Breath and Bone

Book excerpt: A rebellious sorcerer risks it all to save his protégé, deliver justice, and protect his kingdom in this finale of the epic fantasy adventure duology. As civil war and winter lay waste to Navronne, Valen finds himself in high demand. The young monk is currently bound in service to a prince who steals dead soldiers’ eyes and souls. There’s also a fanatical Harrower priestess hellbent on destroying the world. The fairylike Danae guardians are after him as well. And he must also worry about the Pureblood Registry, always eager to maintain their control of every pureblood sorcerer. Torn between evil forces and fighting his addiction, Valen must risk body and soul to rescue one child, seek justice for another, and restore the rightful king to the dying land. With few he can trust, Valen ventures from monasteries to dungeons to the very heart of the world. In the twilight of a legend, he discovers some hard truths about his world . . . and about his past. The two books of the Lighthouse Duet—Flesh and Spirit and Breath and Bone—jointly received the 2009 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award “The narrative crackles with intensity against a vivid backdrop of real depth and conviction, with characters to match. Altogether superior.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “The sequel to Flesh and Spirit builds upon the first book’s events and illuminates the complex intrigues that mark the land of Navronne. Berg’s lush, evocative storytelling and fully developed characters add up to a first-rate purchase for most fantasy collections.” —Library Journal “Berg has once again given us a fantasy that is full of wonder, intrigue and marvelous characters. Valen is a beautifully flawed hero.” —SFRevu