Dave Duncan 
Lord of the Fire Lands 

Raider and Wasp have spent five years at Ironhall studying to become Blades, expert swordsmen whose talents stand unmatched. Magic both enhances the Blades’ fighting skills and binds them in lifelong duty. But, when Raider and Wasp are selected to protect the king of Chivial himself, they refuse, an act unprecedented in the living history of the Blades. Now on the run for their "treasonous" act, the two gifted swordsmen must escape to the Fire Lands, where pirates, monsters, and mixed allegiances wait around every corner. As old hatreds and still-fresh tragedies come to light, these young swashbucklers must confront both harsh truths from the past and a present swarming with their would-be brothers at arms seeking vengeance and intending punishment. Dave Duncan’s LORD OF THE FIRE LANDS serves as a splendid sequel/companion to his earlier book, THE GILDED CHAIN, and his later Tale of the King’s Blades, SKY OF SWORDS. Engaging and complex, it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel or in combination with the rest of the trilogy. Either way, readers are in for a smart, thrilling adventure that cuts as sharp as the edge of a knife. "Sophisticated structure and themes…will satisfy both fantasy fans looking for high adventure and those more interested in rich characterizations." – Publisher’s Weekly