The Sorcerer's Valley

Ferrian's Winter #1

by Megan Leigh

Ferrian has been running his whole life. Running, because he has no choice. Wherever he goes, Winter follows. Wherever he sleeps, frost creeps at his door. From town to town he hastens, frightened, tired; forever trying to keep one step ahead of the cold, the snow and the devastating storms. It is a kind of curse, and Ferrian has no idea what it means. Only someone with a knowledge of magic might be able to to help him, but sorcerers are nearly extinct in the world. Two brothers remain, however; the last of their once-noble kind, holed up in a secluded valley, waging their own private and very personal war. Ferrian, captured by the local law enforcers, finds himself unexpectedly amongst friends sympathetic to his cause, and together they set out on an adventure-filled quest to find the last sorcerers. What is the Winter? Can it be controlled, or is it really a curse? And how many people -- friends, enemies, innocent countryfolk -- will fall victim to the strange magical storm before Ferrian learns the answers?

868 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2017

About the author

Megan Leigh was born and grew up on the far-away island of Tasmania, Australia. She currently lives in beautiful Ireland with her partner. She has loved to write imaginative stories and create artwork from a young age. She enjoys videogames, fantasy/sci-fi movies & books, and also camping, hiking, cats and anything to do with nature.

Reviews

[Melissa Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: once you pick this book up, you're going to have a hard time putting it down. Great world building, great characters, great plot... I can't wait for book two.

[Raymond Elmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like winter. At least when I am beside the fireplace drinking mulled wine with friends. When I am out in it walking beneath gray sky and leafless trees, else shivering in city winds that defy every layer... winter is a goddam depressing and solitary world. A bit like sorrow; even like death. Winter is a climatological metaphor for sadness, isolation, suffering, the challenge of enduring.
And... poor Ferrian is trapped in it.
He is alone, homeless, friendless, hopeless; doomed. He is a bird of ill omen set to wander lest he bring icy death upon everything around him. And he doesn't know why. He committed no sin, crossed no wizard. It is (seemingly) an arbitrary joke played upon him by Life.
There's a destiny behind it, of course.
Megan Leigh is that too-rare fantasy writer who takes time to describe a tree, a wood, a tavern. Which is an ingredient of proper world building that other writers skip. They fake it with template taverns, cliche fantasy races, stage-prop action scenes a fantasy reader already knows by heart. But Leigh's willingness to describe in detail, combines with her originality... that is proper worldbuilding. Yes, it takes longer to get through a scene; but there is no cookie-cutter D&D substitution. Murons, Griks, Angels, Freeroamers, Bladeshifters... they take some explaining; but they build a world for a story.
It's a coming of age story; though Ferrian is only the main character. POV jumps from bandit to sorcerer, monster to angel. Seriously, everyone is on the move; circling about Ferrian. Who's resentful of his curse, but needs friends to help him begin to act.
Can't blame him. Winter isn't about growing, its about surviving.
Excellent and unusual epic; and just the first