The Age of Man has begun. The "undesirable" creatures of legend have been driven from their lands, magic has been forsaken, the old gods reduced to myth.Now humans will rule the kingdoms of the island continent of Pentania. But they are not alone. Alson's king has been assassinated, its capital besieged by a malevolent wizard. The chaos and terror now sweeping the land have come to the remote village of Diln -- sending young Jarom far from his home to seek aid against the nefarious usurper. But a mysterious council has decreed Jarom must find one of the mythical Swords of Asahiel -- the divine talismans the elven avatars used to forge the earth -- in order to save a quarrelsome, fledgling humanity. For a Demon Queen has awakened from the abyss -- and humankind is about to discover its powerlessness in the face of the ancient terrors of the world.

The second adventure in the New York Times–bestselling fantasy trilogy from the legendary million-selling author and creator of Drizzt Do’Urden. Luthien Bedwyr vowed to free his beleaguered land of Eriador from its demonic ruler, Wizard-King Greensparrow. Cloaked in a scarlet cape that renders him invisible and wielding a magical sword, Luthien is known to Eriador’s oppressed as the Crimson Shadow. With the rallying support of enslaved humans, defiant peasants, and Fairborn elves, he has forged a path for liberation—raid by insurgent raid. Even with a mighty battle-ready band of stalwart comrades—including halfling thief Oliver deBurrows; fierce elf warrior Katerin O’Hale; and the ancient and mysterious mage, Brind’Amour—the rebels are fighting an uphill battle against the vile despot’s escalating and bloodthirsty army of cyclopean soldiers. Then, Greensparrow makes an unexpected bid for peace. But why would a wizard so cunning and so evil suddenly concede? Though Eriador’s slaves see the compromise as cause for celebration, Luthien and Brind’Amour recognize it as a calculated trap. The Crimson Shadow knows in his heart that the war for freedom has only just begun. Return to a rousing, magical quest in book two of a trilogy hailed by Terry Brooks as a “fine adventure filled with memorable characters and compelling action.”

Where angels walk the ground and the future is told in song, does a man of low rank have a chance at love with a princess? In Camrithia, a land of shadows and mystical secrets, Trevin lives to serve King Laetham. But his heart belongs to the princess, Melaia. When the King sends Trevin on on a dangerous quest to find the missing comains—captains in the king’s army—he must leave Melaia to the advances of a swaggering Dregmoorian prince. Challenged to prove his worth, Trevin throws himself into his quest. Striving to prove his love, Trevin undertakes a second mission—find the harps Melaia seeks in order to restore the stairway to heaven. Through fire caves, rogue winds, and murderous threats, Trevin remains steadfastly dedicated to his quest—even when he is falsely accused of a heinous crime. As Trevin’s time runs out, he realizes he must face the shame and horror of his own past and the nightmare that has come to life. Will he have the courage to finish what he has started? From the Trade Paperback edition.

The Zarian Kingdom holds a tradition: When the successor of the throne turns eighteen, they must venture out into the world and experience life as a normal citizen. It's on this day that the young Prince Drac leaves on his journey, shadowed by his father's royal guard and his closest friend, that his ship is attacked. His life is put into jeopardy and he strikes a deal for his own survival with an ancient demon. He soon learns that all deals come with a price and from his actions a series of events are put into play. Events that will determine the fate of the entire world?

Long ago the world fell into twilight, when the great empires of old consumed each other in sorcerous cataclysms. In the south the Star Towers fell, swallowed by the sea, while the black glaciers descended upon the northern holdfasts, entombing the cities of Min-Ceruth in ice and sorcery. Then from the ancient empire of Menekar the paladins of Ama came, putting every surviving sorcerer to the sword and cleansing their taint from the land for the radiant glory of their lord. The pulse of magic slowed, fading like the heartbeat of a dying man. But after a thousand years it has begun to quicken again. In a small fishing village a boy with strange powers comes of age . . . A young queen rises in the west, fanning the long-smoldering embers of magic into a blaze once more . . . Something of great importance is stolen - or freed - from the mysterious Empire of Swords and Flowers . . . And the immortals who survived the ancient cataclysms bestir themselves, casting about for why the world is suddenly changing . . .

The Age of Man, so quickly heralded, is already under siege. Shaken by the catastrophic war with the Demon Queen Spithaera, Pentania wrestles with a new world of possibility and potential disaster: creatures of wonder and nightmare are returning. And humanity will never be the same. In his epic battle with the Demon Queen, young Jarom became Torin, King of Alson. Now, with bitter foes on all sides, he must forge his kingdom from the ruins of an empire and begin anew. But it is too soon to forget the past entirely. For in recklessly reclaiming the Crimson Sword of Asahiel, Torin reopened a dimensional realm no longer sealed by the power of the Obsidian Key. And now from history's darkest hour pour the terrifying Illysp, foul spirits who possess the bodies and enslave the souls of men. As the enemy advances, Torin must undertake a dangerous voyage to reveal the secrets of an ancient lost people who once overcame these powerful marauders. But both enemies of old and the unknown have different plans for king and country, and even if Torin can return, it may already be too late.