Anteros Series by Allan Cole, Chris Bunch

The Far Kingdoms...a place of bright sunlight surrounded by dark, deadly wilderness. A place where the princes and magicians were kind and wise beyond all imagination. A place where wine and song were always sweet, every purse was fat with gold, and every heart at ease. The Far Kingdoms...said to lie in the distant east, across the straits of the Narrow Sea, beyond the benighted Pepper Coast, in uncharted territory. The Far Kingdoms.. moreThe Far Kingdoms...a place of bright sunlight surrounded by dark, deadly wilderness. A place where the princes and magicians were kind and wise beyond all imagination. A place where wine and song were always sweet, every purse was fat with gold, and every heart at ease. The Far Kingdoms...said to lie in the distant east, across the straits of the Narrow Sea, beyond the benighted Pepper Coast, in uncharted territory. The Far Kingdoms...a place no one could reach even if it were real - which surely it wasn't. Young, pampered Amalric Antero cared only for real places and possible dreams. The time had come to Find His Tradewind, to make the traditional journey seeking out new lands, new riches, new customers as his merchant father, and his father's father, had done before him. He meant only to do as all young traders did: travel to the known lands in the west and return home having proved himself able to deal well with his father's customers. Nothing more was expected. But then he met Janos Greycloak, a dashing soldier who dabbled in forbidden magic and who carried on him proof of riches and mysteries beyond imagination. And suddenly Amalric found himself setting out on the adventure of a lifetime, a daring and perilous quest through unknown lands peopled by nightmares, to seek the ultimate in fables...The Far Kingdoms! less

Captain Rali Emilie Antero came from an illustrious family of traders, wizards, and adventurers. But Rali cared little for magic, and even less for journeying. She was a soldier, captain of the elite Maranon Guard, staunch defenders of the majestic city of Orissa. But her family legacy was about to catch up with her... moreCaptain Rali Emilie Antero came from an illustrious family of traders, wizards, and adventurers. But Rali cared little for magic, and even less for journeying. She was a soldier, captain of the elite Maranon Guard, staunch defenders of the majestic city of Orissa. But her family legacy was about to catch up with her....For the Guard's latest mission was sheer suicide: a sea-going odyssey in search of an evil master wizard—the last Archon of Lycanth—who had fled with a secret doomsday spell that could destroy all of civilization. It would be Rali's greatest challenge: a desperate pursuit, raging across the great Western Sea to the fire reefs that marked the end of the world—and beyond, to places unmarked even in legend. But only in the uncharted territories of her own soul—and the heritage of the Anteros—would Rali find the power to defeat the Archon and return to Orissa in triumph. less

KINGDOMS OF THE NIGHT: The Anteros series, one of the freshest, most exhilarating fantasy series in years, (Publishers Weekly) begun in The Far Kingdoms and The Warrior's Tale--continues. A mysterious figure appears to Amalric Antero, who has grown old before his time, and issues a challenge: find the real Far Kingdoms . . . the Kingdoms of the Night! Penned by the authors of the Sten series, the wonders of the unknown unspool before two bold adventurers.

All of Orissa believe that Rali Emilie Antero, legendary warrior and sorceress extraordinaire, is dead. In fact, Rali is not dead, but left entombed in ice to dream for eternity - until a goddess needs her for one last quest.