From Publishers Weekly

Having wound up his seven-volume space opera, the Saga of Seven Suns, bestseller Anderson moves hesitantly into fantasy with this uninspired series opener. A promising attempt to end a long history of war between the followers of Aiden and Urec, two of the sons of creator-god Ondun, is scuttled when an accidental fire engulfs the city of Ishalem, which occupies the isthmus separating the warring kingdoms. The repercussions of the blaze, which include massacres, betrayals and vicious reprisals, play out over the next 13 years as naval chartsmen guide the kingdoms' sailing ships through the treacherous waters around Ishalem. The details of the cultures and politics add little insight into human nature, and a paucity of fantasy elements gives readers no reason to prefer this tale over its numerous contemporaries. (June)
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About the Author

Kevin J. Anderson has written 46 national bestsellers and has over 20 million books in print worldwide in thirty languages. He has been nominated for the Nebula Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the SFX Readers' Choice Award. Find out more about Kevin Anderson at www.wordfire.com.