by Jack Vance
First published 1987
Prince Aillas of Troicinet embarks on his first diplomatic mission, but betrayal sends him plunging into the ocean. He washes ashore on Hybras Isle, where his royal birthright means nothing. Aillas endures captivity, wanders as a vagabond, and toils as a slave across the strange island. The Elder Isles teem with sorcerers wielding ancient power, faeries who keep their own counsel, and knights pursuing mysterious quests. In this pre-Arthurian realm beneath the Atlantic, Aillas encounters a melancholy girl whose beauty masks a tragic destiny. Their love affair ignites a fierce conflict with Casmir, the ruthless King of Lyonesse. Before Aillas can reclaim his throne, he must navigate the treacherous politics of nobles who shift between cruelty and kindness. The fate of kingdoms hangs on whether this displaced prince can survive the baroque intrigues of a lost world.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, political-machinations, royal-protagonist
Setting: Hybras Isle, Lyonesse, The Elder Isles, Troicinet
Period: pre-arthurian
436 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Ace