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In the Known Lands, it is said that when one powerful prophecy dies in its fulfilling, yet another is born. In the land where Jack, the baker's boy, successfully fulfilled his destiny, a new prophecy arises in the harsh, exotic lands to the north. Two young residents of the Northern Territories, Rail Sevrance, a member of the Clan Blackhail, and Ash March, a girl who is suddenly overcome by powerful, ominous dreams, find themselves mysteriously drawn together. Swept up in a series of events that will bring their peoples into a vast war, the two encounter dark magic, great bravery, and unimaginable danger, as the first part of J. V. Jones' new masterpiece roars to its stunning conclusion.A Cavern of Black Ice opens J.V. Jones's Sword of Shadows trilogy. (Her first novel was The Baker's Boy.) The story is set in a land divided among small warring clans of hunters and more sophisticated southern cities whose lords covet the clan territories.
Young clansman Raif has a touch of "old blood" magic that guides his arrows to the heart. Bad times come when a hunting party that includes his father and clan chief is wiped out by a supernaturally aided attack, and Raif's open suspicion of the brutal new leader eventually drives him into exile. Meanwhile, Iss, overlord of Spire Vanis city, keeps a chained-up sorcerer whose powers he channels by revolting means, and has unexplained but shuddersome plans for his "foster daughter" Ash--herself an unwilling focus of dread forces. Raif and Ash find themselves fleeing together through wintry, hostile clanlands, pursued by Iss's vilest henchmen, seeking the dubious goal of the Cavern of Black Ice.
What lifts this tale far above routine quest fantasy is Jones's deft characterization, relentless intensity, and unsparing depiction of pain and slow-healing injury. She has a flair for memorably horrid images. Here a sorcerer gloats over one of his nastier tricks: "A man could not fight when his corneas were snapped from his eyes like badges from a chest."
This hefty volume is over 800 pages long, but the narrative grips hard once it's gained momentum, and the pages turn increasingly fast. Strong meat. Next comes book two, A Fortress of Grey Ice. --David Langford, Amazon.co.uk
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Cougfan.comTrojans Jones-ing For Shooting Guard“It's kind of hard sometimes,” said Jones of sitting out. “I still went to the games to support my team but it's tough when you are watching their ups and downs like going to the city championship and losing that. I got to practice and I had to play jv