From a whisper of smoke … to an apocalypse of fire. Skeggi has been raising his brothers ever since their parents died last year. One respite from his never-ending work is the time he spends with his sword-friends, learning to fight and fly dragons. But during battle-practice on dragonback, Skeggi accidentally stumbles upon an invasion force of Danes preparing to attack his city, and all hell breaks loose. As the city prepares for war, Skeggi and his friends are sent on a mission to bring back the Queen’s daughter. The sword-friends run into the forest on a perilous journey. Not only must they rescue the Queen’s daughter, but they must escape the wrath of the Dane’s commander, Iron Skull, one of the most dangerous men of Viking legend. The sword-friends have found someone that Iron Skull considers more valuable than gold—his thrall girl. And now he is hunting them to get her back. The sword-friends are going to be hard-pressed to get back to Skala … if they even survive the journey.

Dyrfinna and Gefjun, now at war with each other, end up in the enemy's camp, where nothing is as it seems. And now they must unite in battle against a greater foe, Nauma, who has returned and is raising an army of the undead—both humans and dragons. The second part of the Dragonriders of Skala series.

The explosive third book in the Dragonriders of Skala series. The undead roam the world of the Vikings—an unstoppable army led by the vicious Nauma, who rides upon the dragon corpse she raised from the blood of slaughtered soldiers. And Dyrfinna hunts her with the help of her fiery emberdragon, willing to do anything in her power to stop Nauma and send all those old heroes back into the earth where they belong. Dyrfinna must call upon both friend and enemy to join forces with her to stop Nauma from awakening an ancient, stronger power to come to her aid or her magical powers will cause even greater devastation. Kingdoms and lives hang in the balance. A crown of roses and a crown of fire wait for those who survive this battle.