- Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: Voyager; 1st edition (16 July 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007113072
- ISBN-13: 978-0007113071
- Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 15 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,177,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
New epic fantasy trilogy from the US author of THE NIGHTRUNNER series
Long ago, during the dark days of the Great War with Plenimar, King Thelatimos journeyed to the Oracle of the God Illior at Afra to save his warn-torn kingdom. Here he was presented with a prophecy ‘So long as a daughter of Thelatimos’ line defends and rules, Skala shall never be subjugated.’ And that is how the line of queens ruling over Skala was established…
However, as generations went by the male heirs to the throne became intensely resentful of the prophecy that emasculated their claim to power. Finally Queen Agnalain took the throne and the people of Skala suffered under her erratic and selfish command. Prompted by the people’s outcry over this mad queen, her son Prince Erius claimed primogeniture, and seized the throne.
Erius’s ascent may have pleased the people of Skala, but a faction of the population, one who had not forgotten the prophecy, were worried. Plague, drought and famine spread throughout the kingdom weakening it’s defences and offering easy pickings to Skala’s old enemy and neighbour, Plenimar.
As people start to recall the Oracle’s prophecy, Erius begins to quietly kill of his female relatives who pose the only threat to his monarchy. Constantly in fear for her life, Princess Ariani the King’s sister, gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. But Ariani is married to Lord Rhius, the patron of the powerful wizard Iya, and Iya has sinister plans for the babes…
From the Back Cover
So long as a daughter of Thelatimos' line defends and rules, Skala shall never be subjugated.
For generations Skala's queens upheld the prophecy. But then Erius seized the throne from his mother, the mad Queen Agnalain. Now the royal tomb is filled with the corpses of his female relatives, and plague, drought and famine are spreading throughout the kingdom. Not all have forgotten the prophecy, though, and when the powerful wizard Iya visits the Oracle she is given a dark vision.
Black makes white. Foul makes pure. Evil creates greatness
King Erius's sister, Ariani, is about to give birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Iya knows what she must do. But even her potent magic is not strong enough, and she seeks the help of a hill witch, outcast as necromancer, to perform the abominable ceremony that will seal the fate of the newborns, joining them one to the other in an unbreakable supernatural bond.
But one twin dies, and when Ariani commits suicide the surviving child is mysteriously drawn to the sinister doll that never left the Princess's side, and haunted by terrifying visions of a doppelganger who seems bent on chaos and destruction.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
This is the 1st book of Lynns I have read and I must say I am very impressed. I bought this book because of the revies I have seen on Amazon, and because of the recomendation by Robbin Hobb, an author I have a great deal of respect for.
Lynns writing style is similar to Robins, both draw wonderful characters and really let you get inside the skin of them. They also stick to the principle of KEEP IT SIMPLE, which I really enjoy as I didn't find myself sitting trying to work out what was going on all the time (such as Steven Erikson) but avidly turning the pages hungry for what was going to happen next. I was slightly worried when I read the back cover and had started reading the book, that this was going to be a cliche led story (like a fair bit of US fantasy) of a Princess done wrong who would suddenly wake up and kill the evil king, and in some ways I was right, this book (1st of 3) does hit most of the cliches but they are done with real feeling for the characters which makes them feel fresh and vivid.
Now I am just gonna have to save up the money to buy her 1st trilogy while I eagerly await the next book in this thrilling saga.
If you like Robin Hobb, Raymond Fiest, George R R Martin, Juliet Mckenna and Kathrin Kerr or are just looking for a damn good read then I can heartily recommend this book to you (and all of theirs apart from the Krondor series by Feist).
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Part of a new trilogy but complete in itself, BDT is set in the same world as Flewelling's earlier Nightrunner trilogy, albeit 400 years earlier. There are sufficient references to the world of those books for existing fans to feel at home without making readers new to Flewelling, uncomfortable. BDT is more original and thought-provoking than the Nightrunner series whilst displaying the same good characterisation and easy readability. This book draws you in. Skala is once more (or rather once before) under threat, as usurpation of the throne has led to a prophecy being ignored and the Gods' displeasure causing war, famine and plague. With the birth of two children, a small band of conspirators sees a possible means to restore the throne to the true queen and save the land and its people, but not without great cost.... Ghost story mixed with fantasy: nothing is as it seems and the readers' and characters' perceptions of themselves, others and the world around are challenged as this first book unfolds. With discovery barely avoided and cliffhanger uncertainty over the fate of one very sympathetic character, book 2 can't come too quickly.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
as a huge fan of ms. flewelling's work i have had this book on pre-order ever since i found out it would be available in the uk 3 months earlier than in the us. since the book arrived on monday, i've spent 3 sleepless nights staying up to finish reading it. i was totally blown away. i had thought that i'd be kind of disappointed and missing alec/seregil (for non-initiates, the heroes of lynn's previous 3 books) and their world. wrong!!! i wouldn't have believed it, but i think she's actually topped the first three books as well as introducing an entirely new world, somewhat linked to that of the first series of books, but totally fresh and i think even more intriguing. i don't want to spoil any plot details, but the work the author is doing with gender representation and roles is just absolutely fascinating. my only question now is, when do we get the next book? and for those fortunate souls who haven't read lynn's books before: get this one, read it, then run out and get the other three! also, i'd like to note that this [british version] of the book is a beautiful object in itself with gorgeous cover art, high-quality paper, and well-set type with plenty of "white-space." how often do you see that in the fantasy/scifi genres?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A great read; gripping and thought provoking
This book starts slowly, but after the first couple of chapters I was so gripped I daren't pick it up again without a having a long enough space to read lots more! Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2001
So good I can't wait to read the next one.
I really enjoyed the book and hung on every word. I loved the characters and plot. So many uncertainties and so many ways the story could have and still will turn out. Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2001
Illors hands! This in one hell of a book!
...What can I say?.. BUY this BOOK NOW! And start reading it the moment it arrives!... I actually put off reading it for a few day's as it sat there staring at me in all it's... Read more
Published on 20 Sep 2001 by banes_harem@hotmail.com
The best read I've had in ages
The book was bought for me as a present and I wondered, not having read Lynn Flewelling before what it was going to be like. Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2001
An incredible start to a new trilogy
It's not necessary to read the previous novels which also take place in the same world, but you will be rewarded with a fine story if you do. Read more
Published on 22 July 2001 by Angelle DeBoer
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