A fast-paced epic with enormous scope, believable and appealing characters and an impressively imagined world. The Empire of Nar is being torn apart, the balance of power tipped by the sorcerer Tharn's magic. The Emperor wants control of the magic, Tharn wants to rule the Empire and countless thousands of people are caught up in the struggle. And now the love of Prince Richius's life has been spirited away by Tharn. But all is not what it seems. Richius is a flawed hero pursuing a woman he has met just once. The Emperor is greedy and lazy, while Tharn is a dying man touched by the gods and struggling to use his power for good.