A legendary king becomes a sorcererâs puppet in this novel of art and artifice from the author of The Glass Magician. âThis book is a gem.â âTor.com
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When artistâs apprentice Hail Rosamer replicates a coin bearing the visage of the long-dead King Julian, she does so to practice her craft, not to be accused as a counterfeiter. In danger of being imprisoned, Hail flees the city of Aravisâonly to come face-to-face with the man whose profile appears on the coin . . .
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A necromancer has aligned herself with enemies of the current king. Her goal: to sow chaos throughout the empire by resurrecting King Julian two hundred years after his death. If she succeeds, the throne will be hers.
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While Hail was growing up, the phrase âwhen the king comes homeâ meant that all well-meaning promises would be kept. But Hail knows that nothing good can come of it now, not with such malevolent forces at play. As spirits from the past begin to arise, Hail joins the battle, riding into an arena of the darkest magic with only her vision, her craft, and her courage to guide her . . .
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âAbsolutely the best Iâve read in ages! Each chapter is a new revelation on the nature of art or magic, friendship or creativity, heroism or home . . . Stevermer captures the gritty reality that makes fantasy believable; and also finds magic in the most commonplace details.â âEllen Kushner, World Fantasy Awardâwinning author
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â[A] glittering Renaissance triumph set in world an angelâs-wing away from our own. Stevermer brings both hearts and crowns vibrantly to life.â âeluki bes shahar (pseudonym of Rosemary Edghill, New York Timesâbestselling author of Book of Moons )
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âBeautifully rendered . . . fantasy of a high order.â âKirkus Reviews
Sciencefiction en fantasy