For almost half of his twenty-six years Ryel Mirai has studied the Art in a bleak citadel on a barren plain. He returns to the World to rediscover the long-lost spell that will release his mentor from the wraithworld of the Void, but a malignant sorcerer likewise imprisoned has enlisted the aid of Ryel's strongest rival to find the spell first. Amid dangers, joys and temptations, Ryel encounters unlikely allies and unforeseeen enemies, and learns that he may well gain all that he wishes...although perhaps not as he wished it. The story is continued in the second volume, LORD BROTHER. Carolyn Kephart is the author of the magic realism novel Queen of Time and many short fiction pieces. Early life as a military brat gave her an appreciation of nomadic lifestyles, a fascination with world cultures, and close-up insights into the warrior mentality and its manifestations, all of which influence her work. She holds a doctorate in English Literature from Pennsylvania State University, and loves things that nourish the spirit and widen the mind. This 2014 edition of WYSARD revises and expands the 1999 first printing, and is the author's preferred version. "A well-written, intelligent fantasy with a beautifully crafted world ... A book to ponder, savor, contemplate but not rush through at breakneck speed, Wysard adds new dimensions to the fantasy genre by adding new concepts, or by looking at old concepts in a fresh manner. Concise but lyric, the prose complements the tale." Crescent Blues Book Views "Masterful fantasy by an extremely talented author" In The Library Reviews "Carolyn Kephart may not be a great name in fantasy, but she should be " Dark Moon Rising Magazine