The magical and action-packed sequel to The Swan Harp, this second book in the Wings of Valenia fantasy trilogy is perfect for fans of Throne of Swans and The Fireborne Blade. Darkness is rising. A queen must rise with it. It is autumn in Valenia, and times are hard. The queen is no longer herself after the tragic events of the spring. Wild animals have ravaged crops, and Princess Kiar worries about a lean winter for the kingdom. After her sister Adana returns from the swanfolk with a cryptic warning from the Swan Queen, the nearby bog seems to take on a life of its own, and a young girl from an eastern farmstead brings news of a band of inhuman, seemingly invincible attackers. Local legend tells of mysterious bog-walkers, souls suspended between life and death and lurking between worlds. Her father, the king, is wounded in battle, and the intruders seem to fear nothing and no one-except Kiar. But she cannot be everywhere at once. Along with her swanfolk friend, Willow, her future mate, the valiant and loyal Tuan, and a former enemy turned ally, Kiar enters the perilous heart of the bog to confront the dark magic within. Everything is at stake-the life of King Tir, her future as ruler, and the peace of Valenia.