Sherwood Smith

PRAISE FOR THE SARTORIAS-DELES SERIES: "The book is set in a world so intricate and real that it's hard to step out of and hard to forget. Filled with magic and glamour, it houses a culture unique for its openness and warlike ability.... Smith's rich details and imagery tie this story together. Complex and compelling." -San Jose Mercury News "Smith deftly stage-manages the wide-ranging plots with brisk pacing, spare yet complex characterizations, and a narrative that balances sweeping action and uneasy intimacy." -Publishers Weekly "A damned good book.... A compelling protagonist with a vivid voice, a master's control of pacing and tension." -Tor.comThe second volume of four begins with the loose alliance of young rulers, mages, scribes, friends, and ex-enemies on the run. The only place of safety is a tiny agrarian kingdom no one has ever heard of, though hints begin to surface that nothing there is quite what it seems. Some venture on quests for ancient magical artifacts that might aid them-but all those quests turn . . . sideways. Some are deadly. Some races turn into chases. Meanwhile, Senrid, the Marloven warrior king, goes covert, staying one step ahead of the conquerors who want him dead. Atan, the queen who prides herself on peaceful solutions, discovers she has a talent for strategic thinkingAnd Jilo, the nerdy son of a lowly sergeant who has been singlehandedly striving to save the once-great Chwahir nation from an insane king, crosses a continent to carry a message-the easiest quest of all-with utterly unforeseen results.

In the recently defeated warrior-kingdom of Marloven Hess, two enemies, one a defeated king hunted by the conquerors, and the hunter who did the conquering, duel for the soul of a conflicted young teen. This short novel takes place between the events of the first two volumes of The Norsunder War: Ship Without Sails, andSeek to Hold the Wind."Smith deftly stage-manages the wide-ranging plots with brisk pacing, spare yet complex characterizations, and a narrative that balances sweeping action and uneasy intimacy." -Publishers Weekly

Nobody sane wants war. But what happens when war comes to you? In this first volume of The Norsunder War, the allies introduced in The Rise of the Alliance find their world invaded. For Atan, Queen of Sartor, preserving lives and knowledge come before fleeing to safety. Jilo of Chwahirsland risks his life to resist the return of an evil king. And for Senrid of Marloven Hess, it means facing a combined army whose might hasn't been seen for eight hundred years, and losing everything he holds dear. Heroism. Betrayal. Endurance. Resistance. Both sides encounter unexpected twists as some discover that even when existence is most dire, it can still surprise you . . .

Nobody sane wants war. But what happens when war comes to you? In this first volume of The Norsunder War, the allies introduced in The Rise of the Alliance find their world invaded. For Atan, Queen of Sartor, preserving lives and knowledge come before fleeing to safety. Jilo of Chwahirsland risks his life to resist the return of an evil king. And for Senrid of Marloven Hess, it means facing a combined army whose might hasn't been seen for eight hundred years, and losing everything he holds dear. Heroism. Betrayal. Endurance. Resistance. Both sides encounter unexpected twists as some discover that even when existence is most dire, it can still surprise you . . .

The last installment of The Phoenix Feather martial arts epic, which readers are acclaiming as a spiritual cousin to The Goblin Emperor, puts the entire Afan family in action. Inspired by the great Chinese epics such as Dream of Red Chamber as well as wuxia and xuanhuan TV series such as Nirvana in Fire, the four volumes of this story sweep from the imperial military academy to wandering martial artists, from the poetic duels of imperial courtiers to the everyday affairs of an innkeeper-and from the human world to the realm of the transcendent, before accelerating to a triumphant close. Once hiding on an obscure island, the Afan parents go seeking their children, as the emperor seeks them. Muin's skills as a commander brings him to prominence in a terrible battle. Yskanda, imperial prisoner, transcends political boundaries through art-and comes to grip with his talents. Prince Jion, once a powerless wanderer, comes into his own as his beloved Ari inspires the world as Firebolt, before the two of them together face the most terrifying enemy of all.

The last installment of The Phoenix Feather martial arts epic, which readers are acclaiming as a spiritual cousin to The Goblin Emperor, puts the entire Afan family in action. Inspired by the great Chinese epics such as Dream of Red Chamber as well as wuxia and xuanhuan TV series such as Nirvana in Fire, the four volumes of this story sweep from the imperial military academy to wandering martial artists, from the poetic duels of imperial courtiers to the everyday affairs of an innkeeper-and from the human world to the realm of the transcendent, before accelerating to a triumphant close. Once hiding on an obscure island, the Afan parents go seeking their children, as the emperor seeks them. Muin's skills as a commander brings him to prominence in a terrible battle. Yskanda, imperial prisoner, transcends political boundaries through art-and comes to grip with his talents. Prince Jion, once a powerless wanderer, comes into his own as his beloved Ari inspires the world as Firebolt, before the two of them together face the most terrifying enemy of all.

Meet Detlev's boys. In volume one, A Sword Named Truth, a shaky alliance made among young rulers brought too early to their thrones survived an enchantment, commanded by Siamis, the handsome young Norsundrian. Siamis was defeated, and the world celebrated, believing peace had come At the start of volume two, The Blood Mage Texts, the alliance seems to be a thing of the past as two quests reveal long-hidden secrets. Meanwhile Siamis has gone renegade, hunted by both sides. As the Rise of the Alliance saga continues, Siamis is not the only one being hunted. The sinister and elusive Norsundrian commander Detlev has been seen more often in the past five years than he has in the past five hundred. The young allies to reform the alliance-meeting unexpected difficulties when no one can agree on what form it should take. That is before a series of murders leads to the shocking news that the alliance has been infiltrated by a mirror alliance of Norsundrian boys. Trained by Detlev. Which leads inexorably to the deadliest of stalking games . . .

Meet Detlev's boys. In volume one, A Sword Named Truth, a shaky alliance made among young rulers brought too early to their thrones survived an enchantment, commanded by Siamis, the handsome young Norsundrian. Siamis was defeated, and the world celebrated, believing peace had come At the start of volume two, The Blood Mage Texts, the alliance seems to be a thing of the past as two quests reveal long-hidden secrets. Meanwhile Siamis has gone renegade, hunted by both sides. As the Rise of the Alliance saga continues, Siamis is not the only one being hunted. The sinister and elusive Norsundrian commander Detlev has been seen more often in the past five years than he has in the past five hundred. The young allies to reform the alliance-meeting unexpected difficulties when no one can agree on what form it should take. That is before a series of murders leads to the shocking news that the alliance has been infiltrated by a mirror alliance of Norsundrian boys. Trained by Detlev. Which leads inexorably to the deadliest of stalking games . . .

A generation ago, a sworn bodyguard and a reluctant bride fled an angry prince, married in secret, and vanished. That prince is now the emperor, with a very long memory. In this next volume of the epic martial arts adventure, the children of the missing pair are now making their way in the world under assumed names, hoping to avoid the emperor's wrath while following their special Talents. The eldest son Muin is rising the ranks of the army. The second son Yskanda, a remarkable painter, is a prisoner in the lethal, silken cage of the imperial court. The youngest, disguised as a boy named Ryu, studies martial arts and the mysterious Essence power while leading the Redbark Sect that fights for justice for commoners. Her closest companion hides dangerous secrets of his own. Meanwhile the emperor's own children test the boundaries of imperial power and intrigue, stirring ripples that threaten guilty and innocent alike.

In the third volume of The Phoenix Feather epic martial arts adventure, the Redbark gang has broken up. The three Afans are on different paths. Muin is rising in the imperial army; Yskanda lives day to day in the silken prison of the imperial court and hiding amidst his paints until a life-changing encounter. Prince Jion returns to the imperial palace in disgrace, as Ryu, tired of disguises, begins to cultivate her skills and talents as she finds her way back toward her old name and a new identity. When she isn't crusading as Firebolt-and causing hunters on both sides to come after her.

In the third volume of The Phoenix Feather epic martial arts adventure, the Redbark gang has broken up. The three Afans are on different paths. Muin is rising in the imperial army; Yskanda lives day to day in the silken prison of the imperial court and hiding amidst his paints until a life-changing encounter. Prince Jion returns to the imperial palace in disgrace, as Ryu, tired of disguises, begins to cultivate her skills and talents as she finds her way back toward her old name and a new identity. When she isn't crusading as Firebolt-and causing hunters on both sides to come after her.

A generation ago, a sworn bodyguard and a reluctant bride fled an angry prince, married in secret, and vanished. That prince is now the emperor, with a very long memory. In this next volume of the epic martial arts adventure, the children of the missing pair are now making their way in the world under assumed names, hoping to avoid the emperor's wrath while following their special Talents. The eldest son Muin is rising the ranks of the army. The second son Yskanda, a remarkable painter, is a prisoner in the lethal, silken cage of the imperial court. The youngest, disguised as a boy named Ryu, studies martial arts and the mysterious Essence power while leading the Redbark Sect that fights for justice for commoners. Her closest companion hides dangerous secrets of his own. Meanwhile the emperor's own children test the boundaries of imperial power and intrigue, stirring ripples that threaten guilty and innocent alike.

Long-dormant magical forces are moving again in Sartorias-deles. In volume one, A Sword Named Truth, a shaky alliance made among young rulers brought too early to their thrones survived a first foray, commanded by Siamis, the handsome young Norsundrian who was born four thousand years ago. Siamis was defeated, and the world celebrated, believing peace had come But the world's mages know it's not the quiet of peace-it's the stillness before the storm. At the start of volume two, The Blood Mage Texts, the alliance seems to be a thing of the past as everyone is dealing with the fallout of the abortive attack. Rel the Traveler arrives back home to a surprise that has been awaiting him since he was first adopted, launching him on a personal quest. Jilo, the king who is not a king, finds what looks like dangerous magical texts and hands them off to his friend Senrid, young king of Marloven Hess, who is in the midst of wrestling with his warlike nation. When word gets out that these eight-hundred-year-old blood mage texts are in the ignorant hands of youngsters, all of Norsunder's mages want them. Meanwhile Siamis has gone renegade, hunted by both sides. All the searches converge on Chwahirsland, furnishing new twists in the on-going saga of the alliance of young rulers . . .

Long-dormant magical forces are moving again in Sartorias-deles. In volume one, A Sword Named Truth, a shaky alliance made among young rulers brought too early to their thrones survived a first foray, commanded by Siamis, the handsome young Norsundrian who was born four thousand years ago. Siamis was defeated, and the world celebrated, believing peace had come But the world's mages know it's not the quiet of peace-it's the stillness before the storm. At the start of volume two, The Blood Mage Texts, the alliance seems to be a thing of the past as everyone is dealing with the fallout of the abortive attack. Rel the Traveler arrives back home to a surprise that has been awaiting him since he was first adopted, launching him on a personal quest. Jilo, the king who is not a king, finds what looks like dangerous magical texts and hands them off to his friend Senrid, young king of Marloven Hess, who is in the midst of wrestling with his warlike nation. When word gets out that these eight-hundred-year-old blood mage texts are in the ignorant hands of youngsters, all of Norsunder's mages want them. Meanwhile Siamis has gone renegade, hunted by both sides. All the searches converge on Chwahirsland, furnishing new twists in the on-going saga of the alliance of young rulers . . .