The Gathering Storm

REVIEWERS PRAISE

THE
CROWN OF STARS
SERIES:

“There’s enough going on in this one for an entire series of novels … a world with depth and color … once you’re caught up in the story, you’re going to spend many pleasant hours before you reach the conclusion.”

—
SF Chronicle

“Continuing her epic tale of kings and common folk, warriors and priests, Elliott demonstrates her talent for combining magic and intrigue with grand-scale storytelling.”

—
Library Journal

“Run to the bookstore and pick up … THE BURNING STONE…. Ms. Elliott skillfully navigates a complex, superbly plotted fantasy universe.”

—
Romantic Times

“There’s a bone-deep reality to the world…. Elliott has a strong ability to create a sense of other that is nonetheless human and compelling; one of the best arguments for the value of multivolume works.”

—
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

“… an entirely captivating affair … a resounding narrative revolving around three appealing protagonists….”

—
Publishers Weekly

DAW Novels by

KATE ELLIOTT

Crown of Stars

KING’S DRAGON (Volume One)

PRINCE OF DOGS (Volume Two)

THE BURNING STONE (Volume Three)

CHILD OF FLAME (Volume Four)

THE GATHERING STORM (Volume Five)

IN THE RUINS (Volume Six)

CROWN OF STARS (Volume Seven)

The Novels of the Jaran

JARAN

AN EARTHLY CROWN

HIS CONQUERING SWORD

THE LAW OF BECOMING

&

with Melanie Rawn and Jennifer Roberson

THE GOLDEN KEY

VOLUME FIVE

of

C
ROWN OF
S
TARS

DAW BOOKS, INC.

DONALD A. WOLLHEIM, FOUNDER

375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014

ELIZABETH R. WOLLHEIM

SHEILA E. GILBERT

PUBLISHERS

http://www.dawbooks.com

To my readers—thank you for waiting. I’m sorry it took so long but it proved to be a lot more complicated to write than even I thought it would be. The sixth and final volume will be titled “Crown of Stars.”

I offer a particular thank you to Sherwood Smith whose cogent commentary on the penultimate draft caused me to add an all important fifteen minutes of additional screen time to one of the final scenes and revise a crucial scene in the middle of the book. My editor Sheila Gilbert remained patient and insightful throughout the long and arduous writing period; Debra Euler and the rest of the staff at DAW Books did not hesitate to make fun of me when necessary. The usual suspects gave me support and advice—you know who you are.

To Jeanne