Publishers Weekly
★ 05/24/2021
The riveting conclusion to Jones’s epic fantasy Ring-Sworn trilogy (after Upon the Flight of the Queen) pits the legendary Altenerai warriors against their most dangerous foes yet with the help of some surprising allies. The battle with the Naor is won, but now the Dendressi queen has fled to an unknown realm in a mad quest to wake a dangerous goddess who will erase and remake all the realms. It’s up to what remains of the Altenerai to find and stop her—and in order to cement their fragile new peace, the Naor leader joins them. But even working together, they are unable to stop the queen in time and the goddess is awakened. Luckily, the troops are rescued from certain death, but by the untrustworthy Cerai, an Altenerai traitor. With their forces dwindled and scattered, the Altenerai must accept Cerai’s help to survive the goddess, even knowing she’ll inevitably turn against them. Jones offers immensely satisfying answers to lingering questions about his complex world while keeping the reader hooked with vivid, creative descriptions of alternate realms and masterful character work. Filled with action and surprises, this emotional roller coaster brings the trilogy to a bittersweet but worthy conclusion. Agent: Bob Mecoy, Creative Book Services. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
Praise for When the Goddess Wakes:
"Jones offers immensely satisfying answers to lingering questions about his complex world while keeping the reader hooked with vivid, creative descriptions of alternate realms and masterful character work. Filled with action and surprises, this emotional roller coaster brings the trilogy to a bittersweet but worthy conclusion." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Howard Andrew Jones’s Ring-Sworn Trilogy comes to a rousing conclusion. Jones is a scholar of heroic fantasy as well as one of its most adept current creators." —Black Gate
"When the Goddess Wakes solidly ends Howard Andrew Jones’ Ring-Sworn Trilogy, as the titular threat, building since the beginning of the series, brings danger, adventure, and notes of heroic sacrifice." —Nerds of a Feather
Praise for Upon the Flight of the Queen:
"The second book in the Ring-Sworn Trilogy, Upon the Flight of the Queen is just as thrilling and immersive as the first book. War and espionage, magic and dragons, and compelling characters fill this epic fantasy, which will fully satisfy fans of the first book and leave them eagerly waiting for book three." —San Francisco Book Review
"Exhilarating...This powerful epic fantasy is a heart-racing, action-packed thrill." —Publishers Weekly
Praise for For the Killing of Kings:
"Jones’s exciting epic will have readers laughing, crying, and cheering for the men and women of the Altenerai." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Howard Andrew Jones, an aficionado nonpareil of heroic adventure, has surpassed himself. For the Killing of Kings is the opening salvo of a thrilling epic set in a world that only he could envision: a thunderous, sword-clanging treat.” — Ian Tregillis, author of The Mechanical
“Honor pushed out of fashion by fanaticism, honest talent diverted by tyranny, monsters at every border, deceit guiding all: For the Killing of Kings is a fantasy for our times, with a sword at its backbone but humans at its heart. World-building shines out of every ritual, in fragments of poetry and lines of plays. There are strong women on practically every page, strong friendships, plenty of warriors and mages, fight scenes galore, and a sense of playfulness to parry each stroke of solemnity. Reading Howard Andrew Jones is like opening a present from a friend who keeps promising, with a cheeky grin: “This is my best one yet.” And it’s always true.” — C. S. E. Cooney, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Bone Swans
