The Alliance is crumbling. Driven to madness by the abduction of his son, King Elias declares war on Andaryon. Sullyan knows the Andaryans are blameless, still reeling from the abduction of their own prince and the subsequent collapse of the Hierarch, but Elias will not listen to reason. While he gathers his forces to march through the Veils, the real conspirators remain free to wreak havoc on both sides of the conflict. Branded a traitor by her king, and with the rift between her and Robin widening, Sullyan embarks on a perilous search for the missing princes. Bloodshed is inevitable and innocent lives will be lost, but the war must be stopped. If she fails, it will mean death for both princes and disaster for the Five Realms. Praise for the Artesans of Albia series: "Cas Peace's Artesans of Albia trilogy immediately sweeps you away: the drama starts with King's Envoy, continues unabated in King's Champion, and climaxes in King's Artesan, yet each volume is complete, satisfying. The Artesan series propels you into a world so deftly written that you see, feel, touch, and even smell each twist and turn. These nesting novels are evocative, hauntingly real. Smart. Powerful. Compelling. The trilogy teems with finely drawn characters, heroes and villains and societies worth knowing; with stories so organic and yet iconic you know you've found another home-in Albia. Now there's ... Peace's forthcoming sub-series, the Circle of Conspiracy trilogy, proof of more Albian tales on the way. So start reading now. I, for one, can't wait to find out what will happen next." Janet E. Morris: author of The Sacred Band of Stepsons series; the Dream Dancer series; I, the Sun; Outpassage."The overall storyline is driven forward very well, with a huge amount of tension and build up early on, and then later on the reader is left with the feeling events will not proceed at all predictably. The Challenge moves the series up a gear in terms of scope, plot and character development. It was very satisfying and sets the series up for further greatness as the overall arc progresses." Dan G, Amazon reviewer."Having read the last trilogy I was thrilled and not disappointed with this book. Lots of twists and turns but keeping with the essential characters. Can't wait for the next book." Gary Harvey, Amazon reviewer.
