The Iron Princess

Name: The Iron Princess
Brand: Tantor Audio
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)
Author: Barbara Hambly
ISBN: 9798350893885

Author: Barbara Hambly

Narrator: Julia Anthony

Unabridged: 12 hr 35 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 11/21/2023

Categories: Fiction, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Epic

Synopsis

Something is amiss with the world's magic. Spells don't work the way they used to—when they work at all. Only the powers of the Crystal Mages remain as they were, powers founded on the use of the mystical element adamis, the harvesting of which has enslaved the peoples of the Twilight Lands. Ravenous beasts have begun to appear, legendary creatures that seem to be proof against any magic. And Clea Stylachos, granddaughter of a great sage of the Twilight people, has reason to fear that the Crystal Mages, instead of seeking to defeat these monsters, are attempting to weaponize them in their quest for power.

Clea's only hope to save her people is a wizard who retains his power, one who will not betray her. But that wizard—Ithrazel the Cursed—wants nothing to do with saving the world, helping a hero, or unraveling the terrible secret at the heart of the Crystal Mages' plans. Clea works to untwist the deadly riddles of magic and monsters—to free her mother's disenfranchised people from slavery under her father's conquering forces. To save her mageborn brother from the Crystal Mages' power; to control a sorcerer legendary for his deed of evil; to keep her own small band of friends one step ahead of her father's troops and the Crystal Order's spells. She is the Iron Princess, and she knows she must prevail or die.

Contains mature themes.

About Barbara Hambly

Barbara Hambly is a New York Times bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction, as well as historical novels set in the nineteenth century. After receiving a master's degree in medieval history, she published The Time of the Dark, the first novel in the Darwath saga, in 1982, establishing herself as an author of serious speculative fiction. Since then she has created several series, including the Windrose Chronicles, Sun-Cross, and Sun Wolf and Starhawk, in addition to writing for the Star Wars and Star Trek universes.

Besides fantasy, Hambly has won acclaim for the James Asher vampire series, which won the Locus Award for best horror novel in 1989, and the Benjamin January mystery series, featuring a brilliant African-American surgeon in antebellum New Orleans. She lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Margaret on March 04, 2023

Well, that took a couple of turns I wasn't expecting I'm always interested in Barbara Hambly's work, and this book did not disappoint. The setup and the problems in this world, and for the characters, were interesting and not quite the usual.. I also enjoyed how she brought the book to a satisfying c......more

Goodreads review by William on January 02, 2024

[Probably 3.5 stars really] [mild spoilers that you will probably figure out anyway] After many years wandering in the (relatively more remunerative) wilderness of historical mystery (to be fair, I've recently started reading the mysteries and they're pretty good) Hambly has returned to fantasy. Or ra......more

Goodreads review by Janet Dietzman on April 28, 2024

lots of action and adventure Not my favorite BH, but enjoyable, none the less. A trifle convoluted and confusing - a good editorial review might have helped clear up some of the confusion made by sudden changes in point of view, and in the (sadly) ever present editorial errors wrought by depending on......more

Goodreads review by Priscilla on May 08, 2023

I want to enjoy Hambly's writing. I really, really do. This is the third book of hers that I've read (second that I've finished), and despite the fact that I love the genres of science fiction and fantasy, I find that I struggle to enjoy her work. An article I read on her style described it as "abst......more

Goodreads review by Stephanie on July 11, 2023

Clea’s world is changing. The magic is changing, spells go wrong for all the world’s mages except those of the Crystal Mages whose magic depends on adamine. Worse, mysterious beasts have risen and are destroying towns. She needs a mage whose magic is untainted by the problems of her world so she tra......more