The Gift of Battle (Book #17 in the Sorcerer's Ring)

“THE SORCERER’S RING has all the ingredients for an instant success: plots, counterplots, mystery, valiant knights, and blossoming relationships replete with broken hearts, deception and betrayal. It will keep you entertained for hours, and will satisfy all ages. Recommended for the permanent library of all fantasy readers.”
—Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding A Quest of Heroes)

THE GIFT OF BATTLE (Book #17) is the finale of the Bestselling series THE SORCERER'S RING, which begins with A QUEST OF HEROES (book #1)!

In THE GIFT OF BATTLE, Thor meets his greatest and final challenge, as he quests deeper into the Land of Blood to attempt to rescue Guwayne. Encountering foes more powerful than he ever imagined, Thor soon realizes he is up against an army of darkness, one for which his powers are no match. When he learns a sacred object may give him the powers he needs—an object which has been kept secret to him all this time—he must embark on a final quest to retrieve it before it is too late, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.

Gwendolyn keeps her vow to the King of the Ridge and enters the tower and confronts the cult leader to learn his secrets. She is shocked by what she learns, and the revelation sends her to Argon, and ultimately to Argon’s master—where she learns the greatest secret of all, one which will change the final destiny of the Ring and of her people. With the Ridge under attack by the greatest army ever seen to man, it falls on Kendrick and the others to defend it—and on Gwendolyn to lead her people on one final, mass exodus.

Thor’s Legion brothers face unimaginable risks, as Angel is dying from her leprosy. Darius fights for his life, beside his father, in the Empire capital—until a surprise leaves him devastated, and prods him, with nothing left to lose, to tap his own powers and discover who he is. Erec and Alistair reach Volusia, battling their way upriver, and they must continue on their quest for Gwendolyn, as they face unexpected battles. Godfrey learns he can no longer hide behind drink, and that he must ultimately make a decision for who the man is he wants to become. 

Meanwhile, Volusia, surrounded, facing all the power of the Knights of the Seven, must finally put herself to the test as goddess, and see if she alone has the power to crush men and rule the Empire for all time. While Argon, faced with his end of days, must sacrifice himself to encounter his final, greatest test of all.

As good and evil hang in the balance, one final, epic battle—the greatest battle of all— will determine the outcome for Thorgrin, Gwendolyn, Guwayne, all of their people, and the Ring.

With its sophisticated world-building and characterization, THE GIFT OF BATTLE is an epic tale of friends and lovers, of rivals and suitors, of knights and dragons, of intrigues and political machinations, of coming of age, of broken hearts, of deception, ambition and betrayal. It is a tale of honor and courage, of fate and destiny, of sorcery. It is a fantasy that brings us into a world we will never forget, and which will appeal to all ages and genders. 

“Action-packed …. Rice's writing is solid and the premise intriguing.”
—Publishers Weekly (regarding A Quest of Heroes)