{"product_id":"book-cikv","title":"The Desert and the Blade","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn his Novels of the Change, \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author S. M. Stirling presents \"a devastated, mystical world that will appeal to fans of traditional fantasy as well as post-apocalyptic SF\" (\u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e, starred review). Continuing their quest that began in \u003cem\u003eThe Golden Princess\u003c\/em\u003e, two future rulers of a world without technology risk their lives seeking a fabled blade …\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: start\"\u003eReiko, Empress of Japan, has allied herself with Princess Órlaith, heir to the High Kingdom of Montival, to find the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the Grass-Cutting Sword, a legendary treasure of an ancient dynasty that confers valor and victory to its bearer. Órlaith understands all too well the power it signifies. Her own inherited blade, the Sword of the Lady, was both a burden and a danger to her father, Rudi Mackenzie, as it failed to save the king from being assassinated.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: start\"\u003eBut the fabled sword lies deep with the Valley of Death, and the search will be far from easy. And war is building, in Montival and far beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: start\"\u003eAs Órlaith and Reiko encounter danger and wonder, Órlaith's mother, Queen Matildha, believes her daughter's alliance and quest has endangered the entire realm. There are factions both within and without Montival whose loyalty died with the king, and whispers of treachery and war grow ever louder.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: start\"\u003eAnd the Malevolence that underlies the enemy will bend all its forces to destroy them.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recorded Books, Inc.","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49386463822128,"sku":"BDcikv","price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio CD","offer_id":49386463854896,"sku":"ZEcikv","price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio MP3-CD","offer_id":49386463920432,"sku":"ZMcikv","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/cikv-cover.jpg?v=1762550022","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-cikv","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}