A Rising Moon

October 1, 2018
“The Moonshadow has returned to battle” in Leigh’s second and final Sunpath Cycle epic (after A Fading Sun), set in an intricately constructed world of magic and conquest. Formidable warrior queen and magic user Voada once successfully harnessed the immense power of the ghostly Moonshadow to temporarily dispel the conquering Mundoans from her land of Albann. Now the Mundoans are back, led by the aging but dutiful Cdr. Altan Savas. Voada’s 18-year-old daughter, Orla, once enslaved by the Mundoans, is now free and vowing vengeance. Orla, who possesses even more power than her mother, rises to the rank of chief magic user and joins forces with Eideard Iosa, military commander and nephew of Voada’s war chief. Together they take on the Mundoan war machine while Orla struggles to keep the dominating Moonshadow from engulfing her. Orla’s epic chronicle of revenge ripples with elaborate magic, layers of logistics and war planning, politics, betrayal, and factions vying for power. It’s sure to please any reader of high fantasy.

November 15, 2018

In this sequel to A Fading Sun, Leigh returns to his setting of an alternate first-century Britain. Both the Cateni (Celts) and Mundoans (rulers of a Turkic/Roman empire) are recovering from massive losses. The local Mundoan military commander faces pressure to subdue the rebellious Cateni, reeling from the death of their leader Voada. Meanwhile, Orla, Voada's daughter, escapes from Mundoan captivity after her unwanted husband dies. Her magical gift attracts the Moonshadow, an ancient power once linked to Voada. But the Moonshadow brings madness if not controlled, and many Cateni hesitate to trust the untrained Orla. As the Mundoan forces attack, Orla struggles not only to stay alive and sane but to figure out who she wants to become. Newcomers can easily follow the story without having read the earlier book. Fans of Melanie Karsak's Highland Raven and similar Celtic historical fantasies will especially enjoy. VERDICT Despite the names and terms that divert attention from the story to the glossary, this fast-paced, character-driven fantasy will keep readers flipping pages right to the end.--C.P. Lesley, Wallingford, PA

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