The Conqueror's Shadow

It is a curse to be haunted by the past. It is worse to be hunted by it… In the realm of Imphallion, there once was a nightmare—a living nightmare known only as the Terror of the East. Nigh invulnerable in his magical black armor and aided by unholy minions, he laid waste to all in his path on his all-consuming quest to bring order to the land. His order. Then, at what should have been his moment of triumph, his will failed. And his army fell. Taking a young noblewoman as hostage, he escaped, vanishing into darkest memory. Years later, Corvis Rebaine is a simple man, content with his loving wife and children. The terrible deeds and glories of his past life are dead and buried along with his former name and its monstrous legacy—until his daughter is taken by fiends under a maniacal young warlord looking to complete the Terror's conquest. Now, spurred to action by a newborn fury and thirst for vengeance, Rebaine must do the unthinkable—don the dark armor once again, gather his once-loyal cadre of killers, and fight to save both the family he loves and the country he once almost destroyed. And all who stand in his way will have one final thought before death… The Terror has returned. "Action-packed…an intriguingly twisty plot, full of magic and political intrigue."—Booklist "Superior storytelling and deft dialog make this a top-notch choice . . . filled with dark humor as well as scenes of brutal battle and high magic."—Library Journal "A powerful fantasy, with well drawn heroes and delightfully wicked, yet complicated, villains. Ari Marmell has made his mark in the genre."—Paul S. Kemp, author of the Erevis Cale trilogy "A tale that begins where most stories end and features a most unlikely protagonist. Twists of humor leaven this story of desperate people in dangerous times, as a conqueror discovers that perhaps those who live by the sword are sometimes doomed to face the business end of one. A great mix of character and action."—Robin Hobb, author of Dragon Keeper The text of this edition is unchanged from that of the Del Rey edition.