Bestselling author Melanie Rawn's triumphant return to high fantasy.
The only survivor of royal treachery that eliminates his entire family, Azzad al-Ma'aliq flees to the desert and dedicates himself to vengeance. With the help of the Shagara, a nomadic tribe of powerful magicians, he will finally be able to take his revenge - but at what cost?
"A tale of loyalty, treachery, and love.... The author’s large readership as well as lovers of epic fantasy should enjoy this stand-alone prequel." — Library Journal, Starred Review
"Rawn weaves a rich tapestry of war, magic, and relationships in this historical fantasy prequel to 1996's The Golden Key.... Rawn at her best remains a mesmerizing writer." — Publishers Weekly
"Superb.... This book is a prequel to The Golden Key (1996) yet stands on its own merits and will delight anyone who enjoys reading about chivalry, the Middle East, and a genetic mutation that allows some to harness magic in ways that are carefully guarded." — Booklist
"Melanie Rawn is an amazingly talented writer who is capable of some of the most direct and clearest fantasy writing I've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time." — Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Melanie Rawn, the author of DAW’s bestselling Dragon Prince trilogy—Dragon Prince, The Star Scroll, and Sunrunner’s Fire—is a second-generation Californian who, after graduating from Scripps College with a B.A. in history, worked as a teacher and editor while writing her first two novels. She lives in a small town outside Los Angeles and keeps cacti as pets. She can be found at melanierawn.com.
Bestselling author Melanie Rawn's triumphant return to high fantasy.
The only survivor of royal treachery that eliminates his entire family, Azzad al-Ma'aliq flees to the desert and dedicates himself to vengeance. With the help of the Shagara, a nomadic tribe of powerful magicians, he will finally be able to take his revenge - but at what cost?
Praise
"A tale of loyalty, treachery, and love.... The author’s large readership as well as lovers of epic fantasy should enjoy this stand-alone prequel." — Library Journal, Starred Review
"Rawn weaves a rich tapestry of war, magic, and relationships in this historical fantasy prequel to 1996's The Golden Key.... Rawn at her best remains a mesmerizing writer." — Publishers Weekly
"Superb.... This book is a prequel to The Golden Key (1996) yet stands on its own merits and will delight anyone who enjoys reading about chivalry, the Middle East, and a genetic mutation that allows some to harness magic in ways that are carefully guarded." — Booklist
"Melanie Rawn is an amazingly talented writer who is capable of some of the most direct and clearest fantasy writing I've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time." — Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Author
Melanie Rawn, the author of DAW’s bestselling Dragon Prince trilogy—Dragon Prince, The Star Scroll, and Sunrunner’s Fire—is a second-generation Californian who, after graduating from Scripps College with a B.A. in history, worked as a teacher and editor while writing her first two novels. She lives in a small town outside Los Angeles and keeps cacti as pets. She can be found at melanierawn.com.
