The Blood Wars have begun again.

For nearly a thousand years, the Central Plain of the Southlands was the stage for a prolonged, bitter series of conflicts that nearly bled the land to death. The magical Qirsi of the western clanlands, with their strange magic, fought for dominance with the powerful Eandi sovereignties of the east. Children born in the shadow of the great wars were raised on hatred and violence and fear, until at last the Qirsi clans succeeded in driving the Eandi from the plain, and the wars gave way to a hard and uneasy peace.

But now, a plague conjured by a madwoman has struck at the Qirsi's magic, spreading across the land like wind-driven fires, and threatening to overwhelm the Fal'Borna, the powerful clan of sorcerers who hold the plain. In Qalsyn, Jenoe and Tirnya Onjaef, father and daughter, heirs to a shattered, abandoned throne, see in the suffering of the Fal'Borna an opportunity to retake their ancestral home. They gather an army, intending to march on the Qirsi, even at the risk of recommencing the bloodshed that has dominated the history of the Southlands.

Knowing that their swords and shields are no match for Qirsi magic, they enlist the aid of the Mettai, Eandi sorcerers who have long lived in exile, eschewing the conflicts of the white-hairs and dark-eyes. The warriors of Qalsyn do not know, however, that these Mettai carry into battle a secret of their own, a dark curse that twists their magic in ways they cannot anticipate. Nor do they realize that Torgan Plye, a merchant who has lost all his riches and who is desperate to save himself, has the will and the means to spread the plague even further.

Caught in the middle are Grinsa jal Arriet, his wife, Cresenne, and their daughter, Bryntalle,who have come to this strife-torn land from the Forelands, seeking a home where they can live in peace. They befriend Besh, an old Mettai man, and Sirj, the husband of Besh's daughter, who have pursued the Mettai madwoman from their village, and have used their magic to combat her deadly plague. Now Grinsa, Cresenne, Besh, and Sirj must find a way to prevent this new Blood War from overwhelming the land.

As the battle for the Southlands begins anew, unleashing creatures of myth and nightmare that have not roamed the land for hundreds of years, Grinsa and his companions must overcome magics they scarcely comprehend in order to save the people of the land from their own ancient hatreds. The future of the Southlands hangs in the balance, as the sins of previous generations wreak terrible consequences on both sides in a misbegotten war.

*****

Praise for The Horsemen's Gambit, book II of Blood of the Southlands

"In this intense and appealing sequel to 2007's The Sorcerer's Plague, clan rivalry continues apace...Coe steps up the tension and raises the stakes, leaving readers quivering in anticipation of book three." -- Publisher's Weekly

"Coe manages to take several serious, weighty issues, approach them from distinctly different points of view and make you sympathetic toward characters who sometimes act selfishly or viciously. He absolutely nails the plot and sequencing. This book is the best yet in the series. Four and a Half Stars" -- Romantic Times

"David B. Coe ties off this second episode with a knot of hope, while leaving the Southlands on the brink of bloody conflict. I can't wait for the conclusion to his excellent series, and have added him to my must read author list." --www.bookloons.com

"David B. Coe created a richly textured, unique world in his Winds of the Forelands, and topped himself with The Sorcerer's Plague, his first novel set in the Southlands of the same world. Now in The Horsemen’s Gambit, Coe weaves together engagingly complex characters, unique, unusual magic, political intrigue and a compelling, unpredictable story into a captivating epic that will enthrall fantasy readers…" --http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/

Praise for The Sorcerers' Plague, book I of Blood of the Southlands

"Coe follows the Winds of the Forelands series with this absorbing trilogy opener set across the sea in the Southlands.... Fans will cheer on Forelands series hero Grinsa, a powerful but pacifist Qirsi, who ties the two series together....." -- Publishers' Weekly

"The Southlands are as highly detailed as the Forelands of Coe's five-volume Winds of the Forelands. The characters, especially the old searcher, are extremely well drawn. Those who enjoyed Coe before should like him again, and since one need not have read Winds to figure out anything in the first book of Blood of the Southlands, newcomers can jump right in." -- Booklist

"Book one of Coe's Blood of the Southlands series is set in a fascinating world. Characters explore issues of magic, prejudice and ignorance with extraordinary frankness. He manages to bring in characters beloved from his Winds of the Forelands series without forcing them to carry the plot. An entertaining read! Four Stars" -- Romantic Times

"...Coe weaves another saga of high drama and personal heroism that should please fans of epic fantasy. A good choice for most fantasy collections, particularly where the first series had a following." -- Library Journal

"Coe's new series is his best yet: appealing characters, twisty plot, and absorbing world....The thing that struck me while reading this book was that Coe does not settle for the comfortable fantasy archetypes that have really become stereotypes. His main character, Besh, is not young or handsome, he's old and ordinary, but he's smart, subtle, he's wise because he's experienced at life. The antagonist in this story is no Dark Lord, but someone with good reason to be twisted, who is the hero of her own story. This juxtaposition makes for the best kind of intrigue and twistiness. Add in magic, interesting cultures, and you've got a promising series. Coe just keeps getting better. " --Sherwood Smith

"The Sorcerer's Plague satisfies with sharply-drawn characters and an intense, intelligent plot. I eagerly await the next book of the Southlands." --Kate Elliott, author of Spirit Gate