The Heir of Night (The Wall of Night, #1)

The violence of an age-old war casts a long shadow. It falls on a world where mercy is weakness and conflict is a way of life. Young Malian is being trained to rule. Her people garrison the mountain range known as the Wall of Night against an ancient enemy, keeping a tide of shadow from the rest of their world. Malian is expected to uphold this tradition, yet she's known little of real danger until the enemy launches a direct attack upon her fortress home. In the darkest part of the night, the Keep of Winds becomes a bloodbath. Women and children, warriors and priests, are slain by creatures with twisted magic flowing in their veins. And as the castle wakes to chaos, Malian flees deep into the Old Keep, her life at stake. Then when the danger is greatest, her own hidden magic flares into life.But this untapped potential is a two-edged blade. If she accepts its power, she must prepare to pay the price.

If Night Falls, All Fall . . .

in The Far North Of The World Of Haarth Lies The Bitter Mountain Range Known As The Wall Of Night. Garrisoned By The Nine Houses Of The Derai, The Wall Is The Final Bastion Between The Peoples Of Haarth And The Swarm Of Dark—which The Derai Have Been Fighting Across Worlds And Time.

Malian, Heir To The House Of Night, Knows The History Of Her People: The Unending War With The Darkswarm; The Legendary Heroes, Blazing With Long-lost Power; The Internal Strife That Has Fractured The Derai's Former Strength. But Now The Darkswarm Is Rising Again, And Malian's Destiny As Heir Of Night Is Bound Inextricably To Both Ancient Legend And Any Future The Derai—or Haarth—may Have.

publishers Weekly

new Zealand Poet And Novelist Lowe (thornspell) Turns In A Mostly Standard Fantasy Tale Of Awkward Adolescents Who Struggle With Their Destined Roles To Save An Embattled Race From Its Ancient Enemy. Malian Is Forced To Navigate Between The Stern Blood Oath Of The Derai And The Burden Of Being The Prophesied One-to-come Who Will Unite The Separate Houses. Escaping The Demonic Assassins Of The Darkswarm, She Travels Across The Derai's Adopted World Of Haarth Seeking The Lost Artifacts Of A Legendary Hero. Joining Her Are Another Exile And Several Haarth Natives With Considerable Powers. Lowe Clearly Portrays Malian's Difficulties In Leaving Home And Facing Up To A Vital If Unwanted Birthright, Adding Depth With Descriptions Of The Stoic And Proud Derai Warrior Culture. Though Marketed To Adults, This Four-book Series Will Appeal More To Older Teens. (oct.)

“A richly told tale of strange magic, dark treachery, and conflicting loyalties, set in a well realized world.” —Robin Hobb, author of Dragon Keeper An award-winning poet and acclaimed author of Young Adult fiction, Helen Lowe now brings us The Heir of Night—the first book in her four-volume Wall of Night series, a brilliant new epic fantasy saga of war, prophecy, betrayal, history, and destiny. A thrilling excursion into a richly imagined realm of strife and sacrifice, where the fate of a dangerously divided world rests in the hands of one young woman, The Heir of Night is a fantasy classic in the making, sure to stand alongside the much beloved works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Robin McKinley, and Guy Gavriel Kay. A richly told tale of strange magic, dark treachery, and conflicting loyalties, set in a well realized world. Robin Hobb, author of Dragon Keeper An award-winning poet and acclaimed author of Young Adult fiction, Helen Lowenow brings us The Heir of Night the first book in her four-volume Wall of Night series, a brilliant new epic fantasy saga of war, prophecy, betrayal, history, and destiny. A thrilling excursion intoa richly imagined realm of strife and sacrifice, where the fate of a dangerously divided world rests in the hands of oneyoungwoman, The Heir of Night is a fantasy classic in the making, sure to stand alongside the much beloved works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Robin McKinley, and Guy Gavriel Kay. "In the far north of the world of Haarth lies the bitter mountain range known as the Wall of Night. Garrisoned by the Nine Houses of the Derai, the Wall is the final bastion between the peoples of Haarth and the Swarm of Dark--which the Derai have been fighting across worlds and time. Malian, Heir to the House of Night, knows the history of her people: the unending war with the Darkswarm; the legendary heroes, blazing with long-lost power; the internal strife that has fractured the Derai's former strength. But now the Darkswarm is rising again, and Malian's destiny as Heir of Night is bound inextricably to both ancient legend and any future the Derai--or Haarth--may have."--P. [4] of cover "In the far north of the world of Haarth lies the bitter mountain range known as the Wall of Night. Garrisoned by the Nine Houses of the Derai, the Wall is the final bastion between the peoples of Haarth and the Swarm of Dark--which the Derai have been fighting across worlds and time. Malian, Heir to the House of Night, knows the history of her people: the unending war with the Darkswarm; the legendary heroes, blazing with long-lost power; the internal strife that has fractured the Derai's former strength. But now the Darkswarm is rising again, and Malian's destiny as Heir of Night is bound inextricably to both ancient legend and any future the Derai--or Haarth--may have."--Page 4 of cover