As shadows threaten to consume the kingdom of Southmarch, Barrick Eddon, heir to March throne, battles his way across the sinister Shadowlands. He must journey through this dangerous, inhuman realm to fulfil a pact ? as this may be all that can prevent the atrocities of a full-scale war with the Twilight people of Qul-na-Qar. Princess Briony, Barrick's twin sister, finds herself in no less danger at the court of Tessis in Syan. When those close to her fall dead from poisoning, she is to learn the true extent of the betrayal surrounding her. Her only option is to flee, as all those in Tessis turn against her ? all, that is, except for one important ally. Meanwhile, the assault upon Southmarch has truly begun. Yasammez, the formidable head of the Qar army, has ordered the attack, believing that the pact between humans and Qar has been broken. Unless Ferras Vansen, Captain of the Southmarch Royal Guard, can convince her otherwise, the humans are sure to meet the dark end that has been promised to them ...

泰德•威廉姆斯（Tad Williams）

世界著名科奇幻作家，1957年3月生于美国加利福尼亚州。

他的作品在全球范围内畅销百万册。主要代表作品为史诗奇幻、史诗科幻、都会奇幻小说，以及漫画和剧本等。泰德·威廉姆斯的作品影响了一代作家的创作。比如著名奇幻小说作家乔治•R.R.马丁就对泰德赞不绝口，表示正是读了他的书，才悟出奇幻文学的创作可以有如此多的可能性，他的代表作《冰与火之歌》在故事构架和叙述手法上延承其甚多。

泰德·威廉姆斯的代表作主要有：雾影四部曲之《雾影边境》（Shadowmarch）、《雾影游戏》（Shadowplay）、《雾影升腾》（Shadowrise）、《雾影之心》（Shadowheart），《回忆、悲伤与荆棘》（Memory, Sorrow and Thorn），《异国》（Otherland）等。其中雾影四部曲荣获德国幻想文学奖，入围鹅毛笔大奖、英国幻想文学奖，并被《轨迹》杂志评为年度最佳奇幻小说。