The Court of Broken Knives: Empires of Dust, Book 1

Spark’s stunning Empires of Dust epic fantasy series begins with a gritty saga of political upheaval and intrigue. The eternal city of Sorlost the Golden, the “decaying heart of a decayed empire,” has seen 20 years of peace. But rival nation Immish, devoted to the brutal god Amrath the World Conqueror, is assembling a massive army, and news has reached the Sorlost emperor of a mysterious warrior who’s slain a dragon. That warrior is Marith, the heir to the throne of Immish. Exiled by his father for murder, Marith is determined to return to Immish to reclaim his place as a prince in the line of Amrath and lead his nation to victory. Meanwhile, nobles in Sorlost plot to overthrow their own emperor before he drags them into war with Immish. The disappearance of the High Priestess of Tanis, the bloodthirsty deity of Sorlost, adds an additional tangle. There are enough schemes set in motion here for five novels, and a wealth of intriguing characters. Spark’s gripping debut is definitely one to read and prize. (Aug.)