The war to end all wars is coming. The Endlords are preparing themselves for invasion. Now should be the time when city men and clansmen come together to fight the dark forces of destruction, yet they feud amongst themselves, unaware of the danger facing them. Only the Sull are preparing for war against the Endlords. They are an ancient, dwindling race, and they fear this fight might be their last. Sull legend speaks of The One Who Bears Loss, the warrior who will slay the Endlords, and they believe this warrior will be one of their own. Ash March is their most valued and sacred warrior, and it is Mal Naysayer's duty to bring her home to save her people. But thousands of leagues to the north, Raif Severance is learning that he alone can kill Endlords swiftly. An outcast and outlaw, Raif must betray his clan and forsake his beliefs, and raise the Fortress of Grey Ice.
Review
"The worst thing about this lengthy high fantasy is the opening summary of its equally weighty predecessor, but even those put off by the clumsy appetizer will soon find themselves savoring a main course of fine ingredients prepared with considerable skill. Jones has taken some style lessons from modern fantasists such as the eminent George R.R. Martin, but her tale is unique and intriguing, and its atmosphere unwaveringly compelling. The beautifully interwoven lives of its characters drive the story. Magically gifted changeling Ash March has escaped from her power-hungry foster father Penthero Iss with the help of outcast sharpshooter Raif Sevrance, whose kin were murdered by Vaylo Bludd, leader of a rival clan. Iss is playing various clan lords against each other in hopes that they'll leave a power vacuum for him to occupy. As three armies go on the march, Ash heads into the territory of the ancient and mysterious Sull. The lonely Raif maims himself to win acceptance in a colony of fellow exiles, only to suddenly learn his own destiny. Even the minor characters are complex and have fascinating stories: Raif's widowed mother is forced to marry her rapist; a dull-witted diamond miner tries to rescue his master; the young half-brother of a would-be king is bartered to another clan in exchange for their military support. Jones is brilliant at slow build-up of dramatic tension, but some climaxes feel brief and unsatisfying by comparison-the book's only real flaw." Publishers Weekly
Author Biography
J. V. Jones worked initially for a record label in her native Liverpool, later moving to San Diego, California, where she ran an export business and was marketing director for an interactive software company.
