<b><i>New York Times</i> bestselling author Drew Karpyshyn has long thrilled readers with his kinetic, fast-paced storytelling style. Now he returns with <i>The Scorched Earth,</i> the second novel in his acclaimed series about four young people who will either save the world or bring about its destruction.</b><br> <b> </b><br> The Children of Fire—four mortals touched by the power of Chaos—each embody one aspect of a fallen and banished immortal champion: Keegan, the wizard; Scythe, the warrior; Cassandra, the prophet; Vaaler, the king. Grown to adulthood, the Children are in search of the ancient Talismans that can stop the return of Daemron the Slayer, ancient enemy of the Old Gods. But in acquiring Daemron’s Ring, they unleashed a flood of Chaos magic on the land—leaving death, destruction, and a vengeful queen in their wake.<br> <br> Now, beset on all sides by both mortal and supernatural enemies, they realize that their strength and faith will be tested as never before. And their greatest trial will be finding Daemron’s Sword, the last of the ancient Talismans, before the entire mortal world is engulfed in the war and Chaos that will herald the return of the Slayer.<br> <br> <b>Praise for Drew Karpyshyn’s <i>Children of Fire</i></b><br> <b> </b><br> “This energetic epic revitalizes the traditional fantasy quest with tragic heroes, evocative imagery, and sweeping conflict. . . . An intricately layered adventure.”<b>—<i>Publishers Weekly</i> (starred review)</b><br> <i> </i><br>“A rousing quest fantasy . . . a fast-paced action-packed good and evil thriller.”<b>—<i>SFRevu</i></b><br> <i> </i><br> “Thoroughly entertaining . . . an engrossing story that’s easy to dive into and hard to leave.”<b>—<i>Roqoo Depot</i></b><br> <br> “Gripping and compelling . . . a spellbinding epic told with masterly craft.”<b>—Tracy Hickman, <i>New York Times</i> bestselling co-author of the Dragonlance and Death Gate series</b>