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Untold ages ago, vainglorious spirits battled with the three gods in a bid for dominion over all—only to be defeated and banished below the earth to fester in their unquenchable evil. One of these vengeful demons eventually broke free and rained bloody death upon an innocent village in the land of Ellynrie. Few survived. The Starcross brothers, mere children orphaned by their parents’ slaughter, suffered very difficult fates. Corin Starcross was delivered to safety by the wizard Dale, while his brother, Cade, was abandoned to the flames that devoured their childhood home. Likewise, the mercenary Wren Tident saved his infant daughter, Kayla, from the monstrous fate that claimed her mother. When the demon retreated to its black abyss, the haunted souls left in its murderous wake did their best to carry on—save for one, who vowed retribution.
When Cade Starcross reappears, he immerses himself in a secret study of the blackest arts, and a grim dance of destiny begins. His humanity withered by grief and his mind twisted by his apprenticeship to darkness, Cade seeks to use sorcery to wreak vengeance on his demon nemesis. But in order to succeed, a dagger of unearthly power wrought by the gods themselves must be found. And the blood of Cade’s brother, Corin Starcross, must be spilled.
Yet all of Cade’s fury and magic will prove no match for the evil set free upon the earth. By any means and at all costs, the doomed vendetta must be stopped. A fledgling wizard, a tormented warrior, and a young girl burning with her father’s untamed spirit must rally together as the only hope of a world poised perilously at the abyss.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
December 12, 2006 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780345493590
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780345493590
- File size: 432 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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October 9, 2006
This precocious debut from college sophomore Bowling turns on the evergreen battle of good vs. evil as embodied by Corin and Cade Starcross, brothers whose childhood loss of their parents leaves Corin's morality intact but twists Cade, the elder, with a lust for revenge. Wizard Dale calls on Wren Tident, a retired adventurer, to locate and protect Corin when Cade and his minions—Sarin, One-Eye and Damon—begin hunting down the younger brother. Cade requires the blood of his sibling and a magic dagger to summon a dreadful demon who will destroy their parents' murderers. Wren takes his teenage daughter, Kayla, along on his dangerous quest and eventually unites with Dale's bumbling but benevolent apprentice, Adriel. Bowling stocks the mystical land of Ellynrie with the talismanic trappings of most classic quests—magic medallions, wizards, pirates and, of course, a dragon—but he brings an exciting pace and his own exuberant style to a novel suitable for all ages. -
December 1, 2006
When an ancient evil threatens the world of Ellynrie, a retired mercenary, his rebellious daughter, and an apprentice wizard are brought together to protect a crippled boy from the twisted plans of a brother he never knew. College sophomore Bowling's first novel, begun while he was still in high school, spins a tale of high fantasy on the surface, but deeper down it explores the struggles of youth coming into adulthood and the need to bridge the gap between the generations in order to win safety for the world. This standalone tale leaves room for further adventures and is a good choice for adult and YA readers. Recommended for most libraries.Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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