Descent of Kings Series by Maria Albert

“Never make a mistake, Beryl. Never, in your youth or ignorance or arrogance, do something that might endanger your people, that might cause others harm.” - Elven Prince EladarEladar, second son of the Elven King of Riviera, can never atone for his disastrous initial foray into the Lands of Men, but he yet hopes to make his family proud... more“Never make a mistake, Beryl. Never, in your youth or ignorance or arrogance, do something that might endanger your people, that might cause others harm.” - Elven Prince EladarEladar, second son of the Elven King of Riviera, can never atone for his disastrous initial foray into the Lands of Men, but he yet hopes to make his family proud. Before his simple mission to meet Prince Talon of the shattered kingdom of Amontir is done, he saves lives and takes them, finds love, and stands to lose all he holds most dear as he leads Talon’s cousin, Beryl, to sanctuary amongst his people. Caravan guard Alnas is searching for an unconventional love and thinks he’s found it in Hardred, but he must first overcome the former mariner’s tragic past. Neither man dreams their act of kindness in freeing Master Trader Oberas’s snagged cargo vessel will trigger events that alter the fate of their world. The destinies and lives of these men and others become inescapably intertwined with that of Rion, son of a minstrel and a City Guard, in a world about to be consumed by war. Their trials and tragedies, mistakes, and triumphs will either save the world or destroy it. less

Descent of Kings: Book Two “It would not be the first time I made such a grave tactical error. I have made many. It is not your responsibility to save this world from the evil that threatens to consume it, Aras. Do not blame yourself for my shortcomings.” —Prince Talon of the Amontir When his bonds to his cousins Hunter and Beryl are unexpectedly severed, Talon is devastated, fearing his kinsmen dead... moreDescent of Kings: Book Two “It would not be the first time I made such a grave tactical error. I have made many. It is not your responsibility to save this world from the evil that threatens to consume it, Aras. Do not blame yourself for my shortcomings.” —Prince Talon of the Amontir When his bonds to his cousins Hunter and Beryl are unexpectedly severed, Talon is devastated, fearing his kinsmen dead. In his darkest hour, Talon succors a young Wood Elf, Aras, unaware of the crucial role his new friend is destined to play. Prince Jargas thought he would never learn the secret of his grandsire’s line and his lost heritage. He never suspected the answer might lie in a Dwarven dungeon or that it could cost him the life of his beloved twin sister, Jarina. Young apprentice trader Rion and his guard, Tarrell, thought Athanark would be their new home until they met Talon and Aras. Friends become enemies and enemies become friends as new alliances are forged, men die, cities burn, and kingdoms fall. Everyone has secrets, and no one is who or what he seems. less

Descent of Kings: Book Three “The world is ending. It is a cruel place and perhaps it should end. But then, there is Rion and you, and the brothers, and Rarnak, and those like you, those I might still find reason to fight for. So I look for Jargas, so he might help me, for I can stand alone against the darkness no longer.” —Farad, Lord of House of Wolven After risking all to come to the aid of Rion and his friends, Farad believes his only hope for sanity and survival lies with Jargas... moreDescent of Kings: Book Three “The world is ending. It is a cruel place and perhaps it should end. But then, there is Rion and you, and the brothers, and Rarnak, and those like you, those I might still find reason to fight for. So I look for Jargas, so he might help me, for I can stand alone against the darkness no longer.” —Farad, Lord of House of Wolven After risking all to come to the aid of Rion and his friends, Farad believes his only hope for sanity and survival lies with Jargas. Yet it is Jarina who will either destroy or save him, at the cost of a lifetime of faith and loyalty to Prince Talon. Meanwhile, past the outskirts of Nalea, Aras and Leonas undertake a dangerous mission to parlay with the Hill People, never dreaming the fates of both their own people and Talon’s rest upon the outcome. Ironically, consumed by suspicion and mistrust, believing Jargas to be the Enemy’s minion and fearing Farad lost, Talon lashes out at Aras, with devastating results. The Amontir see agents of the Enemy everywhere, where there are none, and fail to see those who are beside them, ready to strike. less

“But I am just a Man! You all want so much of me! …I am not a wizard. I am not even one of you. I have no magic. There is no fire in my eyes.”—Rion of Ardock Rion wields a power of heart that touches all he meets. The wizard Circe once called him a lynchpin, a keystone of the world. When Rion is viciously attacked and maimed in Gosa, he believes Circe’s family is retaliating for his betrayal of them to Crown Prince Elavar. Learning the horrific truth brings him to the brink of madness... more“But I am just a Man! You all want so much of me! …I am not a wizard. I am not even one of you. I have no magic. There is no fire in my eyes.”—Rion of Ardock Rion wields a power of heart that touches all he meets. The wizard Circe once called him a lynchpin, a keystone of the world. When Rion is viciously attacked and maimed in Gosa, he believes Circe’s family is retaliating for his betrayal of them to Crown Prince Elavar. Learning the horrific truth brings him to the brink of madness. Rion’s friends take him to the River Elves of Salenia for aid, but the Elves send them onward, to King Talon. The company’s perilous journey to the Watchtower is fraught with danger and filled with tragedy and triumph, but their trials have just begun. King Talon’s army has been decimated by the Enemy’s relentless attacks. After staggering losses, they are outnumbered ten to one and teeter on the brink of defeat—yet somehow their dwindling forces must overcome a being with the Power of a God. less