A Cavern of Black Ice
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A Cavern of Black Ice is the first book in the Sword of Shadows fantasy series by J. V. Jones. It is followed by A Fortress of Grey Ice and A Sword from Red Ice (not yet released). The story begins with a woman named Tarissa giving birth to a girl outside the gates of a city, Spire Vanis. The girl, Ash March, is taken in by Penthero Iss, surlord of Spire Vanis, who knows of the dark powers that she will harbour should she reach maturity, and wants to keep her for his own purpose. Meanwhile, a young clansman, Raif Sevrance, is exiled from his home clan because he opposes the instructions of the new clan chief to kill innocent women and children while on a raid. His uncle, Angus Lok, brings him to Spire Vanis, where they rescue Ash March. Ash March then learns that she has the powers to draw out the beasts of the underworld and she and Raif decide to travel to the cavern of Black Ice so that she can release her powers safely without drawing out the beasts of the underworld. Meanwhile, Penthero Iss, angered at her untimely escape, pays an assassin to get rid of Angus Lok's entire family.
