Forest Mage (The Soldier Son Trilogy, Book 2)

ThesecondbookinthebrandnewtrilogyfromtheauthoroftheTawnyMantrilogy,followingonfromthebestsellingShaman’sCrossing.TheKing'sCavallaAcademyhasbeenravagedbytheSpeckplague.Thediseasehasdecimatedtheranksofbothcadetsandinstructors,andeventhesurvivorsremainsickly.Manyhavebeenforcedtorelinquishtheirmilitaryambitionsandreturntotheirfamiliestofacelivesofdependencyanddisappointment.AstheAcademyinfirmaryempties,CadetNevareBurvellealsopreparestojourneyhome,toattendhisbrotherRosse'swedding.Farfrombeingabrokenman,Nevareishaleandheartyafterhisconvalescence.Hehasdefeatedhisnemesis,TreeWomanandfreedhimselfoftheSpeckmagicthatinfectedhimandattemptedtoturnhimagainsthisownpeople.Abrightfutureawaitshimasacommissionedofficerbetrothedtoabeautifulyoungnoblewoman.YethisnightsarestillhauntedbydreamsofthevoluptuousTreeWoman,dreamsinwhichhisSpeckselfbetrayseverythingheholdsdearinhiswakinglife.Hastheplagueinfectedhiminwaysfarmoremysteriousthanthemerelyphysical?Despitehisfears,NevarewilljourneybacktoWidevaleinhighspirits,infullexpectationofajubilanthomecomingandatenderreunionwithhisbeautifulfiancée,Carsina.Buthislifeisabouttotakeashockingturn,asthemagicinhisbloodroarstolifeandforceshimtorecognizethathismostdangerousenemy,anenemythatseekstodestroyallheloves,mightdwellwithinhim.