title: A Magic of Twilight: Book One of the Nessantico Cycle
author:  S. L. Farrell 
description: Farrell (the Cloudmages trilogy) entices fantasy readers into the lushand dangerousland of Nessantico, where aging ruler Marguerite ca'Ludovici prepares to celebrate her Jubilee. Marguerite's son, Justi, schemes to take her place, while Jan ca'Vrl, a powerful noble at the edge of the empire, plots armed rebellion. Archigos Dhosti ca'Millac, leader of the Concnzia Faith and Marguerite's staunch ally, struggles to control fundamentalists like Orlandi ca'Cellibrecca as they clamor for action against the Numetodo heretics, who claim the magic talent called Cenzi's Gift has nothing to do with religious faith. Trapped in the middle of all this is young priestess Ana cu'Seranta, whose impressive magical ability has made her a pawn in the multilayered power struggle. Farrell easily wields an immense cast of characters, many of whom take narrative turns. Readers who appreciate intricate world building, intrigue and action will immerse themselves effortlessly in this rich and complex story. <i>(Feb.)</i> <br />Copyright  Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  ~Prologue~
  
  IT WAS ONE OF THOSEsweltering hot weekend mornings when a man had nothing
  better to do than sit outside in his jeans, feel himself sweat and wait for a
  breeze that wouldn't come. The sky was the prettiest blue he'd ever seen, not
  a single cloud in sight. He loved days like this, and looked forward to
  viewing them from his own house once he finished it. If all went well, it
  would be ready for him to move in by the end of summer.
  
  Morgan Hudson tilted his chair back and closed his eyes. Everyone was gone for
  the day, and the house seemed strangely quiet, not peaceful so much as empty.
  He hoped he didn't feel that way when he got moved in. Living with three
  brothers and a teenage nephew got a man used to chaos, especially with _his_
  brothers.
  
  Sawyer, the oldest, was the only doctor for miles around, and he had patients
  coming and going through th