The Barbed Coil

Two countries at war, a magic ring, an ancient prophecy--out of these oft-used elements, J.V. Jones has crafted a story full of unexpected twists and turns. In a world very different from her own, a young woman discovers that she has a magical talent--she can create luminous illustrations that influence other people's lives. And with the help of a mercenary and a nobleman, she must face a king whose only goal is to conquer.