His desire for vengeance on the dragon-soldiers who murdered his family finally beginning to wane after many years of bloodshed. A disastrous encounter that leads to the death of the royal prince dragon, however, incites the king's retribution and brings terror and death to the world. For the king sets out to eradicate the human race, and only Bitterwood, trapped inside a doomed city, can try to lead his people to salvation.
Full of rich characters and drama, Bitterwood is an amazingly astute tale of war and genocide, a tale with resonance in our own troubled times, told through the eyes of a master fabulist.
Bitterwood marks a new high point in the dragon-fantasy genre and announces James Maxey as a significant new talent.
"A grabber from page one, a smart tale of adventure and revenge sprinkled with echoes of our own dangerous times. James Maxey's world of dragons and humans at war is so solidly and engagingly rendered that I never wanted to leave."
- John Marco
"Bitterwood is an unlikely hero in a rich world, with a rich history that holds many surprises. James Maxey tells his story with a sure hand. Enjoy the journey!"
- Carrie Vaughn, author of Kitty and the Midnight Hour and Kitty Goes to Washington
James Maxey lives in Hillsborough, NC with his lovely bride Cheryl and a clowder of unruly cats. His novels include the superhero tales Nobody Gets the Girl and Burn Baby Burn, and the Dragon Age trilogy of Bitterwood, Dragonforge, and Dragonseed. His latest fantasy series is an enthusiastic blend of the superhero and fantasy genres into the multi-book epic of the Dragon Apocalypse, beginning with Greatshadow in January 2012, followed by Hush in July 2012, and Witchbreaker in January 2013.
Maxey’s short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies. His short story “Empire of Dreams and Miracles” was a Phobos Award winner, and his ghost tale “Silent as Dust” was included in the Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy 2009 edition. These stories and others appear in his short story collection There is No Wheel.
For more information on James and his writing, visit his blog at dragonprophet.blogspot.com.
