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The River Kings’ Road
The Ithelas Series (Related to this series)
- Author
- Liane Merciel
- Narrator
- Stefan Rudnicki
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 16 June 2010
- Run Time
- 11 hours 4 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
A thrilling new voice in fantasy makes an unforgettable debut with this "intriguingly twisted tale of treachery and magic" (New York Timesbestselling author L. E. Modesitt, Jr.). Liane Merciel'sThe River Kings' Roadtakes us to a world of bitter enmity between kingdoms, divided loyalties between comrades, and an insidious magic that destroys everything it touches.
A fragile period of peace between the eternally warring kingdoms of Oakharn and Langmyr is shattered when a surprise massacre fueled by bloodmagic ravages the Langmyrne border village of Willowfield, killing its inhabitants—including a visiting Oakharne lord and his family—and leaving behind a scene so grisly that even the carrion eaters avoid its desecrated earth. But the dead lord's infant heir has survived the carnage—a discovery that entwines the destinies of Brys Tarnell, a mercenary who rescues the helpless and ailing babe, and a Langmyr peasant, a young mother herself, whom Brys enlists to nourish and nurture the child of her enemies as they travel a dark, perilous road.
As one infant's life hangs in the balance, so too does the fate of thousands, while deep in the forest, a Maimed Witch practices an evil bloodmagic that could doom them all.
Critics Review
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“The River Kings’ Road is the intriguingly twisted tale of treachery and magic behind a brutal massacre and the impacts this unspeakable act has on the two survivors, on those who perpetrated it, on those who investigated it, and on those who tried to turn it to even more evil ends. It’s also a tale that examines unsparingly the issue of to what degree the ends justify the means…or not.”
L. E. Modesitt, Jr., New York Times bestselling author of The Saga of Recluce series
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“The River Kings’ Road drew me in with the characters, all of whom felt real and reacted realistically for the setting…The heroes are heroic because of the choices they make on their journey, choices that would test the very best…and worst…in all of us…It’s a story where the simplest choice could have drastic consequences, and where the lowliest of peasants can change the fate of a kingdom.”
Joshua Palmatier, author of The Vacant Throne
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“[An] impressive epic fantasy debut…Merciel has constructed an inspired new world where unexpected plot twists bedevil strong, clearly visualized characters, in a story that glints with intelligence and hums with life.”
Publishers Weekly
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“Merciel’s fantasy debut imbues standard motifs of the hero’s tale with passionate intensity, bringing her characters vibrantly to life and creating a realistic setting for her story. Strong storytelling makes this a good choice for adult and YA fantasy fans.”
Library Journal
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Liane Merciel
- Narrator
- Stefan Rudnicki
- Duration
- 11 hours 4 minutes
- Release Date
- 16 June 2010
- ISBN
- 9781483052595
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Epic fantasy / heroic fantasy, Fantasy
Synopsis
A thrilling new voice in fantasy makes an unforgettable debut with this "intriguingly twisted tale of treachery and magic" (New York Timesbestselling author L. E. Modesitt, Jr.). Liane Merciel'sThe River Kings' Roadtakes us to a world of bitter enmity between kingdoms, divided loyalties between comrades, and an insidious magic that destroys everything it touches.A fragile period of peace between the eternally warring kingdoms of Oakharn and Langmyr is shattered when a surprise massacre fueled by bloodmagic ravages the Langmyrne border village of Willowfield, killing its inhabitants—including a visiting Oakharne lord and his family—and leaving behind a scene so grisly that even the carrion eaters avoid its desecrated earth. But the dead lord's infant heir has survived the carnage—a discovery that entwines the destinies of Brys Tarnell, a mercenary who rescues the helpless and ailing babe, and a Langmyr peasant, a young mother herself, whom Brys enlists to nourish and nurture the child of her enemies as they travel a dark, perilous road.As one infant's life hangs in the balance, so too does the fate of thousands, while deep in the forest, a Maimed Witch practices an evil bloodmagic that could doom them all.
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