Praise for
2010 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award Nominee for Career Achievement in Sci Fi/Fantasy
“The White Road is an action-packed and terrific read—enjoy. Flewelling is at the top of her game, and her game is very, very good indeed.”
—PATRICIA BRIGGS, New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson series
“Picking up right where the fourth book left off, this is an action-packed and exciting read.… Seregil and Alec remain two of the most memorable heroes in fantasy.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Marvelous … one of the most entertaining series out today. What makes Flewelling’s books so appealing is that they manage to blend Tolkienesque world-building with characters who are three-dimensional, realistically drawn, and often gritty. Though the stories themselves are awash with spells, prophecies, war, and other high fantasy conceits, the characters are always at the foreground—characters who live and breathe and love.”
—Rob Will Review
Praise for
2008 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award Nominee for Best Fantasy Novel
“The fourth book in Flewelling’s superb Nightrunner series picks up right where the last book left off with nary a hiccup. Seregil and Alec continue to be entertaining, while Flewelling pulls off the near impossible in this compelling pageturner.”
—Romantic Times (4½ stars)
“Excellent! … This [is a] terrific fantasy thriller that can stand alone, but is enhanced by the other tales in the Skalan saga.”
—BookReview
“Flewelling presents a well-developed fantasy world with faie from many clans, wizards, alchemists, and ambitious humans. Love and jealousies abound and drive the story.”
—SF Revu
Praise for
“Some of the most inventive and emotionally gripping fantasy to come down the pike in years … Flewelling’s writing is both intelligent and visceral, with unflinching detail that compels readers to turn pages in wide-eyed fascination.… At the same time, however, a sense of poetry runs through her narration.… Flewelling takes the stock trappings of the sword-and-sorcery genre and turns them into a riveting epic story that is unique, disturbing, and enthralling.”
—Mythprint
“Perhaps the deepest psychological novel I’ve ever read—the fantasy makes the unconscious issues real. Gorgeous but dark.”
—ORSON SCOTT CARD
Praise for
“A splendidly stirring coming-of-age tale.”
—Romantic Times (4½ stars)
“It is a great book!”
—Affaire de Couer (4½ stars)
“I’ve been looking forward to The Oracle’s Queen, the third volume in The Tamir Triad, with eager anticipation and it doesn’t disappoint. Central characters remain true to the previous volumes, and at the same time we see new facets to their personalities. The inexorable flow of events drives the narrative forcefully onward while unexpected twists keep us guessing.… I can recommend it and indeed the whole series to lovers of intelligent contemporary fantasy that nevertheless keeps faith with all the strongest traditions of the genre.”
—JULIET E. MCKENNA, Emerald City
“This novel delves deeply into the psychological effects of razzle-dazzle magic, thrones, swords, and the rest, and makes for a terrific read.… Magic, mystery, politics, emotions, and rare golden threads of the numinous all make this book a rich tapestry of a read right through the climax.… There is never an easy answer in Oracle’s Queen: the characters gain so much dimension that they linger in the mind long after one reads the last page. This trilogy is a must for those who love fantasy with all the Good Stuff stitched together by intelligent world-building and a wise eye for the frailties, and the greatnesses, of the human spirit.”
—SF Site
“A fine conclusion to an above-average series … Flewelling does an excellent job of adding depth and texture to the story of a young person thrust onto the throne of Skala.”
—Contra Costa Times
“Lynn Flewelling’s The Bone Doll’s Twin, Hidden Warrior, and The Oracle’s Queen are brilliantly original and moving. This story still haunts me, months after reading the books. There’s plenty of gritty realism to make this a book for adults and mature teenagers, but what it definitely is not is ‘escapist.’ This book drags you through so much emotionally painful territory that you’re almost relieved when it’s done and you can escape to your safe regular life.”
—ORSON SCOTT CARD
Praise for
“Stellar high-concept fantasy.”
—Mysterious Galaxy
“A rousing prince-in-hiding adventure, with some unexpectedly satisfying developments for a middle volume in a series.”
—Locus
“A beautiful, compelling, dark tale.”
—Booklist
“A superlative job … The world she has built is complex, and the action non-stop.… Flewelling handles the gender questions with such skill that the reader really feels Tobin’s ambivalence, and gradual change.… Recommended highly for anyone seeking a rollicking good read.”
—SF Site
“Satisfying … intriguing … exploring not merely issues of gender and power but questions of honor as well.”
—Lambda Book Report
Praise for
“The Bone Doll’s Twin is a thoroughly engrossing new fantasy. It got its hooks into me on the first page, and didn’t let loose until the last. I am already looking forward to the next installment.”
—GEORGE R. R. MARTIN
“Lynn Flewelling’s The Bone Doll’s Twin outshines even the gleaming promise shown in her earlier three books. The story pulled me under and carried me off with it in a relentless tale that examines whether the ends can ever completely justify the means.”
—ROBIN HOBB
“Fresh and original—and unlike most fantasies that try to put women in traditionally male roles, hers works. I found the world exceptionally well realized and coherent. I think you have a winner here! My congratulations to Lynn. Books like this are too good not to share.”
—KATHERINE KURTZ
“Flewelling’s language never calls attention to itself, and instead she brings us inside the heads of an array of splendid, believable characters. Which is what fiction is supposed to do—give us fascinating people and powerful relationships from the inside out. Flewelling is a master of it. I fell in love with all her characters and hated for the book to end. Fortunately, it has a sequel (Hidden Warrior), but I also hated for it to end and it did. That’s how good books are supposed to make you feel: like you’re living in another world, with people you really care about, and you don’t want to close the book and go home. If these books hadn’t turned out to be excellent, I wouldn’t be reviewing them, of course—because I rarely review books I didn’t finish, and I rarely finish books that I don’t enjoy. I loved these.”
—ORSON SCOTT CARD
“The Bone Doll’s Twin is a great read. Lynn Flewelling has outdone herself with this vibrant tale of dark magic, a hidden child, and the demon ghost that haunts it. She builds a convincing, colorful world with carefully chosen details, and her characters are memorable because their dilemmas are vividly drawn and heartbreakingly believable. This is exactly the kind of fantasy novel that will keep you up long past your bedtime.”
—KATE ELLIOTT
“A fascinating read, both intellectual and haunting.”
—BARBARA HAMBLY
“A dark and twisting enchantment of a book, a story of deception and loyalty and heroism that will magick its readers along with its characters.”
—LOUISE MARLEY
“Lynn Flewelling is one of the best at creating complicated stories p
eopled by diverse characters, each with his own agenda, and each absolutely believable. This tale of a girl disguised by magic and brought up as a boy is engrossing and compelling as it explores the honorable reasons behind dishonorable deeds—and the dark consequences that follow a single desperate act. Flewelling accompanies her skill at storytelling with an exquisite level of detail that brings her entire world to life. A most satisfying tale for readers already familiar with her Nightrunner series—for others, an excellent introduction to the joys of a Flewelling fantasy.”
—SHARON SHINN
“You liked Lynn Flewelling’s Nightrunner series? This novel is even better. The Bone Doll’s Twin is a sharply honed, powerful story where good and evil are as entwined as two children’s lives, and salvation carries a very high price. Highly recommended.”
—ANNE BISHOP
“An intriguing prequel to Flewelling’s splendid Nightrunner series and a solid beginning to a new triad of fantasy from a most generous and skilled fantasist, The Bone Doll’s Twin will satisfy old fans and capture many new.”
—PATRICK O’LEARY
“Masterful … readers will be hooked.”
—Bangor Daily News
“Magnificent, impressive … capture[s] some of the same flavor found in T. H. White’s classic, The Once and Future King, as well as in Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea books. Factor in some essence of Mervyn Peake, and you have a winning combination.”
—Realms of Fantasy
“Flewelling’s Nightrunner books are popular among fantasy fans for a very simple reason—they’re good. The Bone Doll’s Twin continues that trend, and I look for her to be a major force in the future of fantasy.”
—Monroe (LA) News-Star
“An intensely poignant tale that begs the question—how far should one go to change destiny? Lynn Flewelling delivers a tightly crafted narrative with vivid characters and a detailed background that quickly pulls the reader into her world.”
—Romantic Times
“It is the death of children that literally haunts this book, giving it a dark edge that takes The Bone Doll’s Twin out of the realm of fantasy and into the world of amoral, ends-justifies-the-means politics.… Most of the characters are presented as people trying to do the right thing, and being caught up in events that leave them questioning just what the right thing to do is.… Flewelling’s storytelling ability and strong prose make it all work.… It’s a gripping beginning to a story that looks to become even deeper, more complex, more political, and more real as the series goes on.”
—New York Review of Science Fiction
“Flewelling is the best thing that could have happened to the fantasy genre.”
—BookWeb
“Every now and then a book reminds me of why I originally started reading fantasy. The Bone Doll’s Twin … has the buzz. It’s original, well written, and totally absorbing … by turns poignant, spooky, and earthy.… A moving and thoroughly recommended read.”
—Starburst
“This terrific tale is dark and exciting, and the magic in it is truly wonderful.”
—Booklist
Praise for the Nightrunner Series
“Memorable characters, an enthralling plot, and truly daunting evil … The characters spring forth from the page not as well crafted creations but as people.… The magic is refreshingly difficult, mysterious, and unpredictable. Lynn Flewelling has eschewed the easy shortcuts of clichéd minor characters and cookie-cutter backdrops to present a unique world.… I commend this one to your attention.”
—ROBIN HOBB
“Part high fantasy and part political intrigue, Luck in the Shadows makes a nice change from the usual ruck of contemporary sword-and-sorcery. I especially enjoyed Lynn Flewelling’s obvious affection for her characters. At unexpected moments she reveals a well-honed gift for the macabre.”
—STEPHEN R. DONALDSON
“A new star is rising in the fantasy firmament.… I am awed by the scope of the intricate world. It teems with magic and bustles with realistic people and spine-chilling amounts of skullduggery.”
—DAVE DUNCAN
“A splendid read, filled with magic, mystery, adventure, and taut suspense. Lynn Flewelling, bravo! Nicely done.”
—DENNIS L. MCKIERNAN
“An engrossing and entertaining debut … full of magic, intrigues, and fascinating characters. Witty and charming, it’s the kind of book you settle down with when you want a long, satisfying read.”
—MICHAEL A. STACKPOLE
“Exceptionally well done and entertaining.”
—Locus
“Lynn Flewelling has written a terrific first novel, a thrilling introduction to this series.… Highly recommended.”
—Starlog
“Flewelling is bringing vigor back to the traditional fantasy form. In this highly engaging adventure novel, the most powerful magic is conjured out of friendship and loyalty. The author has a gift for creating characters you genuinely care about.”
—TERRI WENDLING, The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror, Eleventh Annual Collection
“Events move forward in this second adventure.… it’s up to four companions to stop Mardus’s schemes. Things get very violent and there’s also a strong emotional undercurrent … an amusing twist on the old ‘damsel in distress’ scenario.”
—Locus
“What most fantasy aspires to Traitor’s Moon achieves, with fierce craft, wit and heart. It is a fantasy feast—richly imagined, gracefully wrought, and thrilling to behold. An intoxicating brew of strange and homely, horror and whimsy, lust and blood, intrigue and honor, great battles and greater loves. It is a journey through a world so strange and real you can taste it, with companions so mysterious and memorable you won’t forget it. Lynn Flewelling is a fine teller of tales who delivers all she promises, cuts no corners, and leaves us dazzled, moved, and hungry for more. Traitor’s Moon is a wonderful book.”
—PATRICK O’LEARY
“While fans of Dungeons and Dragons–style lore will find enough wizardry, necromancy, swords, daggers, and devilishly clever traps here to satisfy the most avid, this book also provides entry to a complete and richly realized world that will please more mainstream readers.”
—Bangor Daily News
Casket of Souls is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
A Spectra eBook Edition
Copyright © 2012 by Lynn Flewelling
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Spectra, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
SPECTRA and the portrayal of a boxed “s” are trademarks of Random House, Inc.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to Jennifer Crow for permission to reprint “The Hour of Blue Leaves” by Jennifer Crow, copyright © 2010 by Jennifer Crow. Reprinted by permission.
eISBN: 978-0-345-53023-3
www.ballantinebooks.com
Map by Virginia Norey
Cover art: © Michael Komarck
v3.1
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Maps
Chapter 1 - An Evening’s Entertainment
Chapter 2 - Night Work
Chapter 3 - Beka Cavish
Chapter 4 - Alec Gets a Bit of Exercise
Chapter 5 - Whispers in the Dark
Chapter 6 - Ulia
Chapter 7 - Wheel Street
Chapter 8 - A Glittering Evening
Chapter 9 - Patrons of the Arts
Chapter 10 - Teus
Chapter 11 - Sin and Sociability
Chapter 12 - Strangers in the Night
Chapter 13 - The Golden Crane
Chapter 14 - Making an Impression
Chapter 15 - Rubbing Shoulders with R
oyalty
Chapter 16 - Complexities
Chapter 17 - Intrigue
Chapter 18 - Brader
Chapter 19 - Picnics and Partisans
Chapter 20 - Reports
Chapter 21 - How to Burgle a Friend
Chapter 22 - Change of Plans
Chapter 23 - Malthus
Chapter 24 - Spies in the Ranks
Chapter 25 - Inside Work
Chapter 26 - Lord Seregil Distinguishes Himself