The Iron Princess

Clea Stylachos is the daughter of a manipulative merchant prince and the richest man in Morne. After her father accused her mother of sorcery, he disowned and imprisoned Clea. She grew up on the streets among the lowest of the low, learning how to survive in a city where only money can offer a normal life--a life that is beyond hope for many. She grew to care for those downtrodden people, and continues to do so after her father welcomes her back into his household.

Now, the people of Morne need Clea's help. Two of her father's slave-villages, where a magic-enhancing substance is mined, are wiped out by an unknown monster capable of stripping flesh from bones. To stop the beast, Clea needs the help of the murderous wizard Ithrazel--but must first rescue him from his torturous punishment in another dimension. Aided by spells cast by her friend Graywillow and the bravery of a shepherd boy who's been entranced to adore her, Clea rescues the wizard, though he wants nothing to do with the politics of the Orders of the Mages or the greed of the merchant houses.

Meanwhile, something is terribly wrong with the world's magic. The mages who were able to heal, drive pests away from croplands, and protect the populace can no longer summon even simple spells. The Crystal Mages, however, have mysteriously retained their powers . . .

With the help of the enslaved and disenfranchised tribes of the Twilight Lands, Clea, Graywillow, and Ithrazel hurry to stop a beast and unravel a deadly conspiracy. Clea knows she is risking her life. But she is the Iron Princess, and when called upon to lead, she will accept.

Praise for New York Times-bestseller Barbara Hambly

"A fabulously talented writer." --Charlaine Harris, bestselling author

"I think what is really special about [Hambly's] books . . . is a richness of setting combined with a cast of characters that you'd love to actually know." --SF Site

"Elegant, intelligent, and entertaining." --Publishers Weekly, starred review on Dragonshadow