War has come to the Forelands.

Throughout the seven realms nearly nine centuries of mistrust and suspicion between the white-haired Qirsi sorcerers and their Eandi masters have finally brought the land to the brink of crisis. Age-old conflicts among the various Eandi courts have erupted into armed conflict. Betrayals and treason, threats and assassinations; the machinations of the shadowy Qirsi conspiracy have taken their toll at last. The future of all the Forelands is balanced on the edge of a blade.

Tavis of Curgh, an Eandi prince falsely accused of murdering the princess to whom he was pledged, has endured torture and exile in his effort to prove his innocence. And at last he has avenged her death. Still, the murder and its aftermath have weakened his realm, just as the Qirsi conspirators who bought his love's blood had intended. Now Tavis and Grinsa, a Qirsi gleaner with more powers than he reveals, who saved Tavis when no one else would believe in the boy's innocence, venture across the Forelands, risking all to save the land they love.

A powerful Qirsi Weaver -- a man who can wield the magic of many sorcerers as a single weapon -- has brought this terrible war to the land, bending the minds of ally and foe alike in his single-minded drive to destroy the Eandi. With magic and cunning he estranges lovers, sunders alliances, foments treason, and wreaks murder and death throughout the land. But even this Weaver, with his malign intelligence, makes the mistake of underestimating the mettle of those who would oppose him. In a psychological duel with Grinsa, the Weaver's formidable powers are sorely tested. Grinsa withstands the Weaver's assault at nearly the expense of his own life, and in the process he discovers the Weaver's identity.

Will Grinsa's challenge to the Weaver spell the end of the dark conspiracy spreading over the land? Or has Grinsa's discovery come too late to help the Eandi cause? The answers lie in the growing war that may sunder the Forelands forever.

Shapers of Darkness is the fourth volume of Winds of the Forelands, the sequel to the critically acclaimed opening volumes, Rules of Ascension, Seeds of Betrayal, and Bonds of Vengeance.

*****

Praise for Weavers of War, book V of Winds of the Forelands

"Full of magic and intrigue, Weavers of War: Book Five of Winds of the Forelands, the final volume in David B. Coe's epic fantasy series, will keep fans turning the pages to the exciting climax." -- Publisher's Weekly

Praise for Shapers of Darkness, book IV of Winds of the Forelands

"In the fourth but obviously not final volume of the Winds of the Forelands, the war between the Eandi and the rebellious, magic-working Qirsi is rising to new heights. The Eandi prince Tavis is the focus of conflict here, and he suffers considerable anguish--physical by means of torture by his enemies, and mental over the fate of his beloved princess. The Qirsi are also unleashing a secret weapon, as it were: a powerful weaver who can affect and even destroy minds from vast distances. This all implies that nothing and nobody is going to be safe in the fifth book. If the series continues to maintain its present level of imaginative world building, superior characterization, and sound prose, that book too will be as welcome an addition to fantasy collections as this one is." -- Booklist

"....Those familiar with previous events will welcome the increasingly complex plot....Fans of Terry Goodkind's brand of fantasy intrigue will be pleased." -- Publisher's Weekly

Praise for Bonds of Vengeance, book III of Winds of the Forelands

"Coe writes a wonderfully complex and engrossing tale, but what truly made this book for me was the richness and depth of the beautifully crafted characters. A good plot makes for a great read, but interweave that plot with rich, complex characters and you have a splendid book - and this is a splendid book. There is absolutely nothing superficial about Coe's writing - it is strong, complex, and emotionally very, very powerful." -- Sara Douglass, author of The Wayfarer Redemption saga.

"David Coe writes fantasy that is intelligent, gripping, and real. Action and intrigue pull you into the story, and his sharply drawn characters keep you there. I'll be glad to read whatever he writes next." -- Kate Elliott

"Coe's saga is densely plotted and slowly paced, but that is appropriate for a narrative arc depending on rumor, innuendo, gradual erosion of trust, and slow communication. The characters are very well wrought, and the burgeoning aura of suspicion is only too convincingly realized. Admirers of Rules of Ascension (2002) and Seeds of Betrayal (2003) will be gratified by their new series mate." -- Booklist

"The notion of a charismatic leader who directs his followers by 'turning' them to his will via dream telepathy gives this series an evocative edge." -- Publisher's Weekly

Praise for Seeds of Betrayal, book II of Winds of the Forelands:

"Turmoil and deception propel Coe's second entry in his Winds of the Forelands tetralogy, maintaining the momentum of its predecessor, Rules of Ascension (2002). . .The author deftly manages a multistrand plot full of political intrigue that never flags despite the wealth of engrossing detail. A large cast of characters both old and new enliven the sword and sorcery. Readers who go for good clean fantasy fun will eagerly await the next installment." -- Publisher's Weekly

"Both action and the cast loom large; the members of the latter are well drawn; and Forelands politics are as complex as any tracked by the daily media. . . This book maintains the intelligence and complexity of Rules of Ascension." -- Booklist

Praise for Rules of Ascension, book I of Winds of the Forelands:

"Gathers momentum like a runaway moving van. . . Absorbing. . . The reader can identify with the characters as they struggle to sort through the different levels of plotting and manipulation ensnaring them. The falsely accused young man's story is just one thread of a densely woven web. . . The novel turns out to be about how uncertain experience is and how people need to find truth in the world and themselves. After this impressive opening volume, one can only hope that Coe will keep up the high standard in the remainder of a projected four-book series." — Publisher's Weekly

"Coe's world is much more intricate than that of most similar fantasy writers, and he seems to have a deeper grasp than most of the complexities of interhuman relationships. There's plenty of action as well in this promising opening sequence." -- Science Fiction Chronicle

"The author of the 'LonTobyn Chronicle'. . . begins a new fantasy epic set in a world of rival nobles, sinister mages, and a few good men and women of courage and conviction. Well- developed characters and an intriguing political background recommend this title for most fantasy collections." -- Library Journal

"A large cast of well-realized, plausible characters and world building as good as that in all but a few similar fantasies. . . Mesmerizing, highly readable fantasy." -- Booklist

"Coe wields a good clear style devoid of cliches. . . A strong opening." -- Kirkus Reviews

"This is a technically accomplished novel; polished, elegantly conceived, tightly plotted without sacrificing characterization. Coe's writing . . . reveals the artistry of an accomplished story-teller at his craft." -- StrangeHorizons.Com

"War and politics, love and magic, all drawn in detail against a vividly imagined feudal background. A complex and excellent book." -- David Drake

"Rules of Ascension is a deft weave of shining magic and darkest intrigue, basest treachery and the sweep of human destiny, set against a richly developed historical background. From the mysterious tents of the exotic Qirsi fortune-tellers to the tumultuous fields of battle, loyalties are tested, strange alliances are forged, and old powers awaken. Amid the action and color of the clash of realms, Coe's characters capture your heart. Highly recommended!" --Terry McGarry, author of Illumination

"One of the things that delights me most when reading fantasy is being shown new worlds--vivid, fascinating new places to explore, and find new adventures. In Rules of Ascension, David Coe gives us a world to remember, a world one can't help but want to know more about. I eagerly await other tales of the Forelands!" --Ed Greenwood, author of "The Band of Four Saga"