“My recommendation for this series gets stronger with each book, so just buy it now before I start going door-to-door!”
—Neolibrarium.com
“Rather than get bogged down in details or endless back-and-forth dialogues between characters for the sake of argument, Martin keeps things zipping along. For the type of reader who views plot as a way to get the various characters on stage and interacting, however, Dark Haven will be heavenly. The characters are undeniably strong and distinctive, and they get to show off in interesting ways on a regular basis.”
—Richard Dansky, Fantasy Magazine
Praise for Dark Lady’s Chosen
“The air is thick with intrigue, threats and deception that captures the reader and sweeps them into the story. It’s one of those wonderful books you can’t bear to put down. Dark Lady’s Chosen is a satisfying and entertaining read that shouldn’t be missed.”
—Victoria Kennedy, Midwest Book Review
“Dark Lady’s Chosen is well written and brings the reader fully into the universe… For fantasy lovers and those who just love a damn good story, Dark Lady’s Chosen and the Chronicles of the Necromancer are the perfect read.”
—Epheros.com
Names and Places in The Dread
Aberponte— The Isencroft royal palace
Adares— The name the Western Raiders call themselves
Aidane— A ghost whore who finds herself at the center of political unrest because she bears messages from the dead
Alcion— A traitor to the Eastmark crown, uncle of Prince Gethin; wrongfully court-martialed Jonmarc Vahanian years ago
Aldo the Wise— Long-ago king of Isencroft
Alle— Niece of Lady Eadoin, wife of Ban Soterius, former spy during the rebellion against Jared the Usurper
Allestyr— Seneschal to the monarch of Isencroft
Alvior of Brunnfen— Traitor to Isencroft, brother of Cam, Carina, and Renn
Alyzza— Powerful elderly sorceress now presumed mad; a friend of Tris’s grandmother, Bava K’aa
Ansu— Vayash moru mage
Antoin— Vayash moru assigned to protect Kiara
Ashtenerath— Men who have been turned into mindless weapons by a combination of blood magic, potions, and torture
Astasia— One of the vayash moru Blood Council, now gone rogue and presumed to have joined enemy forces
Athira/The Whore— One of the eight aspects of the Sacred Goddess
Avencen— Eastmark diplomat and adviser to Prince Gethin
Balaren— Vayash moru soldier assigned to protect Kiara
Ban Soterius— Margolan general, close friend of Tris Drayke, a leader of the rebellion against Jared the Usurper; married to Alle
Bava K’aa— Tris’s maternal grandmother, a famed and powerful sorceress who fought the Obsidian King and who mentored Tris in magic
Benhem— A clever Isencroft mage
Berwyn (Berry) —Queen of Principality, daughter of King Staden, friend of Jonmarc and Carina Vahanian
Bez— Tattooed drum player in a roving band of musicians
Black Robes— Also known as Shanthadurists; blood mages and devotees to the banished goddess Shanthadura the Destroyer
Brightmoor— Lady Eadoin’s manor
Brother Albert— Monk who tends the dying in Ford’s Crossing
Brother Felix— Monastic mage who is an adviser to Kiara
Brother Gernon— A crazy fire mage formerly held in Vistimar
Brunnfen— The manor held by Cam and Carina’s family
Buka— A mass murderer in Principality City
Cal— Drone player in a group of traveling musicians; partner to Nezra
Cam— Queen’s Champion of Isencroft, Lord of Brunnfen, twin brother to Lady Carina Vahanian, close friend of Kiara’s; brother to Renn and Alvior the traitor
Captain Remir— Loyal soldier to Kiara
Captain Vyn Lange— Captain of a garrison protecting Brunnfen
Carina— Twin sister of Cam, wife of Lord Jonmarc Vahanian, former court healer to King Donelan, cousin to Kiara, one of the most gifted healers in the Winter Kingdoms
Carroway— Master Bard of Margolan, close friend to Tris Drayke, married to Macaria
Cerise— Personal healer to Kiara
Ceshilban, of Clan Dromlea— One of the ghostly Clan Lords of Isencroft
Cheira— A shaman leader among the Sworn
Chenne the Warrior— An Aspect of the Sacred Goddess, especially revered in Isencroft
Childe— An Aspect of the Sacred Goddess, especially revered in Margolan
Clan Dromlea— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft
Clan Dunlurghan— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft
Clan Finlios— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft
Clan Kirylu— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft; led by Olek, son of Olek, the last of the great warlords
Clan Rathtuaim— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft
Clan Skaecogy— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft
Clan Tratearmon— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft
Clan Veaslieve— One of the ancient clans of Isencroft
Coalan— Valet to Tris Drayke, nephew of Ban Soterius
Cora— Ghost of Ed the peddler’s wife
Corinn— Daughter of Jonmarc and Carina Vahanian
Count Renate— Loyal noble of Isencroft, regent until Kiara takes the throne
Crofters— Residents of Isencroft
Curane— Traitor lord in Margolan, loyal to Jared the Usurper
Cwynn— Infant son of Tris Drayke and Kiara Sharsequin
Daciana— Advisory spirit to the Hojun
Dagen— Ghostly liegeman to King Larrimore, Tris’s grandfather
Dark Haven— Manor home and land holding of Lord Jonmarc Vahanian, given to him by King Staden
Darry— Court arms master of Isencroft and loyal friend to Kiara
Davin— Messenger from King Harrol
Detri— Ghost of a wronged woman
Dhasson— Neighboring kingdom to Margolan, Principality, Eastmark, and Nargi; ruled by King Harrol, father to Jair Rothlandorn and uncle to Tris Drayke
Durim— Black Robes, also called Shanthadurists, blood mages loyal to the Destroyer Goddess Shanthadura
Eastmark— One of the Winter Kingdoms, ruled by King Kalcen, uncle of Kiara and father of Prince Gethin
Ed— A peddler and friend of Aidane
Edgeton— An Isencroft general
Elsbet— Kolin’s dead lover
Elya— Redheaded air mage
Emil— Sworn warrior
Esiteran—“Life drinkers,” demonic shadows that drain energy instead of blood
Essel— Rogue mage from the Sisterhood who comes to help guard Cwynn
Estan— Ghostly warrior who served King Hadenrul
Exeter— Head of the Principality Mercenary Guild
Formless One— One of the eight Aspects of the Sacred Lady; her worship is banned throughout the Winter Kingdoms
Gar— Round, portable Sworn dwelling
Gavrill, of Clan Finlios— One of the ancient clan lords
General Gregor— Isencroft general, older brother to Ric, a mercenary who was a long-ago lover to Carina
General Senne— Margolan general
General Valjan— Former leader of the War Dogs mercenaries, Principality general
Ghent— Second son born to Tris Drayke and Kiara Sharsequin
Hant— Principality palace spymaster
Harrol— King of Dhasson, father of Jair Rothlandorn, uncle of Tris Drayke
Hojun— Mystical priests from Eastmark
Illarion, of Clan Skaecogy— Ghostly clan lord of Isencroft
Imri— Temnottan mage and shapeshifter
Isencroft— Neighboring kingdom to Margolan, formerly ruled by King Donelan; now to be jointly ruled by Kiara, daughter of Donelan, and her husband, Martris Drayke of Margolan
Istra/Dark Lady— One of the eight Aspects of the Sacred Lady, e
specially revered in Dark Haven and among the vayash moru; protector of the outcast
Jae— Gyregon belonging to Kiara
Jair Rothlandorn— Son of King Harrol and heir to the throne of Dhasson; cousin of Tris Drayke, warrior of the Sworn, married to Talwyn, father of Kenver
Jared— Eldest son of King Bricen of Margolan, half-brother to Tris Drayke, became Jared the Usurper when he took the throne by treachery
Jencin— Seneschal of the Principality palace
Jodd— Faithless husband of Detri
Jolie— Madam and owner of Jolie’s Place, friend to Jonmarc Vahanian and Tris Drayke
Jonmarc Vahanian— Former mercenary and smuggler, now brigand lord of Dark Haven; Champion of Berwyn of Principality, husband of Carina, one of Tris Drayke’s best friends
Jorven— Vyrkin guard to Kiara
Kai— Infant daughter of Jonmarc and Carina Vahanian
Kalcen— King of Eastmark, son of King Radomar, youngest brother of Kiara’s mother, Viata; father of Prince Gethin
Kellen— Loyal Isencroft bodyguard
Kenver— Son of Jair Rothlandorn and Talwyn, grandson of Pevre
Kiara Sharsequin— Daughter of King Donelan of Isencroft, heir to the Isencroft throne, wife of Martris Drayke of Margolan, cousin of Carina Vahanian, mother of Cwynn and Ghent
King Donelan— King of Isencroft, father of Kiara Sharsequin
King Gustaven— Long-dead king of Margolan
King Hadenrul— Long-dead king of Margolan
King Jashan— First King of Isencroft, son of Lord Gavrill
King Larrimore— Long-dead king of Margolan, father of Bricen and grandfather of Tris Drayke
King Martris (Tris) Drayke— King of Margolan, husband of Kiara, father to Cwynn and Ghent; the most powerful Summoner in the Winter Kingdoms
King Radomar— Former king of Eastmark, father to King Kalcen and to Kiara’s mother, Viata
King Staden— King of Principality, father to Berwyn
King Vestven— Long-dead king of Isencroft
King Zoccoros the Third— Long-dead king of Isencroft
Kir— Barkeep in the tunnels beneath Principality City
Kolin— Vayash moru, leader of the Ghost Carriage, liege to Lady Riqua of the Blood Council
Konost, the Guide of Dead Souls— Forgotten goddess, one of the Shrouded Ones
Lady Eadoin— Elderly patron of Master Bard Carroway, aunt of Alle
Lady Riqua— Member of the Blood Council
Laisren— Vayash moru, Dark Haven’s weapon master, friend to Jonmarc Vahanian
Lienholt Palace— Royal palace of Principality
Leksandr, of Clan Dunlurghan— Long-dead Isencroft warlord
Lemuel— Mage who was possessed by the spirit of the Obsidian King, lover of Bava K’aa, grandfather to Tris Drayke
Lisette— Vayash moru lady’s maid to Carina Vahanian
Lord Alarek— Member of the Principality Council of Nobles
Lord Antony Norden— Member of the Principality nobility
Lord Gabriel— Vayash moru, member of the Blood Council, seneschal of Dark Haven, friend to Jonmarc Vahanian
Lord Gavrill (Clan Finlios) —Father to the first king of Isencroft
Luka, of Clan Tratearmon— Long-dead clan lord of Isencroft
Macaria— Musician, wife of Carroway, friend to Kiara
Margolan— One of the Winter Kingdoms; ruled by King Martris Drayke
Markian— Language spoken in Eastmark
Marlan the Gold— First king of Margolan
Martris Drayke— Summoner-King of Margolan, mage heir and grandson of Bava K’aa, husband of Kiara Sharsequin, father of Cwynn and Ghent
Mihei— Warrior of the Sworn
Mikhail— Vayash moru, liege of Lord Gabriel, friend to Tris Drayke
Minya, of Clan Veaslieve— Long-dead clan lord of Isencroft
Morane— Isencroft senior mage
Mother— One of the eight Aspects of the Sacred Lady, especially revered in Margolan
Nachele— Dark spirits entombed in the barrows and guarded by the Dread
Nardore— Rogue mage of the Sisterhood sent to protect Cwynn
Nargi— One of the Winter Kingdoms known for its devotion to the Crone Aspect
Necropolis— Crypt beneath Isencroft palace
Neirin— Dark Haven grounds manager
Nenkah— Rag doll used for magical rituals
Nexus— Magic sword forged by Bava K’aa and given to Tris Drayke
Nezra— Dulcimer player in a group of traveling musicians, partner to Cal
Obsidian King— Ancient evil being that possessed the mage Lemuel and was imprisoned in the Soul Catcher by Bava K’aa and later destroyed by Martris Drayke
Pashka— Margolan fisherman who leads the flotilla
Patov— Vayash moru guard to Kiara
Pevre— Sworn chieftain, shaman, father of Talwyn, grandfather of Kenver
Prince Gethin of Eastmark— Son of King Kalcen, arranged suitor to Berwyn
Peyhta the Soul Eater— One of the Shrouded Ones
Pyotir, of Clan Rathtuaim— Long-dead clan lord of Isencroft
Queen Tanisia— Long-dead queen of Isencroft
Queen Viata— Former queen of Isencroft, wife of Donelan, mother of Kiara, sister to Kalcen of Eastmark, daughter of King Radomar
Rafe— Vayash moru, member of the Blood Council
Renn— Younger brother to Cam and Carina
Rhistiart— Squire to Cam
Rhosyn— Wife of Cam
Royster— Scholar, Keeper of the Library at Westmarch, friend to Tris and Kiara
Sathirinim— An Eastmark vulgarity, literally “corpse flesh,” an ethnic slur against lighter-skinned people
Scaith— Dark summoner and leader of the Temnottan invasion against Margolan
Scian— Assassin, one of the ghost blades
Serg— Vyrkin emissary to Principality
Serroquette— Ghost whore
Shanna— Jonmarc Vahanian’s late wife
Shanthadura, the Destroyer— One of the Shrouded Ones
Shanthadurists— Blood mages loyal to Shanthadura; also called black robes and Durim
Shekerishet— Margolan palace
Shrouded Ones— Trio of dark goddesses whose worship fell out of favor with the cult of the Sacred Lady
Sinha/The Crone— One of the eight Aspects of the Sacred Lady, especially revered in Nargi
Sister Beyral— Mage, rune reader, adviser to Tris Drayke
Sister Fallon— Mage, adviser to Tris Drayke
Sister Glenice— Mage, healer, helper to Carina Vahanian
Sister Rosta— Mage, administrator of the madhouse at Vistimar
Spirit Guides— Ghostly advisers to the Sworn
Stelian— Sworn sword
Surrie— Ghost who leads Aidane into the warrens
Talwyn— Sworn shaman, daughter of Pevre, wife of Jair Rothlandorn, mother to Kenver
Tarra— Allestyr’s niece, personal assistant to Kiara
Telorhan— Elite bodyguards to the Margolan king
Temnotta— Warring kingdom from across the Northern Sea
Temnottan— People or things from the kingdom of Temnotta
Tevin— Principality fire mage
Thaine— Ghost of a whore who was a long-ago lover to Jonmarc
Thanal— Flute player, part of a group of traveling musicians
The Dread— Ancient spirits that guard the Nachele within the barrows
The Sworn— Nomadic warriors who guard the barrows of the Dread
Tice— Trusted adviser of King Donelan
Tolya— Head of the privateers aligned with Margolan
The Dread: The Fallen Kings Cycle: Book Two Page 53
