Treason Keep : Book Two of the Hythrun Chronicles

InMedalon, Book One of the Hythrun Chronicles, Tarja Tenragen and his half-sister R'shiel were forced to lead a rebellion against their power hungry mother, who ruled Medalon as the First Sister of the Blade. But their mother's defeat came at great cost: not only does it leave Medalon vulnerable to invasion, R'shiel is mortally wounded. AsTreason Keepbegins, R'shiel is on the brink of death. Her only hope is the healing powers of the Harshini--magical beings long thought extinct. Even they will be hard-pressed to save the Demon Child of prophecy . . . On Medalon's northern border, Tarja and the Defenders are far too few to stand against the invaders from Karien, even with the new fortifications built onto Treason Keep. The only thing that can save them is an alliance with Hythria, with whom the Medalon have been skirmishing for generations. But can Tarja trust Damin Wolflblade, warlord and heir to the throne of Hytrhia, with whom Tarja has personally crossed blades upon the field of battle? Meanwhile, King Hablet of Fardohnya weds his eldest daughter, the stunningly beautiful but shrewish Princess Adrina, to the Karien Heir. Hablet hopes to place his grandchild on the Karien throne. But the wayward and rebellious Adrina has her own plans, and the fate of three nations dangle upon her insolent whim. Featuring a heady blend of political intrigue, war, and one of the great love-hate relationships in fantasy fiction,Treason Keepis sure to please the many fans of epic fantasy.

The ninth child in a family of 13 girls, Jennifer Fallon was born in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. After living in various areas of Australia, including Canberra, Darwin, and a remote mining settlement, Fallon settled in the Northern Territory in 1980. She has two daughters and a son. She has had 32 foster children and friends refer to her home as "the ashram" due to the large number of stray teenagers that still inhabit her house at irregular intervals.

Fallon has worked as a youth worker, a store detective, shop assistant, an advertising sales rep and executive secretary, among other things. She has managed two hire car companies, an ISP, and a video shop, as well as founding the Anzac Hill Gymnastics Club in 1991. She is a member of the Business & Professional Women's Association and is often in demand as a guest speaker.

Fallon started writing when she was about 14. Her mother, who died when Fallon was 13, was an aspiring children's writer who encouraged her daughter to write. She started writing fantasy in 1990 when she decided she would be better off writing something for herself, rather than trying to please everyone else. In 1995, Jennifer vowed to either get published by the year 2000 or give up writing and get a real job. Her first novel, Medalon, was released in Australia in August 2000 and hit the bestseller list the first week it was released, as well as being shortlisted for the 2000 Aurealis Awards as the best Fantasy novel.

Praise for Treason Keep:
"A well-executed fantasy with complex characters and entertaining style."--Kirkus Reviews

"Intrigues, rivalries and romance provide an entertaining tangle in the second book in Australian fantasy author Fallon's Hythrun Chronicles (after Medalon). Accompanied by a large cast of compelling characters . . . new readers will be well rewarded; fans arriving straight from book one can dive right in."--Publishers Weekly, Sep 6, 2004

"Jennifer Fallon structures her novels to capture the reader from the opening paragraph and you can only break from her grasp when you reach the final page."--Altair

"Following up on the success of her debut novel Medalon, Australian author Jennifer Fallon is back with the second installment of her rousing Demon Child Trilogy. There's more action and a rash of political shenanigans in Treason Keep, but it's the warmth and humanity of her characters that will keep you reading."--TV Week (Australia)

Praise for Medalon:
"The fantasy genre has its baggage--Renaissance fairs, role-playing games, Christopher Lambert. So credit Fallon for exploring themes like dirty politics and religious tolerance for the launch of her Hythrun Chronicles series, a bestseller in her native Australia . . . an intriguing soap opera of espionage and family revelations."--Entertainment Weekly, 4/30/04, Nisha Gopalan

"A sparkling high fantasy debut. Fallon ponders all these possibilities and more in this satisfying melodrama, stocked with well-developed characters with clear motivations that carry them through a series of byzantine plots and counterplots, a mini-rebellion and even face-to-face contact with a variety of gods."--chPublishers Weekly

"Fallon brings a fair quota of wit and a healthy dose of realism . . . engaging."--Kirkus Reviews

"Medalon starts with a bang and just keeps on going with very few places to take a breath."--SFRevu

"A warm and intriguing book with all-too-human characters who draw you in more deeply with each page."--L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

"Medalon is an intriguing, intelligent and fun read with a refreshing take on female characters so often not seen in the genre."--Elizabeth Haydon

"A gripping tale of warring ambitions, politics, and real people. The characters (and even the gods!) spring to vivid, believable life, making Medalon a great read. More, please!"--Ed Greenwood

"I read Medalon by Jennifer Fallon and am impressed. This is a powerful, solid, imaginative, sometimes brutal fantasy novel with a splendidly worked out cast of characters. I like the way the gods are less than omnipotent, and dragons are magical constructs; this seems realistic in terms of magic, no oxymoron intended."--Piers Anthony