From the critically acclaimed author of <I>The Mercy of Thin Air</I> comes the profound story of a strong, resilient woman who risks everything to be true to herself, “an otherworldly tale that charts the all-too-human territory between heartbreak and hope” (Deborah Harkness, <I>New York Times</I> bestselling author of <I>A Discovery of Witches</I> and<I> Shadow of Night</I>).<br><br>In an ancient time, in a faraway land, a young woman named Aoife is allowed a rare apprenticeship to become her kingdom’s mapmaker, tasked with charting the entire domain. Traveling beyond its borders, she finds a secretive people who claim to protect a mythic treasure, one connected to the creation of the world. When Aoife reports their existence to her kingdom, the community is targeted as a threat.<BR> <BR>Attempting to warn them of imminent danger, Aoife is exiled for treason and finds refuge among the secretive people, who show her great kindness. But amidst her new way of life, Aoife feels enormous grief for the home and children she left behind. She cannot bear the warrior scars of the man she comes to love. And when she gives birth to their gifted daughter, Aoife cannot avoid what the child forces her to confront about her past and its truth. On this most important of journeys, there is no map to guide her. In this tale—her autobiography—Aoife reveals her pain and joy, and ultimately her transformation.<BR> <BR><I>The Mapmaker’s War </I>is a mesmerizing, utterly original adventure about love and loss and the redemptive power of the human spirit. Watch for its epic sequel, Book Two of the trilogy, <I>The Chronicle of Secret Riven</I>, in May 2014.