The Darkling Hills

A new edition of the evocative fantasy novel!In the ancient land of the Five Hills, the worshippers of Nialia, goddess of Fate, see the future in fire and wisps of smoke. But the followers of Armas, god of Strength and Power, are grounded in the past and have a practical grasp of the present. They are forbidden to marry among the Nialians, the seers of the future. For a child born of such love will be godlike, having all time and knowledge in his grasp, and the mortal shell will not contain it. Death or madness will result, and a great destruction will come upon the Hills...Now in the first year of the Sixth Hold of the King, the warning signs of a coming evil are increasing. A challenge to royal supremacy grows in strength and cunning in the passages of the palace, while across the border the enemy prepares in secret for war against them. Dalleena, the young royal heir, finds her once-strong powers of prophecy failing. To protect her country, she knows only that she must commit a great crime and heresy - risking her own life and the life of her lover.From the palace of Lindahne to the edge of the Sea, from the darkness of Sanlin's Cave to the secret political maneuverings of Mendale, this epic fantasy novel seizes the imagination as the story sweeps to the final joining of battle across the darkling Hills.Praise for THE DARKLING HILLS"A carefully wrought fantasy . . . of romance, intrigue, and war. Martin's first novel is recommended" - Library Journal"Interesting and imaginative" - Publishers Weekly"A gripping first novel" - The Hartford CourantWatch for the upcoming sequel in December 2013, CALLING UP THE FIRE