Description:

Journey beyond Ohndarien to the fallen city of Efften in the stunning conclusion to the epic Heartstone Trilogy

A fallen hero defies his destiny . . .
A scarred sorceress fights for love . . .
A vindictive lover clings to hope . . .
And a father of lies calls his family home . . .

"You must teach a lost child how to love." With his dying words, the Opal Emperor leaves Brophy, the Heir of Autumn, with an impossible choice: betray his heart by seducing the enchantress Arefaine Morgeon, or watch her ruthless ambitions destroy the world.

As Brophy fights to stop Arefaine from unleashing the ancient menace trapped within the silver towers of Efften, the sorceress-concubine Shara returns to her beloved city of Ohndarien to find its people enslaved by the same sinister voice leading Arefaine to her doom. Shara and Brophy rush to bring the truth to Arefaine before the horrors of Efften are reborn, but the darkness within their own hearts may prove the greatest threat . . .

From Publishers Weekly

Despite two prologues explaining its long and complicated back story, the final volume in the Heartstone epic fantasy saga (following 2007's Mistress of Winter) will baffle anyone unfamiliar with the series. The Ohndarien Empire is threatened by the overwhelming forces of sorceress Issefyn, who has enslaved its inhabitants by infecting them with the magical black emmeria. Zelani priestess Shara strives to reunite with her soul mate, the former Sleeping Warden Brophy, but he has been infected and must fight the evil voice in his head even as he strives to save the world from corruption and find the Heartstone, a magical gem created long ago to contain the psychic illness. This plot-driven tangle puts its surprisingly flat characters through their paces with iron discipline, eventually concluding with plenty of blood and thunder. (Dec.)
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Review

"Old-fashioned empire building seasoned with plenty of sex and violence." -- Publishers Weekly

“An exciting and fascinating debut novel by two of my favorite protégés.” (Margaret Weis )

“Old-fashioned empire building seasoned with plenty of sex and violence.” (Publishers Weekly )