Welcome to the worlds
of Patricia Bray

The Chronicles of Josan

The story of a scholar who is unwillingly swept into international intrigue and discovers his soul is, perhaps literally, not his own.

The First Betrayal

Orphan, exile, priest, Josan lives a humble life as a lighthouse keeper, his past forgotten by everyone--including himself. Lady Ysobel Flordelis of Alcina is a spy posing as a diplomat, sent to Ikaria to stir up rebellion, when a chance encounter with Josan sets off a deadly chain of events. Now, as Ysobel navigates the treacherous intrigues of the Ikarian court, Josan will be forced to leave his island exile and embark on a dangerous journey to unlock the secrets of his past. The question is, who can he trust, when he can't even trust himself? Click here to read an excerpt.

The Sea Change

When the imperial family is assassinated, few are pleased at the transformation of Prince Lucius from condemned prisoner to Emperor of Ikaria. As he fights to secure his throne he also wages a deadly battle within himself—as the two souls trapped in his body vie for supremacy. Meanwhile, his nemesis Lady Ysobel has returned home in disgrace, where her former allies seek to rid themselves of her. When war is declared, she is sent on a mission meant to ensure her death—now she must fight not just for survival, but to shape the future of both countries. Click here to read an excerpt.

The Final Sacrifice

Emperor Lucius has led his people to victory, but is losing a private war within himself, as the spell which bound his soul to that of the monk Josan is now unraveling, threatening to destroy them both. Their only hope lies in the forbidden magic teachings of a distant land. Reluctantly abandoning his empire, Lucius secretly embarks upon a desperate journey, pursued by his former enemy Lady Ysobel of Seddon. But when a new war threatens all that he has fought for, he must choose between his own salvation or learning to wield the very magic that will destroy him. Click here to read an excerpt.

The Sword of Change Series

The story of Devlin of Duncaer is the classic story of a stranger in a strange land, the outsider who has nothing to lose, and thus finds himself at the center of events that will transform the world he lives in.

Devlin's Luck

Winner of the 2003 Compton Crook award
Devlin, a foreign metalsmith with a mysterious past, arrives in the Kingdom of Jorsk. To everyone's surprise, he wins the post of Chosen One, defender of the realm. Devlin proves himself a true hero by defeating both human enemies and magical creatures, but it is the task of uncovering a traitor within the King's court that proves the greatest challenge of all. Click here to read an excerpt.

Devlin's Honor

The courtiers soon forget Devlin's heroism, and before long he finds his position in court undermined by those who say that only one who wields the Sword of Light can be the true Chosen One. It is an impossible condition, for the mystical sword had been lost forty years earlier. As Devlin returns to his homeland in search of the sword, he must also confront his past. Devlin finds the sword, but before he can return to Jorsk he must quell an uprising by his own people, and confront a magician intent on destroying him. Click here to read an excerpt.

Devlin's Justice

War comes to Jorsk, but in this hour of peril the Chosen One is nowhere to be found. His friends fear that he has been murdered, but the truth is even more chilling, for Devlin was betrayed and handed over to his enemies. Seemingly abandoned by those he trusted, Devlin must find a way to escape from his captor-- an evil mind-sorcerer intent on unlocking the power of the Geas spell. Devlin's freedom comes at a terrible cost, and now he must choose between his desire for vengeance, and his duty to the people of Jorsk. Click here to read an excerpt.

News

The Sword of Change series has been picked up by a Russian publisher. You can click here to see the cover for the Russian edition of Devlin's Luck.

Where to buy

Check your local bookstore or any of these F&SF-friendly stores: Amazon (internet), Bakka-Phoenix Books (Canada), Barnes & Noble (various), Borderlands (CA), Borders (various), Clarkesworld Books (internet), Dreamhaven Books (MN), Flights of Fantasy (NY), McNally Robinson (Canada), Mysterious Galaxy (CA), The Other Change of Hobbit (CA), Pages for All Ages (IL), Pandemonium Books & Games (MA), Saint Mark's (NY), Toadstool (NH), University Book Store (WA).

About The Sword of Change series

The central character is Devlin of Duncaer, a man who has lost everything that gave his life meaning. Only his obligations to his brother's family keep him from seeking the oblivion that he craves. In his wanderings he arrives in the Kingdom of Jorsk, where the King has offered a generous reward to anyone who will fill the position of Chosen One, champion of the Kingdom. Devlin eagerly accepts, for the reward will provide for his brother's family, while the position itself is a certain sentence of death.

The character of Devlin came to me as I was thinking about survivor's guilt. What would it be like to be the sole survivor of a massacre? How could you reconcile your survival, when every one you loved had perished? And what if others also blamed you for surviving, convinced that you had not tried hard enough to defend those who had died?

Thus was born Devlin's story. Originally I conceived this as a single book, but soon realized the intricacies of the characters and conflicts would require multiple books to fully explore.

Reviews

I've been thrilled by the wonderful e-mails I've received from people who wanted to let me know how much they have enjoyed my writing. Reviewers have also had favorable things to say, including:

DEVLIN'S LUCK

• "A fun fantasy adventure"
  --Carolyn Cushman for Locus Magazine
• "Patricia Bray is a grand storyteller who provides a wonderful fantasy adventure."
  --Bookbrowser
• "Bray hooks us with absorbing storytelling"
  --Roland Green for Booklist
• "Deft plotting and characters that grab and hold on to your heart make DEVLIN'S LUCK a wonderful first book of what is sure to be a marvelous and award-winning series."
  --A Staszalek for Romance Reviews Today.

DEVLIN'S HONOR

• "A worthy successor"
  --Contra-Costa Times
• "I couldn't put this book down. Ms. Bray has once again drawn us into the heart of her exciting world."
  --The Obsidian Labyrinth
• "A powerful action and adventure tale"
  --Under the Covers
• "Introspective and interesting... I'm looking forward to seeing how it all comes together in the end."
  --Michael M. Jones for Greenman Reviews

DEVLIN'S JUSTICE

• "A solid conclusion to this entertaining trilogy."
  --Carolyn Cushman for Locus Magazine
• "Pushed the envelope of the genre... I found it refreshing, and I hope she returns to Devlin's tale down the road."
  --Contra-Costa Times

THE FIRST BETRAYAL and THE SEA CHANGE

• "The First Betrayal and The Sea Change are the first two parts of a fascinating trilogy that works with an unusual premise... I'm definitely looking forward to the final book in the trilogy to see how it all wraps up."
  --Michael M. Jones for The SF Site

THE FINAL SACRIFICE

• "Though billed as the closer to a trilogy (following 2007's The Sea Change), this low-key climax to the chronicles of scholarly monk Josan and reluctant Ikarian Emperor Lucius stands surprisingly well on its own...Amiable storytelling and brisk pacing make this an agreeable summer read."
  --Publisher's Weekly
• "This is the final installment of Bray's trilogy, but it doesn't read like a third book. Backstory is woven in quite cleverly, and the pace is fast enough that readers new to the tale won't have time to regret missing references. Fans of Emperor Lucius, Brother Josan and Lady Ysobel are sure to be more than satisfied with this last chapter."
  --Romantic Times