Synopses & Reviews
Beautiful Averil is now the Duchess of Quitaine, but to keep her people safe, she made a vow to the traitor King of Lys. After a year, she would come to his Court in Lutece, and chose a husband from the men he offers her. Averil must produce an heir - not only to Quitaine, but also to all of Lys; for she is the only daughter of the Kings sister, and he has no wife or child of his own.
But Averils heart is in the keeping of a powerful young Knight of the Rose, Gereint, a man she can never marry. The two share a bond of magecraft as well as love, for between them lies the power to raise the Wild Magic of the world, the only force that can defeat the Kings quest to release the Serpent God of Chaos from his mystic prison. And when Averil learns that the King is building a fleet to attack the Ladies of the Isle, to destroy them as he destroyed the Orders of the Knights of the Rose in Lys, she rebels against her sworn duty, and flees to Gereints side. Together they will raise their powers to protect both Isle and the remnants of the Rose.
Review
“Strong, elegant writing lifts Bryan's fantasy debut… In the crowded epic fantasy field, Bryan's series opener stands out with its intriguing characters and a vivid story rich with potential."--
Publishers Weekly on
The Serpent and the Rose
“First of a series illustrating the endless struggle between order magic and chaos magic. …A solid debut, with believable characters and intrigues and several excellent sequences that hint at good things to come.”--Kirkus Reviews starred review on The Serpent and the Rose
"Bryan has a clear eye for nuance and a love for high fantasy that shines through the page.”--Kate Elliott, author of Spirit Gate on The Serpent and the Rose
Review
“Bryan continues … the adventures of Averil, duchess of Quitaine, and powerful peasant mage Gereint, now a squire of the Rose….The characters resemble twelfth-century tapestry figures brought to life, and this book ends with a fantastic sea battle and intimations of further trouble. The strong female protagonists questions of loyalty and identity should appeal to Bryans fans and new readers alike.” -- Booklist on The Golden Rose
Synopsis
In this sequel to "The Serpent and the Rose," beautiful Averil is now the Duchess of Quitaine. To keep her people safe, she makes a vow to the traitor King of Lys to choose a husband from the men he offers her. But Averil's heart belongs to a powerful young knight--a man she can never marry.
Synopsis
Beautiful Averil is now the Duchess of Quitaine, but to keep her people safe, she made a vow to the traitor King of Lys. After a year, she would come to his Court in Lutece, and chose a husband from the men he offers her. Averil must produce an heir - not only to Quitaine, but also to all of Lys; for she is the only daughter of the Kings sister, and he has no wife or child of his own.
But Averils heart is in the keeping of a powerful young Knight of the Rose, Gereint, a man she can never marry. The two share a bond of magecraft as well as love, for between them lies the power to raise the Wild Magic of the world, the only force that can defeat the Kings quest to release the Serpent God of Chaos from his mystic prison. And when Averil learns that the King is building a fleet to attack the Ladies of the Isle, to destroy them as he destroyed the Orders of the Knights of the Rose in Lys, she rebels against her sworn duty, and flees to Gereints side. Together they will raise their powers to protect both Isle and the remnants of the Rose.
About the Author
Kathleen Bryan lives in Vail, Arizona.