Civitas Vadanis is in trouble. The Mezentines have declared war; and the Mezentines are very focused on their goals when it comes to killing.

Duke Valens, of Civitas Vadanis, has a dilemma. He knows that his city cannot withstand the invading army; yet its walls are his only defence against the Mezentines. Perhaps the only way to save his people is to flee, but that will not be easy either.

Ziani Vaatzes, an engineer exiled by the Mezentines for his abominable creations, has already proven that he can defend a city. But Ziani Vaatzes has his own concerns, and the fate of Civitas Vadanis may not be one of them.

"Intelligent and compassionate. . .it should be celebrated." -- Interzone on Devices and Desires

"One of the most entertaining fantasy debuts in recent years. . .incredibly vivid, refreshing, fun, thoughtful, absorbing." -- SFX

Author: K. J. Parker
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 11/21/2007
Series: Engineer Trilogy #2
Pages: 704
Weight: 1.34lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.78w x 1.84d
ISBN: 9780316003391

About the Author
K.J. Parker is a pseudonym for Tom Holt. He was born in London in 1961. At Oxford he studied bar billiards, ancient Greek agriculture and the care and feeding of small, temperamental Japanese motorcycle engines; interests which led him, perhaps inevitably, to qualify as a solicitor and emigrate to Somerset, where he specialized in death and taxes for seven years before going straight in 1995. He lives in Chard, Somerset, with his wife and daughter.