Synopses & Reviews
For the first time ever, Robert Stanek's In the Service of Dragons II is available in a high-quality, hardcover edition with a dust jacket. This uniquely collectible edition features: two full-color cover illustrations; a special introduction to Ruin Mist's inhabitants, history, and languages; 20 full-page illustrations; an illustrated guide to people, places and things in Ruin Mist; and deluxe illustrated maps. About the Author: Robert Stanek is the award-winning, international best-selling author of more than 65 books for young people and adults. He lives with his wife and children in the Pacific Northwest in the United States, and is intensely fascinated with our natural world. He loves the outdoors and frequently takes his family on short trips to see the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest, including Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, the Columbia River Gorge, and Puget Sound. About the Book: Dark change is sweeping over the lands of Ruin Mist. An ancient evil has returned from the dark past, and the dark forces gather. War comes to the lands as the queen of the elves foretold. Though despair abounds and evil seeks to reign, there is hope. Queen Mother sees hope through a union of the divided peoples: an alliance of men and elves to fight against the forces of darkness. But between men and elves there is no love and little trust. Only truth and faith can guide their destinies. In the Kingdoms, old hatreds have returned and a greedy king lusts for power. Prince Valam, with the help of the elves, saved Great Kingdom from destruction by the mighty forces of King Jarom but not before the city of Alderan was burned to ashes. Now Prince Valam must journey to East Reach, land of the elves, to help save the elves from a war such as never before seen in the lands: a war between elves, a war for the future of the elven kingdoms. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them all, the early battles for Ruin Mist's future against the coming darkness have already been fought. These battles, won at great cost and by the barest of margins, were meant to divert attention from what Noman, the mysterious Keeper of the City of the Sky, can only guess at as he works to gather the company he believes holds the key to Ruin Mist's future. Will the kingdoms of men and elves fall? Will the peoples succumb to the darkness? Who will live? Who will die? The answers are in Book Two of In the Service of Dragons.
Synopsis
The #1 bestselling series finally back in print for the 20th Anniversary has been translated into 12 languages and sold over 5 million copies worldwide IN THE SERVICE OF DRAGONS #2 continues the epic fantasy adventure which began with IN THE SERVICE OF DRAGONS #1.
In his acclaimed The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches books, Robert Stanek introduced us to the story of Ruin Mist, an extraordinary world of magic, adventure, and intrigue. Now in the eagerly awaited follow-up, he once again proves himself a wonderful storyteller with a gift for fast pacing and believable storylines.
Already hailed as a classic, Robert Stanek's powerful series has been enjoyed by readers all over the world. As prophecy becomes reality, the factions struggle for control, only to further divide the lands. Some would say that King Andrew Alder foolishly agreed to support the Elves of the Reaches, sending men to aid their cause when the causes of all men in all lands were being put to the test of steel. And in the North, men back their words with action.
Against a backdrop of treachery and intrigue, murder and mayhem, the price of freedom is high. Many will pay with their lives. Many will succumb. For when alliances shatter, old hatreds rise anew and the plotting and scheming begin.
Bold, inventive, brilliantly imagined, In the Service of Dragons, Book Two is a novel of magic and wonder, a tale of pure excitement you will not soon forget.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A gifted and distinguished writer, respected and skilled teacher and recipient of our nation's highest flying honor, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Robert Stanek wrote over 200 books of both fiction and nonfiction in his 30-year career. Although his works were published and/or distributed by nearly every major US publisher, Robert operated against the grain and became the first breakout author of the digital publishing movement. The first to serialize an ebook, the first to e-author a bestseller, and the first to e-author a digital audio bestseller. Robert is the recipient of multiple awards recognizing his outstanding contributions and excellence in writing, and a recent nominee for a Lifetime Achievement award. Translated into 57 languages, Robert Stanek's books have sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide.
Achievements for Robert Stanek's Ruin Mist books...
#1 Fiction, Audible (12 weeks, 2005)
Top 50 Sci-fi/Fantasy, Amazon (26 weeks, 2002)
Top 10 Fiction, Audible (25 weeks, 2005)
Top 50 Fiction, Audible (52 weeks, 2005-2006)
Top 10 Kids & YA, Audible (180 weeks, 2005-2007)
#1 Featured Book Audible June-July 2005
Featured in Cover Story, Publisher's Weekly (2009)
Featured in VOYA (2007)
Featured in Complete Idiots Guide to Elves and Fairies (2005)
Featured in Ancient Art of Faery Magick (2005)
Popular Series Fiction for Middle School and Teen Readers (2005, 2008)
Top 10 Recommended Author -- SciFi Bookcase (2004 - 2012)
Top 10 Book -- SciFi Bookcase (2004 - 2012)
Top 20 Author -- RateItAll (2005 - 2012)
A Top 100 Fantasy -- The Fantasy 100 (2005 - 2007)
"Robert Stanek is one of our most featured and respected Kids & Young Adults authors." -- The Audio Book Store
"Word of mouth turned it into a bestseller. Very satisfying." -- The Fantasy Guide
"Recommended series."-- Ancient Art of Faery Magick
"Stanek augments the beginning of this complex tale with illustrations that are sure to attract fans of graphic novels and classic Tolkien alike." -- VOYA - the leading magazine for YA librarians.
"A prolific non-fiction writer, Stanek's focus on instruction influences his fiction with a penchant for clear and simple prose. He also prefers swift, action-oriented scenes. Solidly built." -- Foreword Magazine