The Tears of Artamon
The Tears of Artamon is a fantasy novel trilogy written by Sarah Ash. The series main character is a young man named Gavril Andar, a portrait painter living in the oceanside nation of Smarna.
Plot summary
The story begins when a mysterious group of warriors called the Druzhina suddenly Appear and whisk him away to Azhkendir, a cold, mountainous region, where they say his recently dead father ruled. He learns his true name, Gavril Nagarian, afterh his father, Volkh Nagarian. It is then that he learns the price of bearing that name, as he inherits his father's "Drakhaoul," a daemon-spirit which gives him tremendous power - that of a dragon. However, he soon learns that in order to sustain that power, he must indulge a horrific, unthinkable craving...
The books also follows the story of Kiukiu, one of the servants at Kastel Drakhaoun. Still recovering from the loss of their master, Lord Volkh, the servants are overjoyed when news comes of his son returning to rule in his stead. But Kiukiu grows apprehensive as the she is contacted by the spirit of Lord Volkh, who implores her to free him from the desolate wasteland he has found his spirit in. She soon learns of a unique gift she has inherited from a lineage nearly gone; she is a Spirit-Singer. It is with this discovery, and Lord Volkh's unleashing, that her own adventure begins...
Later on the reader meets Prince Eugene of Tielen, who has aspirations of gathering the five legendary rubies, called the "Tears of Artamon," which legend says will endow the right to be emperor of all Rossiya (the continent the story takes place on.) He puts his plan into action, marrying Princess Astasia of Muscobar to become King, and then proceeds to unify the nations once again. However, he had not counted on the fierce rebellion of a cold nation called Azhkendir...
Also in the book, it follows the story of Gavril "Andar's" secret lover, Astasia Orlov whom was a favorite character for many of Gavril's paintings. The reader soon finds out that she is engaged to the Emperor of the land Tielen, in order to unite the two princedoms of Tielen and her own country Muscobar. Astasia realizes that if Eugene succeds in his ambition of obtaining The Ancient rubies of Artamon ( which ancient law decrees that anyone who possesses the five rubies will be entitled to rule all five princedoms Tielen, Muscobar, Azhkendir, Smarna and Khitari) then she will not only be an empress but an empress of all of New Rossiya.
The stunning conclusion of the first book begins when, while Eugene is trying to conquer all of Rossiya, Gavril does not take it. He unleashes his awakened powers and becomes an enormous dragon, crushing Eugene's invading forces. He flies all the way from Azhkendir to Tielen to try to save his mother whom he suspects is going to be executed, and is correct. In the end, he throws out the Drakhoul because of its horrific drawbacks with the help of Kiukiu. But Eugene survives the destruction of his army. With the Drakhoul gone, Azhkendir is defenseless...
At the dramatic end of the second book, Eugene has uncovered the secrets of the Drakhoul demon and finds that a serpent gate is located on an island in the far south. With the help of his trusty mage, he goes there by air and confronts Gavril, who had recently escaped from an assylum after being captured in the beginning of the second book. Eugene finds his own demon, Bilbareth, and strikes down Gavril, who is assumed dead as new Drakhoul demons scatter across Rossiya...
At the resolving finish of the third book, Gavril(who survived) and Eugene battle opposing Drakhouls (Za'afiel, Saharriel, Adremelech and Nazaiah) and their hosts that would destroy the world by freeing their demon-drakhoul lord Nagar. Kiukiu, Gavril's lover, guides the Children of the Serpent Gate--children from all over Rossiya that have doubles that were sacrificed long ago and are now anchors for the Drakhouls, including Eugene's daughter--from the realm of shadows. Eugene and Gavril become victorious and the Drakhouls are released in to the ways beyond, prince nagar is sealed away in the realm of shadows forever. Andrei (astasias brother), and the other drakhoul hosts are exiled and Emperor Eugene and his wife Empress Astasia and Gavril High Steward of Azkhendir and his wife Kiukiu the spirit singer live happily ever after.
Novels
- The Lord of Snow and Shadows
- The Prisoner of the Iron Tower
- The Children of the Serpent Gate