For more than a millennium now Erna's humans have maintained an uneasy stalemate with the fae-a force of nature which responds to the human psyche, indiscriminately bringing to life a person's more treasured dreams or hideous nightmares-with adepts and sorcerers working for their own profit while the demonic creatures who feed upon such efforts rapidly gain in power and ambition. Now one of these demons, a Iezu called Calesta, has declared war on all of mankind. Master of Illusion, devourer of pain, Calesta plans to remake the human species until mankind exists only to sate his unquenchable thirst for suffering, and omens of his triumph are already apparent. Even the Church of the One God seems to be in danger, the souls of its faithful corrupted by a demon whose very essence is sadism. Only Damien Vryce, warrior-priest of the One God, and his unlikely ally, the undead sorcerer Gerald Tarrent stand between Calesta and his triumph. Nothing short of the demon's absolute destruction will save mankind from his unholy influence. But no one on Erna is certain just what the Iezu really are, and no man has ever succeeded in killing one. Faced with an enemy who may prove invulnerable-pitted against not only Calesta, but the leaders of the Church and the Hunter's last descendant-Damien and Tarrent must risk everything in a war that will take them from the depths of Hell to the birthplace of demons and beyond in a battle which could cost them not only their lives, but the very soul of all mankind.

"Truly one of the great voices of speculative fiction, C.S. Friedman winds up her highly original Coldfire trilogy in brilliant fashion in CROWN OF SHADOWS... The sheer imaginative genius, not to mention incredible power, of Ms. Friedman's formidable storytelling gift is indescribable-you simply just have to experience it."

 

"The final volume of the Coldfire trilogy, CROWN OF SHADOWS, is outstanding in and of itself. Don't miss it!"

 

"A stunning novel, it combines good historical world-building, vampires, religion, and transcendence in a tale that is both entertaining and cathartic... A feast for those who like their fantasies dark, and as emotionally heady as a rich, red wine."

 

C. S. Friedman writes, participates in renaissance festivals, designs and makes costumes, and choreographs sword fight scenes.

 

Crown of Shadows by C. S. Friedman
Continue Browsing		View Wish List