Initiate's Trial
Sword of the Canon, Volume One
Betrayed and double-crossed, Arithon s'Ffalenn is held captive by the Order of the Koriathain. The desperate Fellowship Sorcerers have gambled the weal of Athera and forced through the perilous bargain that spared him as the last Prince of Rathain, and their sole hope of unity. To suspend the Prime Matriarch's decree of execution, Arithon lives only to battle Marak's horde of free wraiths, unleashed one by one from the shielding grip of the star wards.
But on the day the last wraith is redeemed, the inflexible terms sealed by Dakar's oath of debt will come to be forfeit...
Against a world backdrop, in which the Religion of Light has undergone schism, the zealot True Sect's canon grips Tysan, its high priesthood stands consumed by thwarted ambition: to conquer Havish, last crown bastion and backbone of order that secures the terms of Paravian survival. Now Lord Mayor of Etarra, Lysaer s'Ilessid must fight the pull of the Mistwraith's curse, and battle for sanity to uphold his just ethic. Another young defender will stand at his side, newly sworn by the Sorcerer's auspices.
As Arithon's life once again becomes the fulcrum that shifts the game board, Elaira's choice might save or break the unstable future; while at large and answerable to no mortal law, Davien and the dragon that holds his service throw in the wild card no one predicts...
Janny Wurts
Janny Wurts is a master of weaving intricate worlds, where the lines between light and shadow blur and complex characters navigate their destinies in landscapes of political intrigue and personal conflict. Known for her deeply immersive storytelling, Wurts transports readers to realms where magic, power, and betrayal collide, and where each decision carries consequences that echo through time.
Born and raised in the United States, Wurts's early passion for both visual art and literature would eventually inform her distinctive narrative style. With a background in fine art and a flair for illustration, she brings a visual richness to her prose that draws readers into the vivid tapestries of her fictional worlds. Her artwork is often as integral to the experience as her storytelling, adding depth and texture to her exploration of fantastical themes.
The Wars of Light and Shadow
The Wars of Light and Shadow consists of eleven books — considered a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.