The Jagged Crown: A Fantasy Adventure in a Troubled World Full of Monsters and Magic

It all begins with the first gallop of the Fire Horse across the sky four hundred years ago. Since then, every forty eight years, a red comet paints the night, ushering in a new age of turmoil, storms, earthquakes, uprisings, and other momentous events. After each pass the comet departs, to aim icy sights at the next star, while the world left behind settles down to an uneasy rest, hurrying to rebuild, weary of the traveler's inevitable return. The Fire Horse is back to begin the Ninth Age of rampage and destruction. This time it has unfurled its mane, and lashed its tail, announcing a debt to be paid in innocent blood. The Painted Witch, Kakista, is ready to lay out her plan, determined to use the dark power of the Fire Horse in her quest to destroy the world. A Sprawling Fantasy thats an inventive love letter to the genre . Kirkus Reviews. Every forty eight years a red comet named "the Fire Horse" paints the night, ushering in an age of turmoil and disaster. After each pass the world settles down to an uneasy respite, hurrying to rebuild, weary of the traveler's inevitable return. It is the Ninth Age, and once again a great evil prepares to consume the world. This time the Fire Horse has unfurled its mane, and lashed its tail, announcing a debt to be paid in innocent blood. The blighted goddess Kakista has returned, determined to exploit the comet's power, in her quest to destroy the river people for a grievance done to her eons ago.