The Ninth Rain
British Fantasy Award 2018 (the Robert Holdstock Award).
Jen Williams, author of the highly-acclaimed Copper Cat trilogy featuring THE COPPER PROMISE, THE IRON GHOST and THE SILVER TIDE, returns with the first in a blistering new trilogy. 'An original new voice in heroic fantasy' Adrian Tchaikovsky
The great wall of Ebora is crumbling. Wolves walk streets that once shone with gold, and Ebora's people - diseased and inhuman - are fading into nothing.
Tormalin the Oathless, last son of Ebora, has had enough. Better to enjoy the pleasures of wine and coin, the pursuit of men and women, than to waste away under the blind gaze of a long-dead god. Talk about a guilt trip. When the eccentric explorer Lady de Grazon offers him employment, he foresees an easy life escorting a rich old woman from one side of Sarn to the other. Even when they are joined by a fugitive witch with a tendency to set things on fire, the prospect of facing down monsters and retrieving ancient artifacts is still preferable to the abomination he left behind.
But not everyone is willing to let the Eboran empire fall. And Tormalin is soon drawn into a conspiracy of magic and war, whilst a horror from the depths of history threatens to make even his people look reasonable.
The Jure'lia are coming, and the Ninth Rain will fall...
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Jen Williams
Jen Williams crafts fantasy worlds that shimmer with danger and charm, where the echoes of forgotten legends meet sharp wit and complex characters. Growing up in southeast London, she was drawn to dark folklore and fairy tales that whispered of shadowy magic and fierce survival. This early fascination shaped her voice—one that blends the raw edges of adventure with moments of sly humor and emotional depth.
Her debut, The Copper Cat Trilogy, introduced readers to a world where swordplay and sorcery collide with a refreshing irreverence, centered on Wydrin, a mercenary who breaks the mold of typical fantasy heroes. But it was with The Winnowing Flame Trilogy that her reputation truly solidified. Beginning with The Ninth Rain, the series weaves together elements of fantasy and sci-fi with a brooding atmosphere and richly layered storytelling that earned critical acclaim, including multiple British Fantasy Awards. Themes of decay and renewal thread through her work, inviting readers to explore worlds on the edge—where ancient powers stir and unlikely heroes rise.
The Winnowing Flame
The Winnowing Flame consists of three books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
