The City

About this book

In her debut solo novel Stella Gemmell coauthor of the powerful (Booklist) conclusion to David Gemmells Troy series weaves a dark epic fantasy about a war-torn civilization and the immortal emperor who has it clutched in his evil grasp. The City is ancient layers upon layers. Once a thriving metropolis it has sprawled beyond its bounds inciting endless wars with neighboring tribes and creating a barren wasteland of what was once green and productive. In the center of the City lives the emperor. Few have ever seen him but those who have recall a man in his prime though he should be very old. Some grimly speculate that he is no longer human if he ever was. A small number have come to the desperate conclusion that the only way to stop the war is to end the emperors unnaturally long life. From the mazelike sewers below the City where the poor struggle to stay alive in the dark to the blood-soaked fields of battle where few heroes manage to endure the never-ending siege the rebels pin their hopes on one manShuskara. The emperors former general he was betrayed long ago and is believed to be dead. But under different aliases he has survived forsaking his City and hiding from his immortal foe. Now the time has come for him to engage in one final battle to free the City from the creature who dwells at its heart pulling the strings that keep the land drenched in gore.