This is flawless epic fantasy. Williams' mastery of large-scale storytelling is on full display here. Not only is it absolutely readable – it’s an instant fantasy classic. Thirty years ago, Ineluki, the Storm King, was defeated and his armies scattered. Osten Ard has been at peace since then, ruled by Simon Snowlock, a kitchen boy turned king, and Miriamele, the only child of King Elias. But now, the weight of age bears down on their reign. Simon's dreams have abandoned him, old allies are dying, and betrayal and assassination loom. His son and heir, John Joshua, has been dead for years, and his grandson, Morgan, is a wastrel. A journey of redemption and discovery beckons in the darkening world. And in the frozen north, in Nakkiga, the mountain fortress, Ineluki's ally, the Norn Queen, awakens from her deep, decades-long slumber and announces to her followers that she will no longer sleep. Humanity must be annihilated. Her sorcerers will summon a demon.