The Destiny of the Dead

The internationally bestselling Three Worlds epic fantasy series.

NISH, HIS BATTERED LITTLE TROOP and his few remaining allies are trapped on the Range of Ruin by the God-Emperor's mighty army. Nish's only choices are a humiliating surrender to his father or a suicidal fight to the death.

Yet Nish has to fight, and somehow he has to win, for the beautiful world of Santhenar is in peril and no one else can save it. Stilkeen, an all-powerful shape-shifting being from the void, has come to recover the stolen chthonic fire which once bound its physical and spirit aspects together, and it wants revenge for the mortal insult that was done to it.

But it may be too late for Santhenar; chthonic fire has been released from its casket and is now eating away the Antarctic lands as it once devoured the planet of Aachan. Even if, by some miracle, Nish can win the battle with his father, there may be no way to stop the fire, or Stilkeen, before the whole world is consumed.

REVIEWS

'Unbelievably, Irvine has managed to increase the pace of his story in this third and final volume – for sheer excitement, there's just no one like Irvine around at the moment.' SFX, 4 stars.

'This precise and beautifully crafted novel blooms from its ascetic opening to a resonant and rewarding climax. Makes what's currently available on fantasy shelves seem hackneyed and formulaic. Utterly absorbing." Stephen Davenport, Independent Weekly.

"Hang on with both hands, because this story waits for no one." Sandy Auden, SFX.

"The final payoff is fantastic. The most unflaggingly inventive storyteller we've seen in years." Sydney Morning Herald.

"A page-turner of the highest order … Arguably the most inventive fantasy author to emerge in recent years, Irvine can now consider himself comfortably ranked next to the works of Robert Jordan and David Eddings and, more appropriately, the mighty Anne McCaffrey. Formidable!" SFX (UK).

'Ian Irvine has produced one of those rarities in the fantasy genre, and that is a unique, well-thought-out world coupled with a well-written storyline. A gripping read for Irvine fans or a fresh new series for any other readers.' Enigma (UK).

'Readers of Eddings, Goodkind and Jordan will lap this one up.' Starlog (UK).