Maggie Furey (1955–2016)

Hideous winged creatures have attacked the city of Tiarond, turning its streets and public squares into a killing ground. As bewildered groups of survivors flee the city in all directions, others make the treacherous journey to the sacred Temple, where the ancient power that can save the world lies hidden.

Two women warriors and a brazen firedrake journey to the realm of the Shadowleague, taking with them a Dragon Seer’s telepathic knowledge that might be used to repair the Curtain Walls. show more Yet not even that will be enough. Before the Shadowleague can act to save a rapidly unraveling reality, it must decide if it will trust a ruthless exile with a bloody past who can bring order to Myrial or hasten its harrowing descent into annihilation. show less

When all is lost, it's the actions of a few brave souls that will be remembered forever. The Curtain Walls have fallen, leaving the world of Myrial vulnerable to unknown enemies from other realms.

A slaughter by brutal winged invaders has left the city of Tiarond reeling, and the laws governing reality itself no longer seem to hold. Under the rule of a renegade leader, the Shadowleague slowly gathers together from its tattered remnants and braces for a devastating attack meant to shatter it show more forever. Missing is a ring, the symbol of Myrial’s divine power, and a reminder to its new ruler of the part he played in the collapse of the Curtain Walls. It must be found before his secret is discovered.

Missing is the one man whose mind holds the Dragon Seer’s knowledge of all tribal memories. Two warriors and a firedrake embark on an urgent mission to find him, before the Dragons do.

When all hope seems lost, a young boy points the way to an amazing discovery. Caverns beneath Tiarond hold ancient artifacts that just might be the key they’re all searching for–but which they may be sorry they’ve found. show less

Magical barriers between realms are failing, forcing a woman Loremaster and her firedrake companion to battle through harsh weather as their world faces invasion.

The world of Myrial is racing toward apocalypse. For aeons, its mysterious Curtain Walls have functioned to separate realm from realm, and race from race, so that each cordoned area remains a sanctuary for its species. But now the miraculous walls that have provided order for so long are disintegrating with disastrous show more results.

Mingling climates are causing unrelenting rains or deadly droughts, while warlike races are preying mercilessly on the helpless and meek. And the carnage will only grow worse unless a seasoned woman-warrior, a brazen firedrake, and a venerable Dragon with amazing telepathic powers, trusted members of the Shadowleague, succeed where everyone else has failed.

For they must first locate the heart of Myrial, where the secret for undoing this disaster resides. In order to reach their goal, however, they must overcome treachery, intrigue, and evil—and a mysterious figure from the past whose actions threaten to tear the Shadowleague apart. show less

This first book of a quartet is a plot driven, racing adventure story, with little in the way of character development. There is some growth in the title character of Aurian, a Mage and warrior, as she grows up, gains training in swordcraft and her Earth Magic, and begins her journey to counter the evil done by the Archmage. She is somewhat arrogant and has quite a temper, but she does mature as she suffers through great loss and many harrowing trials. The action is fast paced and rarely, if show more ever, lags. Most of the supporting characters are one dimensionally good or evil. However, Furey writes very well. The non stop action held my interest, and I will read the next book, hoping to see greater growth and diversity in the characters. I know there will be plenty of chases, battles, escapes, and quests! show less