The Black Raven (The Dragon Mage, Book 2)

Description

Book ten of the celebrated Deverry series, an epic fantasy rooted in Celtic mythology that intricately interweaves human and elven history over several hundred years. At the end of the Civil Wars, Prince Maryn stands on the brink of bringing peace at last to the torn kingdom, but powerful magics threaten his reign and his life. Only Nevyn's young apprentice, Lilli, can see the horrifying power of the curse, her dead mother's legacy of evil, that could bring disaster upon them all. But she has only untried magic for a weapon as she fights to save her beloved prince. Centuries later, the ancient evil rises again, threatening a raging tide of war that could destroy Deverry forever. Out in the lonely Northlands the savage Horsekin are gathering their armies to march west and conquer the kingdom promised them by their blood-maddened goddess, Alshandra, and her human priestess, Raena. Directly in their path lies the peaceful city of Cerr Cawnen, trembling in the fear of war.

Leaving snowy Ohio for California, Katharine Kerr studied at Stanford University for a spell before dropping out to join some of the many social movements sweeping San Francisco in the 60s. She first became involved in the field of fantasy through role-playing games, writing articles for gaming magazines and authoring early quests for Dungeons and Dragons - all of which soon led her to fantasy writing, with her first Deverry novel, Daggerspell, appearing in 1986. Since then, her Deverry series has hit The Times and the Australian bestseller lists, garnering fans from around the world.

Praise for Katharine Kerr and the Deverry novels: 'Kerr is an excellent writer, her stories live and breathe - exciting, unpredictable, and engaging in equal measure.' Mark Lawrence 'A fantastic plot which turns a simple story into something far more original ... a cracking read ... engrossing' SFX 'A criminally under-rated and overlooked epic fantasy sequence [with] a keen sense of history, well drawn characters, and a complex plot' Kate Elliott, author of the Spiritwalker Trilogy 'An unusually scholarly writer of fantasy' TELEGRAPH 'Much as I dislike comparing anything to The Lord of the Rings, I have to admit that on this occasion it's justified' INTERZONE 'Kerr is a master of her trade...She has created a world that might very well go on for ever, and this one reader sincerely hopes it does' VECTOR 'An extensive and complete world, whose endlessly fascinating details grow book by book' STARLOG