An uncanny child born to brilliant parents, befriended by a prince,
mentored by a wise woman, pursued by a powerful man, Secret Riven has no idea what destiny will demand of her or the courage she must have to
confront it in the breathtakingly epic, genre-spanning sequel to The Mapmaker’s War.
One thousand years after a great conflict known as The Mapmaker’s War, a
daughter is born to an ambitious historian and a gifted translator.
Secret Riven doesn’t speak until her seventh year but can mysteriously
communicate with plants and animals. Unsettled by visions and dreams
since childhood, she tries to hide her strangeness, especially from her
mercurial father and cold mother. Yet gentle, watchful Secret finds
acceptance from Prince Nikolas, her best friend, and Old Woman, who
lives in the distant woods.
When Secret is twelve, her mother
receives an arcane manuscript to translate from an anonymous owner.
Zavet suffers from nightmares and withdraws into herself. Secret sickens with a fever and awakens able to speak an ancient language, one her
mother knows as well. Suddenly, Zavet dies. The manuscript is missing,
but a cipher has been left for Secret to find.
Years later,
Secret becomes a translator’s apprentice for Fewmany, an influential
magnate, who has taken an interest in her for reasons she cannot
discern. Before Secret learns why, Old Woman confronts Secret with the
truth of her destiny — a choice she must make that is tied to an ancient
past.
Overflowing with spellbinding storytelling, vivid characters, and set in a fascinating world, The Chronicle of Secret Riven explores the tension between love and hate, trust and betrayal, fate and free
will.
