A young woman rises from the streets to battle a sinister evil in this magical fantasy adventure by the bestselling author of the Darwath series.
Something is amiss with the worldโs magic. Spells donโt work the way they used toโwhen they work at all. Only the powers of the Crystal Mages remain as they were, powers founded on the use of the mystical element adamis, the harvesting of which has enslaved the peoples of the Twilight Lands.
They need a hero.
At the same time, ravenous beasts have begun to appear, legendary creatures that seem to be proof against any magic. And Clea Stylachos, granddaughter of a great sage of the Twilight people, has reason to fear that the Crystal Mages, instead of seeking to defeat these insanely destructive monsters, are attempting to weaponize them in their quest for power.
Cleaโs only hope to save her people is a wizard who retains his power, one who will not betray her, either to the great merchant houses or to the all-entangling web of the Crystal Mages. But that wizardโIthrazel the Cursed, destroyer of a city and magically imprisoned to suffer undying, unremitting tormentโwants nothing to do with saving the world, helping a hero, or unraveling the terrible secret at the heart of the Crystal Magesโ plans.
From the slums and tunnels of the slave-city of Morne, to the watery wilderness of the Twilight lands, to the halls of her fatherโs palace and the spell-soaked mysteries of the Crystal Magesโ House of Glass, Clea works to untwist the deadly riddles of magic and monstersโto free her motherโs disenfranchised people from slavery under her fatherโs conquering forces. To save her mageborn brother from the Crystal Magesโ power; to control a sorcerer legendary for his deed of evil; to keep her own small band of friends one step ahead of her fatherโs troops and the Crystal Orderโs spells.
She is the Iron Princess, and she knows she must prevail or die.
But at what cost to herself?
โRich and complex, The Iron Princess is an absolute treat for fantasy fans. With thrilling characters and lush, nuanced world-building, this one will burn a hole through the nightstand and leave readers with wild dreams of family secrets, dynastic intrigue, and unexpected heroes who are so much more than they appear.โ โCherie Priest, author of Boneshaker
Praise for New York Timesโbestseller Barbara Hambly
โA fabulously talented writer.โ โCharlaine Harris, bestselling author
โI think what is really special about [Hamblyโs] booksย .ย .ย . is a richness of setting combined with a cast of characters that youโd love to actually know.โ โSFSite
โElegant, intelligent, and entertaining.โ โPublishers Weekly, starred review on Dragonshadow
Sciencefiction en fantasy