The Norsunder War Books
Nobody sane wants war. But what happens when war comes to you? In this first volume of The Norsunder War , the allies introduced in The Rise of the Alliance find their world invaded. For Atan, Queen of Sartor, preserving lives and knowledge come before fleeing to safety. Jilo of Chwahirsland risks his life to resist the return of an evil king. And for Senrid of Marloven Hess, it means facing a combined army whose might hasn’t been seen for eight hundred years, and losing everything he holds dear. Heroism. Betrayal. Endurance. Resistance. Both sides encounter unexpected twists as some discover that even when existence is most dire, it can still surprise you . . . REVIEWS FOR EARLIER BOOKS IN THE SARTORIAS-DELES SAGA: OK, Bitches, anyone here like diversity? Kickass female characters? Rich, detailed worldbuilding? Of course you do! And I have got the series for you! — Smart Bitches, Trashy Books “Smith deftly stage-manages the wide-ranging plots with brisk pacing, spare yet complex characterizations, and a narrative that balances sweeping action and uneasy intimacy.” — Publishers Weekly CW: Part One is war; a child death
The unbeatable warrior-kingdom Marloven Hess has just been conquered. In the city of Methden, newly occupied by the enemy, a gang of teens led by fifteen-year-old Marend begins a covert resistance—which draws enemy eyes. Marend, a natural leader who craves command, becomes the focus of the defeated king hunted by the conquerors, and the hunter who did the conquering… This short novel, which stands alone, takes place between the events of the first two volumes of The Norsunder War: Ship Without Sails, and Seek to Hold the Wind.
PRAISE FOR THE SARTORIAS-DELES SERIES: “The book is set in a world so intricate and real that it’s hard to step out of and hard to forget. Filled with magic and glamour, it houses a culture unique for its openness and warlike ability.... Smith’s rich details and imagery tie this story together. Complex and compelling.” — San Jose Mercury News “Smith deftly stage-manages the wide-ranging plots with brisk pacing, spare yet complex characterizations, and a narrative that balances sweeping action and uneasy intimacy.” — Publishers Weekly “A damned good book.... A compelling protagonist with a vivid voice, a master's control of pacing and tension.” —Tor.com The second volume of four begins with the loose alliance of young rulers, mages, scribes, friends, and ex-enemies on the run. The only place of safety is a tiny agrarian kingdom no one has ever heard of, though hints begin to surface that nothing there is quite what it seems. Some venture on quests for ancient magical artifacts that might aid them—but all those quests turn . . . sideways. Some are deadly. Some races turn into chases. Meanwhile, Senrid, the Marloven warrior king, goes covert, staying one step ahead of the conquerors who want him dead. Atan, the queen who prides herself on peaceful solutions, discovers she has a talent for strategic thinking And Jilo, the nerdy son of a lowly sergeant who has been singlehandedly striving to save the once-great Chwahir nation from an insane king, crosses a continent to carry a message—the easiest quest of all—with utterly unforeseen results.
“A damned good book.... A compelling protagonist with a vivid voice, a master's control of pacing and tension.” —Tor.com The second volume of four begins with the loose alliance of young rulers, mages, scribes, friends, and ex-enemies on the run. The only place of safety is a tiny agrarian kingdom no one has ever heard of, though hints begin to surface that nothing there is quite what it seems. Some venture on quests for ancient magical artifacts that might aid them—but all those quests turn . . . sideways. Some are deadly. Some races turn into chases. Meanwhile, Senrid, the Marloven warrior king, goes covert, staying one step ahead of the conquerors who want him dead. Atan, the queen who prides herself on peaceful solutions, discovers she has a talent for strategic thinking And Jilo, the nerdy son of a lowly sergeant who has been singlehandedly striving to save the once-great Chwahir nation from an insane king, crosses a continent to carry a message—the easiest quest of all—with utterly unforeseen results.
“Written with heart-piercing vividness and sly humor, a roller coaster of emotions!” “Consistently brilliant, this series showcases what fantastic worldbuilding can be.” The long-awaited conclusion to The Norsunder War is also the culmination to the entire Sartorias-deles arc. Find out why one reader on Reddit said, “Beginning with INDA, this entire series utterly ruined me, and then gave me such joy and hope!” Secrets both ancient and current are revealed, as the alliance—at times uneasy—works together to reclaim Sartorias-deles from Norsunder. Leaders around the world plan a simultaneous counterattack, but that is only a decoy away from the battle in the realm of the mind against a world-devouring power. Hibern must solve a lethally dangerous puzzle as she dodges the hunter; grief-stricken Senrid must team with the man his beloved has chosen while his kingdom is overrun; Jilo singlehandedly intends to wrench the sinister Chwahir from their overwhelmingly poisonous tyrant; Imry, former commander, is now renegade, and even more dangerous; Marga begins to assert her powers; and everything comes down to Detlev, once the world’s chief villain. And yet, in spite of the mounting dangers, some manage to find love . . . Read the pulse-pounding, heart-lifting conclusion to The Norsunder War .