Emperor and Clown

Book excerpt: The saga of Inos and Rap comes to its thrilling conclusion in the final Man of His Word novel from “one of the leading masters of epic fantasy” (Publishers Weekly). While Queen Inos and her new husband, the cursed Sultan Azak, head to the capital city to beg the emperor’s aid, Rap is imprisoned and tortured in the sultan’s dungeons. But a third magic word gives him power beyond his wildest dreams, allowing him to escape. Struggling with his newfound abilities—and his feelings for Inos—he follows after her. With his faithful companions, Rap will find himself battling old enemies, fulfilling prophecies, and navigating the empire’s politics, forging his own destiny as one of the most feared men in the kingdom. “If it’s traditional fantasy adventure with a bit of nudge-nudge wink-wink you’re after, Dave Duncan is your go-to guy. ”—SFReviews.net “Duncan takes all the trusted fantasy ingredients, meticulously prepares them and brings them together with skill and relish. . . . The series bears resemblance to Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy.” —Fantasy Book Review “Duncan’s unique concept of goblins, fauns, and imps adds a new twist to this imaginative fantasy adventure. Recommended.” —Library Journal