The Cheng nation teeters between hope and ruin. Plots and schemes swirl, and one woman is the beating heart of rebellion…
Shar contends against the shamans who rule. She has won victories, but the prophecy that names her as emperor might still turn to dust. The shamans have set a vast price on her head – ten thousand in gold – and it will test the loyalty of even her friends.
This is the one chance her people have at freedom, and she will not let it pass. Her efforts to raise an army have proved effective, but against an enemy that invokes magic in battle, sharp swords are not enough.
She needs sorcerers of her own, and risks a bold quest to get them. Rumor tells of a hidden prison where men of magic are jailed. If she frees them, they have the power to protect her army. Yet she cannot be sure of their support, for once they were shamans themselves.
Worse, it was her own forefather who imprisoned them…
I am a man born in the wrong era. My heart yearns for faraway places and even further afield times. Tolkien had me at the beginning of The Hobbit when he said, ". . . one morning long ago in the quiet of the world . . ."
I love to read high fantasy and epic fantasy novels, and I have a passion to write, to weave a story with words that draws the reader into another world.
The saga continues and these books keep getting better! Funny thing, when reading books and in life I like making predictions. Sometimes I am right and sometimes I am wrong. I could not get the predictions right! Too many unexpected twists and turns! Congratulations to the writer! The story continues. Now the two groups have separated. Each group are in peril. I know that it will be sorted out in the next book but I have no idea how. I can confidently recommend this book. The same characters that I have come to love but the story continues. I look forward to the next volume. Bruce
This story is much too good to spoil however, the anxiety author Robert Ryan amps up in this book is exceptional. Shar faces mortal and moral dilemmas unlike any of his previous characters. It's worth the time to read through to the end and yet the ending is no let down but a spectacular horizon obtained by perseverance. Best book of the series yet. If you enjoy heroes, courage, skill, magic, mystical creatures, Gods and impossible odds....read this book. It has them in abundance.
I have enjoyed reading this series. A lot of deep thinking before action was taken. Many strong personalities in the characters. Beautiful descriptions of lands traveled through. Magic is always changing and an element of surprise. I do not like the fact that now I must wait for 1 or more sequels to end this series. In the future I will be more alert towards buying only completed series…☹️
I was excited to pick this book up to continue the series. Following the characters again throughout the story and seeing the books to develop throughout everything in which htye had to go through. The characters developed nicely throughout the book, which made it very interesting to see the story to develop. With the way the book ended, i was very intrigued to see what the next book intails.
A beautifully imagined world of danger and adventure. Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action. I look forward to the next one. Every book a page turner.
I found this book to truly be the best yet. I felt swept away by the trials Shar faced and intrigued by her abilities to think through the problem to find a solution.
The author keeps the reader guessing what will happen next throughout the book, which means it is very hard t o out the book down.Looking forward to the next in the series
This series just gets better and better with every book. I have to admit the first book didn't really pull me in but I kept going. I'm thrilled I did because this has become one of my favorite series of all time. I highly recommend
I read a lot of books by Robert Ryan and I've enjoyed each and every one of them each book in this series has been well written and enjoyable I have enjoyed reading this last book and look forward to the rest
This is by far the best of the series to date, was frustrated to find out there is another book to come, but pleased that I can revisit this story and characters.
All these Robert Ryan are really fast reads. We continue with Shar in this one and she is trying to find a way to fight magic with magic to prevail against the Shamans.
Hi as I'm reading this series, like every one of Robert Ryan's books they just keep getting more interesting to the point I some times have trouble putting the book down.