An innocent excited boy, a prince and heir, takes his first journey to the city. The streets teem with merchants in velvet robes, magicians, half-mad preachers, with life and color, poverty and noise. He doesn’t want to miss any of it. But this marks the last journey in his life as a prince. Soon he will be abandoned and declared dead. Soon he will be utterly alone, faced only with survival and what will become the driving force of his life: the quest to recover his stolen inheritance, his usurped throne, his home. A story of cities and palaces, of power-hungry lords and ladies scheming inside a magically threatened land. The intricate and compelling debut novel of an author who has gone on to have a seismic impact on the science fiction and fantasy field. A traditional high fantasy novel…Rusch has added elements that make it original and unique. The story is strong, the magic subtle and mysterious. -Locus A prince reclaiming his lost kingdom is…a compelling story. Rusch provides some unusual twists. Every bit as good as her fine short fiction. -Science Fiction Chronicle A thrilling read. -Bookwatch Moves at a whirlwind pace through political intrigue…A remarkable amount of plot as well as beguiling characters. -Publisher’s Weekly