Isavalta (IS-ah-VAHL-tah): A northern empire sharing a continent with the empires of Hung Tse and Hastinapura.

Ishbushka (ISH-bush-KAH): The hut belonging to Baba Yaga.

Land of Death and Spirit, The: The space between worlds inhabited by ghosts, demons, fairies, gods and spirit powers. Also called the Silent Lands and the Shifting Lands.

Makashev: City near Vyshtavos.

Miateshcha (MEE-ah-TEHSH-chah): See Erh Han.

Padinogen Passage (PAHD-een-oh-gehn): Passage through the mountains leading to Miateshcha.

oblast (OH-blast): An Isavaltan word meaning *province.'

Palace of Autumn, The: The women's palace in the Heart of the World.

Palace of the Pearl Throne, The: Imperial seat of Hastinapura.

Sand Island: One of the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. Home to Ingrid Loftfield.

Shifting Lands, The: See Land of Death and Spirit.

Silent Lands, The: See Land of Death and Spirit.

Sol'uyche oblast (SOL-oo-EECH OH-blast): A southern province in Isavalta.

Sze-Leng (ZEH LENG) River: A major river in Hung Tse.

T'ien (T-YEN): The city surrounding the Heart of the World.

Tuukos (TOO-kohs): An island which is the northernmost province of Isavalta.

Vaknevos (VAHK-neh-VOS): The summer palace of the Isavaltan imperial family.

Vyshtavos (VIESH-tah-vohs): The winter palace of the Isavaltan imperial family.

Vaceta (VAH-say-TAH): A town near Vaknevos.

About the Author.

SARAH ZETTEL is the author of two other Isavalta novels, A Sorcerer's Treason and The Firebird's Vengeance, and has also written numerous science fiction novels, including Reclamation, winner of the Locus Award for best first SF novel, Fool's War, runneraup for the Philip K. Dick Award for best paperback original SF novel, and Kingdom of Cages. She lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Serving as inspiration for contemporary literature, Prologue Books, a division of F+W Media, offers readers a vibrant, living record of crime, science fiction, fantasy, western, and romance genres. Discover more today: www.prologuebooks.com.

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