Marend of Marloven Hess — Sherwood Smith

In the recently defeated warrior-kingdom of Marloven Hess, two enemies, one a defeated king hunted by the conquerors, and the hunter who did the conquering, duel for the soul of a conflicted young teen. This short novel takes place between the events of the first two volumes of The Norsunder War: Ship Without Sails, andSeek to Hold the Wind.Smith deftly stage-manages the wide-ranging plots with brisk pacing, spare yet complex characterizations, and a narrative that balances sweeping action and uneasy intimacy. -Publishers Weekly