The Temple of the Damned

‎‎“You're a cheerful lot, aren't you?” Mennia said. ‎
‎“If you're about to say that we'll get through, don't bother,” Carlitha said sourly. ‎
‎“Well, won't we?” ‎
‎“Mennia, if you start in about the gods again, I'll throw something.” ‎
‎“I wasn't going to mention the gods. I was just saying that I don't intend to fail after all this ‎effort. You can do what you like, but I'm getting into that city even if I have to tunnel all the ‎way to the temple with my bare hands.”‎
‎“There's not really a lot you can say to that,” Niari observed mildly to Carlitha. ‎
‎“Oh, shut up, Niari!” ‎

A year ago, Niari, Carlitha, Friend, and their companions beat the Cult of the Earth ‎Mother to the ‎Collar of Volandris, thus completing the set of the Collars of Phaleran. Prophecy ‎says the collars ‎must be taken to the fabled Temple of the Damned so that the events that are ‎ordained to happen ‎there may take place; events that will affect the very future of their world. ‎But certain necessary ‎signs had not yet been fulfilled, so they hid the ‎collars where the Cult couldn’t get to them and ‎went home to wait. ‎

Now it’s time. ‎

All the signs are fulfilled, and the journey to the Temple can begin. ‎

There’s just one small problem. According to their research, the Temple of the Damned is ‎‎situated in the kingdom of Nava. And Nava is headquarters for the Cult. The entire resources of ‎the kingdom are ranged against ‎the Companions. ‎

Also, the event in the Temple of the Damned is a meeting. Both sides must be present for a ‎meeting to ‎take place. That means the Cult knows where they’re going. Some ‎in the Cult believe ‎that they can win by default if they can prevent the meeting from taking ‎place. With troops ‎converging from all sides, the companions must make it to the Temple ‎through territory that’s ‎alien to them but home to the hunters. And meanwhile, one of the gods is ‎trying to sabotage the ‎quest and prevent the meeting from taking place. ‎

Last time, a very unexpected alliance with the nature ‎spirits helped them win the victory. They’ll ‎need even more help this time. They were ‎astounded when the nature spirits made their offer. ‎They’ll be completely flabbergasted when ‎they find out who is offering them aid this time; and ‎absolutely dumbfounded when they find ‎out why. ‎

With a group of uniquely talented companions, some very strange allies, and perhaps just a little ‎‎help from the gods (most of them, anyway), Niari, Carlitha and Friend set out for Nava and the ‎‎Temple of the Damned – and whatever they may find there. ‎

Can they make it through to the Temple of the Damned ‎in the face of impossible odds? Can they ‎do what they have to do there, and will it finally bring peace ‎to the world? Come join those ‎champions of the gods on their most dangerous quest yet – if you ‎dare. ‎

The Temple of the Damned is the third novel in the Daughters of Destiny series and follows on ‎‎from events in Voices from the Grave. But it should be perfectly ‎‎possible to read it without having first read the other two books.