Jal wants only to return home to his wine, women, and song, but Snorri has his own purpose for the key: to find the very door into death, throw it wide, and bring his family back into the land of the living.
And as Snorri prepares for his quest to find death's door, Jal's grandmother, the Red Queen, continues to manipulate kings and pawns toward an endgame of her own design...
"Lawrence's epic fantasy is a great summer read, full of humor, revenge, and perils that this warrior-and-coward duo must evade in order [to] save their kingdoms and themselves."--The Washington Post
"Exciting action and quick-witted dialog make it a fantastic summer page-turner."--Library Journal (starred review)
"Jalan Kendeth is a fine addition to this Loki-like roster of tricksters, knaves, and cowards: heroes and antiheroes we love to hate and hate to love...Mark Lawrence's growing army of fans will relish this rollicking new adventure and look forward to the next one."--The Daily Mail
"As richly told as the earlier trilogy: The author makes this place, a post-cataclysm earth of the far future, feel as real as any place you've ever visited. For fans of the Broken Empire series and readers who enjoy a good, epic-sized fantasy story (readers of, say, George R. R. Martin), this is a must-read."--Booklist
"Shrewd Jalan and honorable Snorri make a marvelous team, lightening a very dark story with wry humor. The brisk adventure and black magic will leave readers eager for the next chapter in the series."--Publishers Weekly