cover image Cold Fire

Cold Fire

Kate Elliott. Orbit, $14.99 trade paper (544p) ISBN 978-0-316-08099-6

Elliott’s second Spiritwalker novel (after Cold Magic) explores a magical alternate Earth in all its intricate and colorful glory. The city of Adurnam is controlled by powerful cold mages, but rebellion is stirring, led by General Camjiata, a crafty warlord who seeks to unite Europa into one glorious empire. The cold mages of Four Moons House, who forced young noblewoman Catherine Hassi Barahal to wed the young mage Andevai Diarisso Haranwy, want her under their thumb, while Camjiata is determined to keep Cat close to fulfill a prophecy that will bring him to power. Desperate to escape her magically binding marriage and save her precognitive cousin, Bee, from the Wild Hunt, Cat seeks her mysterious father in the spirit world—only to find worse trouble. Elliott skillfully blends intrigue and romance in this lively series about strong women caught among powerful and deadly forces. (Oct.)