I realized that there was more to Kiloran's rival than met the eye. He wasn't just a power-hungry waterlord who couldn't think ahead. There was a complicated agenda behind his seemingly simple goal of destroying Kiloran—and a complex, secretive past behind a mutual enmity so towering that it has repeatedly undermined the judgment of these two otherwise shrewd and calculating men.
Discovering and exploring stuff like this, particularly when I didn't realize that something was going to happen (or that someone was going to emerge as a key player), is part of what keeps my job so endlessly interesting. The White Dragon was full of satisfying surprises for me—and I hope it was for you, too. I also hope you'll find the final book of this trilogy, The Destroyer Goddess, equally satisfying, as Baran, Kiloran, Ronall, Elelar, Tansen, Zarien, Mirabar, and all the rest of Sileria's people meet their destiny.
—Laura Resnick
Don't miss the story's stunning conclusion:
The Destroyer Goddess
The Silerian Trilogy: Book Three
A nation plunged into civil war.
A prophecy shattered by betrayal.
A volcano goddess venting Her wrath.
You'll never guess what happens next...
"Year's Best" list, Publisher's Weekly
"Year's Best" list, Voya
"Fast-paced, witty and full of action, the book is a marvel of storytelling, but it's the credible, complex relationships among the characters that elevates this far above the usual fantasy standard... Resnick fans have cause to rejoice."
—[starred review] Publishers Weekly
"The rivalries and feuds continue fast and furious, not to say bloody, and Tansen nearly loses his life. But a mysterious boy from the ranks of the waterlords saves Tansen to continue his struggle to a breathless and satisfactory conclusion. The tale will certainly keep its series audience industriously turning pages and make them hope Resnick has more in store for them."
—Booklist
"Free will wars with vague prophecy and divine intervention in this epic romantic fantasy, which will stay with readers long after the satisfying conclusion... [Resnick's] mythology and world-building are flawless, the characters are convincing and complex, and Sileria is intoxicatingly believable."
—Romantic Times
And in case you missed the first book...
In Legend Born
The Silerian Trilogy: Book One
In a land of hunted fire sorcerers and outlawed water wizards, five enemies must unite to free their embattled nation from centuries of oppression. But betrayal and vengeance are a way of life in Sileria...
"In Legend Born is the kind of book that makes you say, 'Just one more page. I'm right in the middle of a good part and have been for the last 400 pages.' Laura Resnick's plot and characters work together seamlessly. The protagonists have complex histories, and, as Resnick deftly reveals their hidden motivations, their actions begin to make sense. These characters seem real... and readers will want to know what happens to them."
—Starlog
"For action-packed storytelling filled with prophecies, plot reversals, and conflict-haunted heroes, this is as good as it gets."
—Philadelphia Inquirer
"A rich brew of conspiracies... juicy romantic entanglements... blood feuds and massacres."
—Publishers Weekly
"A smoothly narrated, intricate tale of revolution and the human heart."
—Library Journal
"Creating a vast panorama that provides an intimate backdrop to the lives of her fascinating characters, Ms. Resnick writes with the shining wonder of truly great fantasy."
—Romantic Times
"Well-crafted . . . well told, absorbing, and intelligent."
—Booklist
"An epic debut, a book filled with color and excitement."
—Abilene Reporter-News
"A bang-up job, a sharp, satisfying read."
—The Edmonton Journal
Also by Laura Resnick...
The Esther Diamond Series
"Fans of Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series will appreciate this series' lively heroine and the appealing combination of humor, mystery, and romance."
—[starred review] Library Journal
Disappearing Nightly
Doppelgangster
Unsympathetic Magic
Vamparazzi
Polterheist
The Misfortune Cookie
The Chronicles of Sirkara
"For action-packed storytelling filled with prophecies, plot reversals, and conflict-haunted heroes, this is as good as it gets."
—Philadelphia Inquirer
In Legend Born
The White Dragon
The Destroyer Goddess
NonFiction
"[Resnick's] her hard-won, practical advice will inspire both aspiring and published writers as it helps them navigate the always choppy waters of the publishing world."
—Booklist
Rejection, Romance, and Royalties: The Wacky World of a Working Writer
Short Story Collections
Highway To Heaven
Maybe You've Heard of Me?
The Muse Afire
Glossary
Aiola!: May they die!
Bharata Ma-al: the bharata is the sea-born folk's annual ritual slaughter of dragonfish
jashar: a woven rope belt worn by shallaheen; its knots, beads, and weaving convey vital information, such as the wearer's name and clan; other variations include a door jashar, a woman's headdress, a message left hanging from a tree, etc.
kadriah: an endearment which means true love, sweetheart, “my destiny”
lirtahar: the law of silence
mar: child of (used within a formal name)
roshah: outsider, stranger, foreigner
shah: clan of (used within a formal name)
shallah: mountain peasant; also refers to their dialect
shatai: a Kintish swordmaster
shatai-kaj: one who trains shatai
shir: the wavy-edged, enchanted water-dagger of a Society assassin
siran/sirana: master/mistress: term of respect
sriliah: traitor
stahra: an oar-shaped weapon used by the sea-born folk
toren/torena: titled aristocrats (male and female)
yahr: a flailing weapon used by the shallaheen, it consists of two sticks of wood connected by a short rope
Yahrdan: ruler
yesh: spouse of (used within a formal name)
zanar: member of a male-only religious cult; the zanareen live atop Mount Darshon and occasionally fling themselves into the volcano in an attempt to become the Firebringer
Characters
Men
Abidan: a waterlord; brother of Liadon
Aljuna: a pirate and smuggler
Armian: exiled as a baby; Harlon's son; once reputed to be the Firebringer
Baran: a powerful waterlord, Kiloran's chief rival; lives at Belitar
The Beckoner: a spirit that haunts Mirabar
Borell: the (deceased) Imperial Advisor in Sileria
Candan: an assassin loyal to Kiloran
Cheylan: a Guardian
Commander Cyrill: the (new) Valdani Commander of Cavasar; nephew of Advisor Borell
Commander Daroll: briefly High Commander of Sileria (deceased)
Daurion: the last Yahrdan (ruler) of Sileria, murdered by Marjan
Derlen: a Guardian, from a merchant family in Shaljir
Dulien: a sulky waterlord
Dyshon: an assassin loyal to Kiloran
Ealian: an elderly Guardian
Emelen: Josarian's brother-in-law; Jalilar's husband
Toren Emmeran: an aristocratic abductee
Ferolen: a tedious waterlord
Gaborian: Elelar's late grandfather, founder of the Alliance
Galian: a shallah known for fighting with two yahr
Geriden: a minor waterlord
Gillien: a sea-bound Kurv
ari, distantly related to Zarien
Gulstan: a fat waterlord
Harlon: Armian's father; the waterlord succeeded by Kiloran
Jagodan shah Lironi: a powerful eastern clan leader
Jalan: a zanar
Emperor Jarell: Emperor of Valdania for the past 40 years
Josarian mar Gershon shah Emeldari: outlaw and rebel leader (deceased)
Kariman: a shrewd waterlord
Kiloran: Sileria's most powerful and feared waterlord
Kiman shah Moynari: a handsome eastern clan leader
Commander Koroll: High Commander of Sileria (deceased)
Lann: a large, bearded shallah from Emeldar
Liadon: a waterlord; brother of Abidan
Linyan: Zarien’s sea-born grandfather
Marjan: the first-ever waterlord, who killed Daurion
Meriten: a waterlord and an ally of Kiloran
Morven: Zarien’s younger brother
Najdan: an assassin inducted into the Honored Society by Kiloran
The Olvar: leader of the Beyah-Olvari
Orman: Zarien’s elder brother
Pyron: a shallah loyalist
Porsall: a Valdani toren
Radyan: a shallah from Illan
Ronall: Elelar's half-Valdani husband
Searlon: an assassin loyal to Kiloran
Semeon: a red-haired Guardian child
Sorin: Zarien’s sea-born father
Srijan: Kiloran's son
Tansen mar Dustan shah Gamalani: a shallah from Gamalan who became a shatai during his exile from Sileria
Teyaban: a servant of Elelar’s in Shaljir
Varian of Adalian: a toren in the Alliance
Verlon: a powerful waterlord in the district of Liron
Vinn: an assassin loyal to Baran
Wyldon: a waterlord who likes to sculpt
Yorin: a one-eyed shallah from Malthenar
Zarien: a boy of the sea-bound Lascari clan
Zimran shah Emeldari: Josarian's cousin (deceased)
Women
Sister Basimar: a friend of the rebels and loyalists
Calidar: Josarian's deceased wife
Torena Chasimar: Porsall’s pregnant wife
Dar: the destroyer goddess
Torena Elelar mar Odilan yesh Ronall shah Hasnari: a member of the Alliance
Faradar: Elelar's servant
Haydar: Najdan’s mistress
Iyadar: a brave young Guardian
Jalilar: Josarian's sister; wife of Emelen
Mirabar: a Guardian tormented by prophetic visions
Sister Norimar: a widowed Sister in Zilar
Palomar: Zarien’s mother
Sister Rahilar: a friend of the rebels and loyalists
Sister Shannibar: an animal lover in Zilar
Sharifar: a sea goddess
Tashinar: a Guardian, Mirabar's mentor
Sister Velikar: a bad-tempered Sister
Viramar: Jagodan’s wife
Yenibar: Torena Chasimar's servant
Clans
Emeldari: Josarian's clan
Gamalani: Tansen's clan (eastern)
Hasnari: Elelar's clan
Idalari: Armian's and Harlon's clan
Islanari: Basimar's and Amitan's clan
Kurvari: a sea-born clan
Lascari: Zarien’s sea-bound clan
Lironi: Jagodan’s clan (eastern)
Moynari: Kiman’s clan (eastern)
Sirdari: Calidar's clan (a western clan known for its bloodfeud with Tansen's clan, the Gamalani)
Factions
The city-dwellers: the inhabitants of Sileria's cities and larger towns
The Guardians: a Silerian religious sect which communicates with the Otherworld via fire magic
The Honored Society: the waterlords and assassins of the Society achieve power through extortion, violence, and control of Sileria's water supply
The lowlanders: peasants living and working on Sileria's agricultural plains
The Outlookers: the gray-clad Valdani occupying force in Sileria; different from the Valdani armies on the mainland
The sea-born folk: bearing intricate indigo tattoos on their arms, they live mostly aboard their boats along Sileria's coasts
The shallaheen: mountain peasants; the largest and poorest faction in Sileria
The Sisterhood: usually Silerian widows or young women with a calling, the Sisters are pacifists and healers, and they provide Sanctuary for people in danger
The zanareen: a fanatical Silerian sect living atop Mount Darshon, awaiting the coming of the Firebringer
Place Names
Abayara: the first moon
Adalian: Sileria's southern port city, famous for its Temple Market
Alizar: Sileria's rich diamond mines
Amalidar Mountains: a western mountain chain which includes many sites where the shallah rebels are active
Belitar: Baran's home
Britar: a shallah village; there's a Valdani fortress north of Britar
Cavasar: Sileria's western port city
Chandar: the village nearest to the sacred caves of Dalishar
Dalishar Caves: a remote, sacred site on Mount Dalishar in western Sileria, the caves become a rebel base
Mount Darshon: this massive, snow-capped, active volcano in eastern Sileria is the home of Dar, the destroyer goddess
Ejara: the second moon
Emeldar: Josarian's native village, in western Sileria
Gamalan: Tansen's native village, in eastern Sileria
Garabar: a mountain and also the name of a town in western Sileria
Golnar: a village in western Sileria
Great Northern Desert: north of Valdania
Idalar River: this river, which is the primary water supply for Shaljir, has been fought over for years by Kiloran and Baran
Illan: a town on the Idalar River
Islanar: a town in western Sileria
Lake Kandahar: the site of Kiloran's home—which has long been a closely guarded secret
Kashala: a Kintish port city
Kintish Kingdoms: a loose association of states on the mainland east of Sileria
Kinto: the founding state of the Kintish Kingdoms, and the state in which the Palace of Heaven is located
Liron: Sileria's eastern coastal city, perched on the sacred rainbow-chalk cliffs of Liron
Malthenar: a western shallah village which became infamous as the site of a massacre
Marendar: a village in the east; home of Jagodan, leader of the Lironi clan
Middle Sea: the inland sea that surrounds Sileria
Mount Niran: Guardians camp in ancient painted caves above the gossamer forests on this mountain in western Sileria
Moorlands: a large mainland region inhabited by perpetually warring tribes, located west of Sileria
Mount Orlenar: Josarian's uncle stables some sheep in an abandoned Kintish shrine here; this is where Tansen and Josarian meet for the first time
Orban Pass: a hard day's ride from Cavasar, this where Josarian first killed Outlookers and became an outlaw; the pass leads from the coast to the Amalidar Mountains
Otherworld: the place of the afterlife in traditional Silerian religion
Palace of Heaven: the central seat of power in the Kintish Kingdoms, home of the Kintish High King
Santorell Palace: located in Shaljir, this is the seat of power in Sileria
Santorell Square: a public square in Shaljir, overlooked by Santorell Palace
Shaljir: the capital of Sileria
Sileria: a mountainous island nation in the Middle Sea; conquered 1,000 years ago by the Moorlanders; invaded eight centuries ago by the Kintish Kingdoms when the Moorlanders pulled out; seized from the Kints two centuries ago by the expanding Empire of Valda in their wars of conquest, and now still ruled by the Valdani
Sirinakara River: the vast m
ainland river that flows north into the Middle Sea
Sirkara: "heart of the world," an ancient name for the Middle Sea
Lake Ursan: located in western Sileria
Valda/Valdania: capital city/empire, on the mainland north of Sileria
Zilar: wealthy town in northern Sileria, home of a famous gold-tiled Kintish temple
Zilar River: a tributary of the Shaljir River
About the Author
Laura Resnick is the author of many books, short stories, articles, and columns. Her Esther Diamond urban fantasy series, which features the supernatural misadventures of a struggling actress in New York, has received enthusiastic praise from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. The author's epic fantasy novels include In Legend Born, The White Dragon, which made several "Year's Best" lists, and The Destroyer Goddess, which Publishers Weekly describes as "a marvel of storytelling."