The first in a high fantasy romance series full of “military battles . . . political intrigue . . . and star-crossed love, set against a richly detailed land of warring kingdoms and hidden magic” (Library Journal).
Destiny tangles a young king, his new bride, and his lifelong champion in an age-old triangle of love and betrayal.
Akeela, King of Liiria, was a young and idealistic scholar determined to bring peace to his kingdom—a land that had been plagued by war with the neighboring kingdom of Reec for decades. At 14, he was rescued by Lukien, the Bronze Knight of Lirria, forming a bond of loyalty stronger than blood. But no two souls could be more different.
To seal the peace with their enemy, King Karis of Reec bestows upon Akeela the hand of his charming, beautiful, and accomplished daughter. But Cassandra hides a terrible secret: she is experiencing the first symptoms of a disease which could threaten her life—and cause unimaginable strife for all who love her.
For Akeela and Lukien, the quest for Cassandra’s salvation will overwhelm every bond of loyalty, every point of honor, every dream of peace. For only the magical amulets known as the Eyes of God can halt the progress of Cassandra’s illness—the same Eyes of God that can tear their world apart and redefine the very nature of their reality . . .
Destiny tangles a young king, his new bride, and his lifelong champion in an age-old triangle of love and betrayal.
Akeela, King of Liiria, was a young and idealistic scholar determined to bring peace to his kingdom—a land that had been plagued by war with the neighboring kingdom of Reec for decades. At 14, he was rescued by Lukien, the Bronze Knight of Lirria, forming a bond of loyalty stronger than blood. But no two souls could be more different.
To seal the peace with their enemy, King Karis of Reec bestows upon Akeela the hand of his charming, beautiful, and accomplished daughter. But Cassandra hides a terrible secret: she is experiencing the first symptoms of a disease which could threaten her life—and cause unimaginable strife for all who love her.
For Akeela and Lukien, the quest for Cassandra’s salvation will overwhelm every bond of loyalty, every point of honor, every dream of peace. For only the magical amulets known as the Eyes of God can halt the progress of Cassandra’s illness—the same Eyes of God that can tear their world apart and redefine the very nature of their reality . . .
Book Details
Format:
eBook
Price:
8.99 USD / 9.99 CAD
Published: 2003-01-07
ISBN: 9781101462218
Imprint:
DAW Books
Page Count: 784
“Marco does this stuff quite well, better than most of his rivals in fact, and in this book in particular I found his characters a lot more compelling than the usual stereotypes in most similar novels. It's quite long and engrossing.”
—Science Fiction Chronicle
“Marco offers a sprawling tale of military battles, personal and political intrigue, magic, and star-crossed love set against a richly detailed land of warring kingdoms and hidden magic.”
—Library Journal
“Mr. Marco has delivered an epic fantasy with heart and pathos. His characters are flawed and believable, wholly sympathetic to the reader. He paints a landscape of palace grandeur and desert desolation where magic is a reality and winning a battle is not winning the war.”
—Romantic Times
“This epic fantasy novel, first in a brand new series, is a well-crafted addition to a much-beloved genre. The book's characters are well-drawn, and although the plot is fairly dense, the story moves along at a smart pace . . . the author creates a compelling and entertaining read.”
—Voya
