The Prize in the Game

Jo Walton

Tom Doherty Associates, May 16, 2004 - Fiction - 256 pages

Set in the world of Jo Walton's previous novels, The King's Peace and The King's Name, The Prize in the Game takes us to a shining era of dark powers, legendary heroes and passionate loves-all of them ruled by the hand of Fate.

When a friendly competition leads to the death of a beloved horse and incurs the wrath of the Horse Goddess, the kingdoms of the island of Tir Isarnagiri are doomed to suffer. As the goddess' curse chases them down the years, four friends destined for kingship-Conal, Emer, Darag, and Ferdia-are forced into conflict as their countries build towards war.

Matters are complicated when Emer and Conal fall in love, and dream of escaping together from the machinations of their respective families. But Conal and Ferdia are rivals for the High Kingship of the island, and Conal cannot simply leave. The contest between them will lead to a visionary quest on a mountain sacred to the gods-and terrifying to men.

Yet Emer faces an even greater struggle. For when war finally comes, Emer has two choices: perform her duty to the homeland to which she owes everything, or protect the one she loves and be branded a traitor forever. The path she takes will become the stuff of legend, and forever alter the destiny of Tir Isarnagiri.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - wealhtheowwylfing - LibraryThing

This book is set years before [book: The King's Peace], and focuses on several characters mentioned only in passing. Like many fantasy heroines, Emer yearns to prove her mettle in battle--although ...

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - zeborah - LibraryThing

I adore this book; it's full of just my favourite kind of claustrophobic relationships and resigned refusal-to-be-resigned-to-fate. I like Conal, Emer and Elenn better than Ferdia, but still feel ...

About the author

Jo Walton won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer on publication of her debut novel The King's Peace. Her novel Tooth and Claw won the World Fantasy Award. A native of Wales, she lives in Montreal.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Prize in the Game
• Author: Jo Walton
• Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates, 2004
• ISBN: 1429956194, 9781429956192
• Length: 256 pages
• Subjects: Fiction / Fantasy / Epic