The Lady of the Sorrows - Special Edition: The Bitterbynde Book #2: Volume 2 (The Bitterbynde Trilogy)

Dart-Thornton, Cecilia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1925110540 ISBN 13: 9781925110548

Publisher: Leaves of Gold Press, 2014

THE LADY OF THE SORROWS The Bitterbynde Trilogy #2 This special, revised edition includes the author's new introduction - in which she discusses the writing of the Bitterbynde trilogy - images of part of the original, handwritten manuscript and copies of some original notes and calculations created while the work was in progress. "Though Imhrien's memory is clouded by sorcery, she must take vital news to the King-Emperor of Caermelor. She hopes that there she may also find Thorn, the King's Ranger, a beautiful warrior who has won her heart. Since no commoner may approach the royal court, Imrhien assumes a new identity as Rohain, a noble visitor from the distant Sorrow Isles. She soon discovers that the King and his rangers have departed to battle the unseelie hordes which have declared war against mortalkind. Attacks by nightmare monsters of the Wild Hunt, led by wicked Lord Huon, grow ever more frequent and brutal. And when evil forces lay siege to the royal sanctuary on a hidden mystic island, Rohain is confronted with a horrifying discovery. To protect those she loves, the Lady of the Sorrows must undertake a desperate quest to discover who she is and why an unhuman evil would wreak such destruction. But the truth of Rohain's past will prove more incredible - and far more tragic - than any she could possibly have imagined." Author Cecilia Dart-Thornton was discovered on the Internet. She had written the three books of the Bitterbynde Trilogy before she uploaded the first chapter to a Writers' Workshop, where her work was spotted by an editor. Shortly afterwards Time-Warner's publishing department (New York) offered her a contract. They published her books in hardcover, the first time they had ever done so with a new author. The Bitterbynde Trilogy hit the best-seller lists world-wide and has been translated into five languages.

Review:

The Lady of the Sorrows changes both the name of the protagonist of The Ill-Made Mute and much of the earlier book's tone. Where the hideous mute Imrhien wandered the land of Erith accumulating friends and connections, she now, restored to speech and beauty, finds herself caught up in palace intrigue under her new name Rohain, and increasingly aware of just how crucial it is that she regain her lost memories. She has powerful enemies, both at court and in the wider world--all the more so when she finds out who her beloved Thorn really is. The eventual secret of her identity, and the reasons why she is being pursued with such intense supernatural enmity, are actually on a scale that justifies the build-up Cecilia Dart-Thornton has given them. Typically too, they turn out to relate to versions of known folk-lore--her habit of naturalising existing legends into her fantasyland serves her well here. This is an intelligent fantasy novel rather than one which ever breaks new ground; even when it is at its least original, as is the case during Rohain's stay among the bitching and fripperies of court, it has interesting insights into stock material. --Roz Kaveney

Review:

'Rich in romance and driven by a compelling drama mystery, this is FANTASY AT ITS BEST.'
- DIRECTOR'S CLUB

'In a word: ENCHANTING.'
- THE HERALD SUN

'This is not a quick fantasy fix, it's a rich and detailed journey of discovery . . . I'm immensely impressed by the author's ability to weave her obviously extensive knowledge of MYTHIC LORE into the narrative . . . A GREAT READ.'
- GOOD READING

'The Lady of the Sorrows comes to a MAGNIFICENTLY PARADOXICAL CONCLUSION.'
- LOCUS MAGAZINE

'MS. DART-THORNTON HAS DONE IT AGAIN. It's hard for even a sea-soned writer to produce a satisfying sequel to a successful novel, but Ms. Dart-Thornton makes it look easy! Richly descriptive . . . the plot unfolds in a most satisfying manner, engaging the reader along the way with many unexpected twists and turns. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT.'
- FUTURE FICTION