The Ilduin Series by Rachel Lee

No memory, no future, and only a white rose to identify her. . . The Ilduin Bane are myth and legend: assassin mages whose blades drip poison and whose minds share a common purpose-one of death or control. All who have gone against them have been lost, unable to penetrate their powerful protections. And so Archer Blackcloak gathers a small band to bring about the downfall of the Bane. From Archer comes strength of purpose and an indomitable will... moreNo memory, no future, and only a white rose to identify her. . . The Ilduin Bane are myth and legend: assassin mages whose blades drip poison and whose minds share a common purpose-one of death or control. All who have gone against them have been lost, unable to penetrate their powerful protections. And so Archer Blackcloak gathers a small band to bring about the downfall of the Bane. From Archer comes strength of purpose and an indomitable will. Ratha and Giri, the Anari warriors, give the group a fighter's skill and temper. They are joined by Young Tom, whose unwavering loyalty is matched by an insatiable curiosity, and by Sara Deepwell, who has a surprising talent for magic. From their last member, Tess Birdsong, the only survivor of a brutal attack that left her with no memory, comes the power of one who has nothing left to lose. But the road to freedom is long and twisted, and before they are finished their old sorrows may destroy them. Yet once started, they cannot turn back--no matter how high the price to be paid. . . less

The Barnes & Noble Review From prolific romance maven Rachel Lee ( Before I Sleep, When I Wake, et al.) comes the second installment of her Ilduin trilogy -- and sequel to 2005's Shadows of Myth -- an epic fantasy that centers around Tess Birdsong, a young woman who has no memory of her past; all she knows for certain is that she possesses powerful -- and potentially deadly -- magical abilities... moreThe Barnes & Noble Review From prolific romance maven Rachel Lee ( Before I Sleep, When I Wake, et al.) comes the second installment of her Ilduin trilogy -- and sequel to 2005's Shadows of Myth -- an epic fantasy that centers around Tess Birdsong, a young woman who has no memory of her past; all she knows for certain is that she possesses powerful -- and potentially deadly -- magical abilities. Birdsong, it turns out, is an Ilduin, one of a group of legendary women with unparalleled supernatural powers. On a quest to find out who she is and what her destiny holds, Birdsong -- along with a small but important group of followers that includes an enigmatic man cursed with immortality, an innkeeper's daughter who is also an Ilduin, and a young prophet -- travels to the remote city of Anahar, where she hopes to find some answers in the sacred temples. In the midst of a looming war between the Anari and their Bozandari oppressors, Birdsong begins to understand the mysteries of her past, including a strange white rose tattoo on her ankle and a bag of 12 colored stones she possesses. But can she come to grips with her abilities before a nameless evil finally tracks her down? A palatable blend of understated romance and adventure fantasy, Lee's Ilduin saga should appeal to readers of both genres; the only criticism is a less than satisfying conclusion to this middle book of a projected trilogy. Readers will have to wait for the concluding installment to find out what ultimately happens to Birdsong and her companions. Paul Goat Allen less

They have liberated Anahar, but for Tess Birdsong and Archer Blackcloak the war has only begun. Anari slaves are rebelling in Bozandar, and the streets of that sparkling city are wet with blood. Tess and Archer must forge a peace between the warring races, for only together will their combined armies have the strength to move against the dark forces gathering to the west... moreThey have liberated Anahar, but for Tess Birdsong and Archer Blackcloak the war has only begun. Anari slaves are rebelling in Bozandar, and the streets of that sparkling city are wet with blood. Tess and Archer must forge a peace between the warring races, for only together will their combined armies have the strength to move against the dark forces gathering to the west. As the scars of old wounds are ripped open, pitting brother against brother and the Ilduin sisterhood against itself, Tess and Archer march into a battle that will determine the world's fate. Guided by snow wolves, moving under the dark cloud of a bitter prophecy, they ready themselves to strike at the enemy's seat of power, a mountain fortress that has never been taken. But their greatest danger comes from within, for Archer carries a dark secret that may doom them all.... less