The Known World is a sprawling region ruled by mortals, protected by gods, and plied by magicians and warriors, merchants and beggars, royals and scoundrels. Here, those with the gift of the Erjak share a psychic bond with animals; a far-reaching fraternity unites criminals of every persuasion in a vast army of villainy; and upon the mighty river Alt, the dead will one day sail seeking vengeance on the enemies of their descendants.
But for all the Known World’s wonders, splendors, and terrors, what has endured most powerfully is the strange legacy of Ji. Emissaries from every nation—the grand Goranese Empire; desolate, frozen Arkary; cosmopolitan Lorelia; and beyond—followed an enigmatic summons into the unknown. Some never returned; others were never the same. Each successive generation has guarded the profound truth and held sacred the legendary event. But now, the very last of them—and the wisdom they possess—are threatened. The time has come to fight for ultimate enlightenment…or fall to infinite darkness.
Volume 1 of 4 in the internationally bestselling Secret of Ji series
Winner of the Prix Ozone and Prix Julia Verlanger
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"Outstanding new voice in epic fantasy! I am so depressed that the other books in this series have not been translated yet. Makes me want to go out and learn French, so I can read more!"
— Amy (5 out of 5 stars)
" Weak ending. I know it's a series, but could use some more resolution. hardly left me wanting to read more. "
— Michael, 6/19/2013" This was OK. I don't know if the fault lies in the translation or if it was poorly written in the original French. It did not get my attention enough to read any sequels. "
— Lkai, 6/7/2013" It felt a little incomplete. "
— Brian, 2/5/2013Pierre Grimbert is a native of France and a lifelong fantasy enthusiast who numbers Jack Vance, Fritz Leiber, and Michael Moorcock among his heroes. He has been awarded the Prix Ozone for best French language fantasy novel and the Prix Julia Verlanger for best science fiction novel in any language. He is the author of thirteen beloved novels of the Ji mythos, including the Secret of Ji series, the Children of Ji series, and the Guardians of Ji series. He lives in northern France with his wife Audrey Françaix (who is also a writer) and two sons.
Michael Page has been recording audiobooks since 1984 and has over two hundred titles to his credit. He has won numerous Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. As a professional actor, he has performed regularly since 1998 with the Peterborough Players in Peterborough, New Hampshire. He is a professor of theater at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.