City of Rain

by William Lejeune

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Book 1 of The Cinqhawk Saga

Pub Date Nov 20 2023 | Archive Date Nov 01 2024

William Lejeune

Sci Fi & Fantasy

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Description

An ancient mystery. A sorceress in hiding. And the wizards who hunt her.

Daughter of a minor house and fledgling mage, Summer Fontenay yearns for a life beyond her cloistered world. But when her dying master entrusts her with a mysterious parchment, she must use all that she has learned to survive. For there are those in the imperial court who would kill to obtain it and the secrets that it holds.

Suspected of murder and pursued by the emperor’s wizards, Summer must deliver the parchment to the distant city of Torrick. But the city is a place of both splendour and peril, its labyrinthine canals and alleyways a mirror of the ever-shifting factions and loyalties that Summer must navigate in order to reach her goal and restore her name.

The first in a series of novels, CITY OF RAIN is epic fantasy at its finest, set in a world of honour and treachery, swords and sorcery, plots, counterplots and the deadliest of intrigues; where the Great Houses jostle for power beneath the Nephrite Throne and where the parchment’s secrets threaten to change the very course of the empire itself.

An ancient mystery. A sorceress in hiding. And the wizards who hunt her.

Daughter of a minor house and fledgling mage, Summer Fontenay yearns for a life beyond her cloistered world. But when her...

A Note From the Publisher

Available from Amazon in paperback and on Kindle.

Advance Praise

Editorial reviews

"...packed with political intrigue .... City of Rain is an immersive, imaginative series opener that will appeal to fantasy fans seeking a quality new saga to enjoy." — BlueInk Review

"...brims with vivid details and gorgeous descriptions .... City of Rain combines political intrigue with high fantasy for a series reminiscent of A Song of Ice and Fire." — BookLife Prize

"...a captivating story of power and destruction .... A thrilling start to a world filled with more adventures" - IndieReader (IR Approved 4.6 stars)

“...it’s Lejeune’s sharp details that shine brightest .... This lengthy, measured and character-driven tale of magic kicks off what promises to be an engrossing saga.” — Kirkus Review

"...a spectacular story .... marvellously portrayed .... with rich characters, a detailed plot ... and a healthy dose of politics, City of Rain is not to be missed" — Reedsy Discovery

"...I would recommend it to those who like lots of characters, lots of moving pieces, old school epic fantasy medieval backdrop, swords, dragons, assassinations, quests and don't mind big doorstopping tomes." — Weatherwax Report

Praise from other Netgalley users:

"What is not to love? .... a great foundation for a continued series." (Goodreads, five star review)
"a great story it had me hooked from the bringing .... I loved going on this adventure. I loved getting to know the characters" (Goodreads, five star review).
"wonderful worldbuilding made the story feel alive in my mind" (Goodreads, four star review)

"The magic and mystery flows throughout the book." (Goodreads, four star review)
"a wonderful story, that would leave you breathless with descriptive prose & a detailed and immersive world, that feels like you are experiencing it first hand" (Amazon, four star review)

"a new epic fantasy series filled with realistic characters, plenty of turmoil, and the beginnings of an exciting adventure (and maybe found family?)" (Goodreads, four star review)

"a rich and varied world with engaging characters, which draws the reader in" (Amazon, three star review)
"Worth picking up if you enjoy complex political fantasy" (Goodreads, three star review)

Editorial reviews

"...packed with political intrigue .... City of Rain is an immersive, imaginative series opener that will appeal to fantasy fans seeking a quality new saga to enjoy." — BlueInk Review