Irona 700
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
Fantasy at its most enchanting: An original and absorbing tale from a master storyteller about the profound effects of a single life on the battle against ultimate evil
It is Midsummer Day, the beginning of the year 700, in the city of Benign. All the children born in the year 684 celebrate their joint sixteenth birthday by passing in front of the statue of the blind goddess Caprice—but only one will become the Chosen and join the Seventy who govern and guide the city.
Much to her surprise, Irona Matrinko, one of the many children of an impoverished fisherman, is chosen. Irona 700 moves into the palace and, with the help of a new mentor, recognizes and cultivates her great talent for guiding wars: strategy and tactics, leadership and inspiration.
As Irona gives her life to the city, an ancient enemy, Maleficence, attacks again and again, corrupting Irona's friends, destroying her lover, and continually defeating her grandest plans for peace and harmony. Along the way, Irona becomes a masterful politician, a shrewd judge of character, and, even at great cost to her personal happiness, a true heroine.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Despite the whiff of science fiction in the title, the latest novel from fantasy author Duncan (The Eye of Strife) is a straightforward fantasy epic about a girl who rises from a humble background to control an empire. In another realm's year 700, 16-year-old Irona Matrinko, daughter of a fisherman, is selected by the goddess Caprice to be one of the Seventy Chosen. They rule Benign and its outlying lands, and they protect it from the forces of evil god Maleficence. At first Irona now called Irona 700 is certain her being chosen was a mistake, but her tutor convinces her to accept her fate, and she proves to be a natural at political scheming. Her seagoing background also gives her a strong understanding of naval strategy and tactics. Rising through the ranks of power, Irona 700 learns to manipulate others with the best of them. But her toughest challenge is controlling her sociopathic son. Political intrigue and military action form the core of this novel, brought down to human scale by ambition and jealousy. This book will please fantasy readers who love a good scheme.
