ISBN 978-0-7564-0588-5
(mass market paperback, August 2009) ISBN 978-0-7564-0489-5
(trade paperback, November 2008)
ISBN 978-0-7564-0266-2
(hardback, November 2007)
Also available in eBook editions.
DAW Books, Inc., New York
Cover art © 2007 Donato
More than a thousand years ago the armies of the Arcosian Empire, led by Mornhavon the Black, crossed the great sea and tried to conquer the land of Sacoridia using terrible dark magic. Eventually Mornhavon had been captured, and his evil spirit imprisoned in Blackveil Forest.
Since that day, the perimeter of Blackveil—now a dark and twisted land—had been protected by the magical D’Yer Wall. But in the centuries since the war’s end, knowledge of the working of magic had disappeared from Sacoridia, due to the fear and prejudice of a people traumatized by Mornhavon’s sorceries.
Karigan G’ladheon was now a seasoned Green Rider—a member of the magical messenger corps of the king. But during her first year as a Rider, a rogue magician had cracked the mighty D’Yer Wall. The spirit of Mornhavon, sensing the weakness, had begun to wake, seeking vengeance, and causing frightening aberrations throughout the land.
Karigan had managed to transport the spirit of Mornhavon into the future, buying valuable time for her king and country. But how far in the future was Mornhavon now? A hundred years? Ten years? Only one year? There was no way to tell.
And though Karigan and her fellow Riders scoured the land searching for lost magical knowledge, and members of Clan D’Yer camped at the wall hoping to uncover its lost secrets, they were unaware of a threat to their kingdom that lay far closer.
For there were Arcosian soldiers who’d survived the Long War, and the descendants of those ancient enemies had spent generations honing their powers of dark magic—a force against which the Sacoridians had no defense….
Excerpt
Karigan thrust, and the thief slipped aside. Her sword hissed at his neck, and he danced away. The smirk on his face revealed he thought it all a great joke. She brought the sword down in what should have been a crushing blow, but he flitted out of the way. Blow after blow was casually deflected, and when she threw herself into one particularly powerful thrust, he simply stepped aside. Her center of gravity was thrown forward and she had to hurry her feet back under her before she fell on her face.
Her lungs strained against the corset for breath. Sweat trickled down her neck and temples. The thief remained cool and impeccable, awaiting her next move. It infuriated her.
She whirled and their blades clanged together and slid hilt to hilt. They were very close, almost nose to nose. She could look right into his light gray eyes.
“I’m enjoying this dance,” he said in a silken whisper, “and I think you are, too.”
Praise
“…this action-packed third Green Rider volume…Britain keeps the excitement high from beginning to end, balancing epic magical battles with the humor and camaraderie of Karigan and her fellow Riders.” –Publishers Weekly
“Continuing the epic tale begun in Green Rider and First Rider’s Call, Britain’s latest combines familiar characters with new allies and enemies as it builds to a crucial point in the history of the land. Readers of epic fantasy and series followers will want this finely honed, skillfully crafted tale.” –Library Journal
“The intermittent sense of foreboding is offset by a healthy dose of old-fashioned adventure—kidnappings, a noble thief, near drowning, divine visitations, ghosts, a visit to an upscale brothel, and some very bad knife throwing—that provides a satisfying temporary conclusion despite this being very much a middle novel with serious nastiness still looming.” –Locus
“Britain provides plenty of action…and a good command of character.” –Booklist
“Accessible writing, charming characters, and some pretty entertaining sword-and-sorcery action.” –Fantasy Book Critic
“Britain keeps the excitement high from beginning to end, balancing epic magical battles with the humor and camaraderie of Karigan and her fellow riders.” –School Library Journal