Summary
Where there is light, there must always be shadow... The fourth volume in Janny Wurts's spectacular epic fantasy.
The schism began with two half-brothers empowered to subdue a Mistwraith. In revenge it cursed them to a life of perpetual conflict. Each believes absolutely in his cause, and loathes the other for opposing it...
Lysaer, Prince of the Light - a charismatic leader sworn to set humanity free from sorcerous oppression. He claims divine power to safeguard his people from an enemy he is convinced will destroy them.
Arithon, Master of Shadow - a trained mage who wishes for nothing but to defuse war, and search out the vanished old races who hold the key to restore the world's shattered peace.
When Koriani enchantresses join forces with Lysaer, new intrigues upset Arithon's hard-won autonomy. Faction is set against faction, heart against heart, and the scene is set for an explosive recurrence of war. The curse of the Mistwraith echoes eternal...
Janny Wurts Janny Wurst began her writing career while still in high school, when she wrote several novels which she never published. After graduation and a self-financed trip to Europe, Wurts knew that she wanted to create something spectacular but needed life experiences to add a flavor of reality to it. While still in college, she conceived the idea for "The Wars of Light and Shadow." But she was also drawn to painting, and first achieved success as a commercial illustrator for major New York publishing houses, with the intention of using her skill to create covers for her own books.
After years of working as an illustrator, Wurts sold her first novel, "Sorcerer's Legacy," in 1982. It was followed by the "Cycle of Fire" coming of age trilogy: "Stormwarden" in 1984, "Keeper of the Keys" in 1986 and "Shadowfane" in 1988. Raymond E. Feist, a fellow fantasy author, asked Wurts to co-author a series set on the Tsurani world that he had created. The resulting Empire trilogy of "Daughter of the Empire," published in 1987, "Servant of the Empire" in 1990 and "Mistress of the Empire" in 1992, was an international bestseller which placed Wurts in the spotlight and named her a true fantasy writer.
The project for which she is best known is the "Wars of Light and Shadow" series, of which new stories are still being written.
(Bowker Author Biography)