“There is adventure and intrigue, swordplay and dark sorcery aplenty.”—Realms of Fantasy
When the legendary Briar King awoke from his slumber, dark magics awoke with him and spread across the Kingdom of Crotheny. In Eslen, King William has been murdered, Queen Muriele is stalked by treachery from every side, and their last surviving daughter, Anne, has fled the assassins bent on destroying her family. The queen’s one trusted ally, young knight Neil MeqVren, is sworn to rescue the princess from her pursuers. As spies in the service of the powerful Churchman embark upon a mission to destroy the Briar King, a sinister conspiracy threatens to engulf the land. Personal fates will be decided, and a kingdom’s destiny will hinge upon the ultimate conflict between virtue and malevolence, might and magic.
“Keyes’s world is rich, detailed, and always believable; the twisty plot is delightful and frightening in turns.”—Locus
“Strong world building and superior storytelling.”—Library Journal
- ISBN10 0345440714
- ISBN13 9780345440716
- Publish Date 25 October 2005 (first published 1 January 2004)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Random House USA Inc
- Imprint Random House Inc
- Format Paperback (US Mass Market)
- Pages 512
- Language English
- URL https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780345440716