The Assassin King opens at winter's end with the arrival by sea of a mysterious hunter, a man of ancient race and purpose, who endlessly chants the names of the pantheon of demons that are his intended victims, as well as one other: Ysk, the original name of the Brother, now known as Achmed, the Assassin King of Ylorc.
At the same moment of this portentous arrival, two gatherings of great import are taking place. The first is a convocation of dragons, who gather in a primeval forest glade-the site of the horrific ending of Llauron, one of the last of their kind. They mourn not only his irrevocable death but, the loss of the lore and control over the Earth itself that it represents. The ancient wyrms are terrified for what will come as a result of this loss.
The second gathering is a council of war held in the depths of the keep of Haguefort: Ashe and Rhapsody, rulers of the alliance that protects the Middle Continent; Gwydion, the new Duke of Navarne; Anborn, the Lord Marshall; Achmed, the King of Ylorc, and Grunthor, his Sergeant-Major. Each brings news that form the pieces of a great puzzle. And, as each piece is added it becomes quite clear: War is coming, the likes of which the world has never known.
"The sixth installment of Haydon's Symphony of Ages series carries the popular saga into new territory, revisiting familiar characters and introducing new ones. The author's skill at character portrayal and world-building make this an excellent choice for most fantasy collections and essential for libraries owning the previous series titles."
Library Journal on The Assassin King
"At the start of Haydon's lyrical sixth installment in her sweeping saga of musical magic and ancient prophecies (after 2004's Elegy for a Lost Star), the dragons of the world gather to mourn the loss of one of their oldest and greatest….Ashe and Rhapsody, the Lord and Lady of Cymrian, also convene with their allies to prepare for the war looming between deadly powers that could tear the world apa
Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Assassin King
