Decades after the fall of Cyador, its survivors have reestablished themselves in Cigoerne, a fertile country coveted by hostile neighbors in less hospitable lands. Young Lerial, the second son of Duke Kiedron, lives in the shadow of his older brother, Lephi, the heir to their father's realm. Lerial's future seems preordained: he will one day command his brother's forces in defense of Cigoerne, serving at his older sibling's pleasure, and no more....

The Saga of Recluce chronicles the history of this world with world-building detail and an ingenious and disciplined magic system. L.E. Modesitt, Jr. returns to his longest and bestselling fantasy series with volume nineteen, The Mongrel Mage, which marks the beginning of a new story arc. In the world of Recluce, powerful mages can wield two kinds of magic--the white of Chaos or the black of Order. Beltur, however, has talents no one dreamed of, talents...