Sea Dragon Heir

The ancient land of Caradore has been conquered by the Magravandian empire and its royal house of Palindrake bound by a potent oath to the invader. The Sea Dragon, Caradore's source of mystic power, has been driven from the world by the triumphant Fire Drake--or so everyone believes, until twins are born to the Palindrakes. Valraven and Pharinet, brother and sister, discover the Sea Dragon has only been hidden--and is dangerous not only to the conquerors but also to Caradore and the world.

Neil Gaiman has described Storm Constantine, author of Sea Dragon Heir, as a "myth-making Gothic queen." It's a perfect description for the provocative, imaginative, genre-blending author of the Grigori trilogy (Stalking Tender Prey, Scenting Hallowed Blood, and Stealing Sacred Fire), the three-novella collection Three Heralds of the Storm, and the gender-bending Wraeththu trilogy. With Sea Dragon Heir, Ms. Constantine turns to what appears at first glimpse to be traditional high fantasy--but the novel (the first of a new trilogy) proves as darkly romantic, stylish, sharp, and twisted as her fans expect, even as it extends the author's appeal to a new readership. --Cynthia Ward