A Betrayal in Winter
Daniel Abraham delighted fantasy readers with his brilliant, original, and engaging first novel, A Shadow in Summer. Now he has produced an even more powerful sequel, a tragedy as darkly personal and violent as Shakespeare's Macbeth.
A tragedy born of one woman's demons and the
unchecked aggression of an empire bent on conquest, A Betrayal in Winter chronicles with unflinching clarity the destruction of a noble family and its
ultimate redemption.
As a boy, Otah Machi was exiled from his family, which rules the city-state of Machi. Decades later he has witnessed and been part of world-changing events. Yet, he has never returned to his childhood home. Now his father, the reigning Khai, is dying, and Otah's eldest brother, Biitrah, has been assassinated. Otah realizes that he must go home, for reasons not even he understands.
Tradition dictates that the sons of a dying Khai must fall upon each other until only one remains to succeed his father. But something even worse is occurring in Machi. The Galts, an expansive empire, have allied with someone in Machi to bring down the ruling house. Otah himself is caught and accused, the long-missing brother with an all-too-obvious motive for murder.
With the subtlety and wonderful storytelling skill of his first novel, Abraham has created a masterful drama filled with a unique magic, a suspenseful thriller of sexual betrayal, Machiavellian politics, and behind it all, the machinations of the ambitious, bloodthirsty Galts.
Danie Abraham, fulfilling the promise of his brilliant debut, dazzles with this mature, heartbreaking novel.
"A Betrayal in Winter is exactly the kind of book I love: dynamic characters, sharp plotting, and an original, thoughtful take on magic." – Brandon Sanderson, author of Mistborn
Daniel Abraham
Daniel James Abraham (born November 14, 1969), pen names M. L. N. Hanover and James S. A. Corey, is an American novelist, comic book writer, screenwriter, and television producer. He is best known as the author of The Long Price Quartet and The Dagger and the Coin fantasy series, and with Ty Franck, as the co-author of The Expanse series of science fiction novels, written under the joint pseudonym James S. A. Corey. The series has been adapted into the television series The Expanse (2015–present), with both Abraham and Franck serving as writers and producers on the show.
The Long Price Quartet
Daniel Abraham’s classic Long Price Quartet is groundbreaking unique fantasy of rare power and originality. The aggressively expansionist Galt empire has already conquered lands across a huge continent But the cities of the Khaiem resist Galt’s power with the andat - creatures of magic with godlike powers Political intrigue and deep treachery combine to shift the balance of power in a world of ancient empires and immortal magics. This unforgettable fantasy epic series starting with A Shadow in Summer marks Daniel Abraham as a unique voice and one of the most enthralling fantasy writers to emerge in recent years.
The Long Price Quartet consists of four books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Related series The Long Price (omnibus editions)