"The epic conclusion to the Shattered Sigil Trilogy--a tale of blood magic, spies, and wilderness adventure. Dev's never been a man afraid of a challenge. Not only has he kept his vow to his dead mentor, rescuing a child in the face of impossible odds, but he's freed his mage friend Kiran from both the sadistic master who seeks to enslave him and the foreign Council that wants to kill him."--Amazon.com.

From the author of The Door in the Mountain, this tale of ancient gods and mythic monsters is “a book of both horror and beauty” (Ilana C. Myer, author of Last Song Before Night). The Princess Ariadne is scheming to bring her hated half brother Asterion to ultimate ruin. Asterion himself, part human, part bull, is grappling with madness and pain in the labyrinth that lies within a sacred mountain. And Chara, his childhood friend, is trying desperately to find him. In a different prison, Icarus, the bird-boy who cannot fly, plans his escape with his father, Daedalus—and plots revenge upon the princess he once loved. All of their paths are about to come together at last, drawn by fire, hatred, love, and hope—and all of them will be changed. From an author who has been nominated for Sunburst, Locus, and Aurora Awards and called “a formidable new talent”, this is a powerful fantasy set in the world of ancient Crete (SF Site).

The first two entries in The Shattered Sigil series! Containing The Whitefire Crossings and The Tainted City for the first time together in one edition.

Reproduction of the original.

Dev is a smuggler with the perfect cover. He's in high demand as a guide for the caravans that carry legitimate goods from the city of Ninavel into the country of Alathia. The route through the Whitefire Mountains is treacherous, and Dev is one of the few climbers who knows how to cross them safely. With his skill and connections, it's easy enough to slip contraband charms from Ninavel - where any magic is fair game, no matter how dark - into Alathia, where most magic is outlawed. But smuggling a few charms is one thing; smuggling a person through the warded Alathian border is near suicidal. Having made a promise to a dying friend, Dev is forced to take on a singularly dangerous cargo: Kiran. A young apprentice on the run from one of the most powerful mages in Ninavel, Kiran is desperate enough to pay a fortune to sneak into a country where discovery means certain execution - and he'll do whatever it takes to prevent Dev from finding out the terrible truth behind his getaway. Yet the young mage is not the only one harboring a deadly secret. Caught up in a web of subterfuge and dark magic, Dev and Kiran must find a way to trust each other - or face not only their own destruction, but that of the entire city of Ninavel.

This meticulously crafted narrative weaves together the stories of heroes and villains, the relentless march of armies, and the enduring human spirit in the face of conflict. Set against the backdrop of a world in turmoil, the story explores the consequences of war on both a grand and personal scale. As the flames of battle rage on, readers are drawn into a richly detailed and immersive... This meticulously crafted narrative weaves together the stories of heroes and villains, the relentless march of armies, and the enduring human spirit in the face of conflict. Set against the backdrop of a world in turmoil, the story explores the consequences of war on both a grand and personal scale. As the flames of battle rage on, readers are drawn into a richly detailed and immersive universe where diplomacy, betrayal, sacrifice, and heroism collide. Amidst the chaos of the battlefield, the novel delves into the lives of compelling characters who are shaped by the crucible of war. Their individual stories, intertwined with the broader narrative, illuminate the multifaceted aspects of conflict – from the strategic maneuvering of generals to the quiet moments of reflection for foot soldiers.

Since the Age of Shadows ended, the people of Ranadon have lived under the merciless heat of two suns and the tyranny of Antonov, the Lion of Senet. Consumed by his lust for power and his unshakable belief in the capricious, almighty Goddess, Antonov’s rule is absolute. Only one man has the intelligence and will to break that hold…a man who could be King. Suddenly widowed, Morna Provin, Duchess of Elcast, has lost her only protector. With her son banished for an unspeakable crime, she faces a horrifying fate at the hands of the Lion of Senet as retribution for her relationship with the heretic Johan Thorn. But it is only part of a cunning scheme to lure her son, Dirk Provin, back into the fold so Antonov can consolidate his power once and for all. With his mother’s life at stake, Dirk Provin must emerge from hiding in the Baenlands and return to Elcast—setting in motion a rebellion that will expose long-buried secrets and ignite festering hatreds. For a ruler’s fears and a madman’s prophecy will start Dirk on a quest for truth that will spark a fierce battle between two very different men: one who believes only what his five senses tell him, the other obsessed by his faith in the divine. It is a clash that will bring to light a revelation that may shatter them all.

Altanthe alternate version of Earthis a realm of myth and magic. The population is unaware of the evil that lurks beneath their feet, an evil that wont hesitate to kill. When strange shadow creatures attack the castle during a time of peace, they discover that an ancient evil has risen once more. Flame Kimera is one of the few survivors of that day. He knows that he must stop it before Altan and Earth is destroyed.