Based on the troubadour culture that rose in Provence during the High Middle Ages, this panoramic, absorbing novel beautifully creates an alternate version of the medieval world. The matriarchal, cultured land of Arbonne is rent by a feud between its two most powerful dukes, the noble troubador Bertran de Talair and Urte de Miraval, over long-dead Aelis, lover of one, wife of the other and once heir to the country's throne. To the north lies militaristic Gorhaut, whose inhabitants worship the militant god Corannos and are ruled by corrupt, womanizing King Ademar. His chief advisor, the high priest of Corannos, is determined to irradicate the worship of a female deity, whose followers live to the south. Into this cauldron of brewing disaster comes the mysterious Gorhaut mercenary Blaise, who takes service with Bertran and averts an attempt on his life. The revelation of Blaise's lineage and a claim for sanctuary by his sister-in-law sets the stage for a brutal clash between the two cultures. Intertwined is the tale of a young woman troubadour whose role suggests the sweep of the drama to come.

盖伊·加夫里尔·凯：

生于1954年11月7日。加拿大文坛享有国际声誉的奇幻大师之一。

20世纪70年代,《魔戒之王》的作者托尔金去世后,凯应邀前往英国协助托尔金之子克里斯托弗·托尔金整理乃父留下的文稿。在此后的三年中,随着托尔金的遗作《精灵宝钻》顺利完成,凯自己也狂热地爱上了奇幻文学。数年之后,凯模仿托尔金风格而成的奇幻小说“费奥纳瓦织锦”三部曲上市,并获大奖。

之后,凯结合自己的兴趣开始创作“仿历史奇幻小说”,这种小说是将真实历史中的人和事进行改编,构建一个完整的架空世界,既具有结构紧凑、有理有序、容易被读者接受的优点,又能借此抒发悠远的历史情怀。在此之前,虽然也有人做过尝试,但凯却是获得突破性成就的第一人。现在与大家见面的《提嘉娜》、《阿拉桑雄狮》和《亚波娜之歌》,即是凯最具代表性的经典之作。

截至目前,凯已获得幻想文坛多个大奖,如世界幻想文学奖、加拿大极光奖、卡斯帕最佳推理小说奖等等。