Set in an alternate Europe where bloody conflicts rage, the second book of the Crown of Stars epic fantasy series chronicles a world-shaking conflict for the survival of humanity
Sanglant—the Prince of Dogs, King Henry’s bastard son; though believed dead by all who could succor him, he is being held captive in the city of Gent by Bloodheart, the Eika warlord. Cursed by his mother’s blood with an inability to die, he struggles to maintain the last shreds of his sanity in the hope rescue may yet come….
Liath—now a King’s Eagle, and still grieving over Sanglant, she strives to unlock the secrets of the past while seeking to evade the traps set for her by an obsessively ambitious man. But even a post in King Henry’s court offers her little protection from those determined to claim the forbidden knowledge she has hidden….
Alain—raised in humble surroundings but now proclaimed a Count’s heir, he is increasingly troubled by visions of the enemy he befriended and the Lady of Battles who he’s sworn to serve. A man who desires nothing more than peace, he is about to be thrust into the heart of war with the Eika….
Fifth Son—least favored child of Bloodheart, he has returned to the lands of his own people to build an army to do his father’s bidding. If he survives this mission, he will become a force to be reckoned with….
And even as King Henry continues his progress through his troubled realm, defeating rebellious lords and gathering their promises of troops to use at Gent, Sanglant, Liath, Alain, and Fifth Son are fighting their own battles against almost overwhelming odds. Only time will tell who will prove triumphant as all are caught up in the dangers and turmoil of a world at war.
Industry Reviews
Praise for the Crown of Stars series: "In the Jaran series, Elliott proved herself good at setting up conflict on a grand scale.... Here she creates a complex fantasy world with intriguing parallels to European history, colorful characters, and plenty of action and magic." --Locus
"The saga's world is extremely well built, its pacing is brisk enough to keep the pages fluttering.... This certainly could become one of the best multivolume fantasies--fans, take note!" --Booklist
"Elliott has a gift for creating grim, dark settings as well as swashbuckling action scenes (both magical and material) worthy of Rafael Sabatini. This is a splendid piece of intelligent entertainment." --Publishers Weekly
"A solidly engrossing addition to a worthwhile series." --Kirkus
"Kate Elliott, an excellent fantasist, writes lush and lyrical scenes and uses her characters to scale down cosmic events to a human scale." --Midwest Book Review
"Ms. Elliott continues to weave an elegantly intricate tapestry of full-bodied characters who will fascinate and intrigue readers up to the very last page."--Romantic Times Magazine (now RT Reviews)
"Strong plotting, thorough world building and sound characterization and character development make this novel a must-purchase for those collections that have invested in the rest of the series."--VOYA
"Elliott has created a world with depth and color and peopled it with a large cast of characters, all poised on the brink of a cataclysmic conclusion."--SF Chronicle
"This is a very good climax to a very long series.... The writing is clear and excellent, the universe is interesting, the politics and warfare believable."--SFRevu
"Elliott has developed as real a fantasy realm as any writer working in the genre, and the very complexity of the story contributes to its verisimilitude."--Chronicle
