Wurts, Janny - Wars of Light and Shadow 04 - Fugitive Prince

Where there is light, there must always be shadow… The fourth volume in Janny Wurts’s spectacular epic fantasy, now re-released with a striking new cover design along with the rest of the series.

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…

The third cycle in the Wars of Light and Shadow series begins with Fugitive Prince, book 1 of the Alliance of the Light triptych. Lysaer and Arithon are brothers divided by a curse of enmity; one driven by rapacious pride, the other marking a lonely fugitive path. In a style reminiscent of Tolkien or Herbert, Janny Wurts has concocted a world of enchantresses and runes, ciphers and prophecies, conjurers and plotters, in which the forces of good and evil are distilled to their most human levels. Be warned: after a taste of her potion, you may be under her spell for a very long time. This series is Ulyssesean in scope, comprising eight volumes at last count. --Jhana Bach

Praise for the Wars of Light and Shadow:

‘Astonishingly original and compelling… A gifted creator of wonder’ Raymond E Feist

‘Janny Wurts builds beautiful castles in the air … where every detail is richly imagined and vividly rendered’ Diana Gabaldon

‘It ought to be illegal for one person to have so much talent’ Stephen Donaldson