds herself bound up in events where the fate of empires lies in the balance. An equally unlikely love imperils the foundation of her world, tears her away from the simple circumstances of her upbringing and thrusts her into the centre stage of imperial politics.

In the heart of the Empire of Erenor, the greedy and the unscrupulous plot the destruction of the established order, setting in train momentous events that will shape the course of history. A corrupt and venal emperor, a proud and evil empress, an embittered rival long thought vanquished and a humble slave all play their parts in a great unfolding drama that will shake the empire to its core.

Amongst the highest and the lowest in the land, Adala stands at the centre of that drama, one that obliges her to explore the utmost limits of her strength. Through many adventures, trials, successes and disappointments, she learns that the head and the heart may stand at odds, but the voice of the heart is the truest guide at last.

440 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2023

Reviews

[Deborah Lightfoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is epic. Grand. Beautifully written, masterful in scope and execution, brimming with palace intrigues, murder and treachery, high-stakes conspiracies and closely guarded secrets amongst a large and intricately choreographed cast of memorable characters. The action is intense, complex but well-paced, allowing the reader to catch their breath along the way and hear the rain battering the roofs of country inns while thunder rattles the windows of remote castles. Settings and characters are presented with a remarkable degree of fine detail, details that paint the total picture of place and time, so that the reader feels they are present in each scene over a vast landscape. This book is the work of an experienced, accomplished author. I give it an enthusiastic and appreciative 5 stars and recommend it highly to lovers of epic fantasy. I’m moving directly into the next book in the series (“A Trick of the Light,” second of the Toxandria Chronicles). I’m eager for more excellent writing and another sweeping tale of adventure, destiny, love and sacrifice.

[Shaylafae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love his writing so much! Very plot focused and just enough fantasy to keep you wanting more and more!