King Fingar of Norkath is planning a brutal war of conquest against neighboring Karolan, allegedly justified by a mysterious betrayal decades old. Karolan has a history full of heroism, but dread weighs heavily on her people now. Aging King Thomas has no heir: Karolan may face Fingar's onslaught without an effective leader.

In beautiful Glen Carrah in Karolan, Jonathan the blacksmith and Naomi the shepherdess exchange pledges of undying love. Confident in his strength, Jonathan promises Naomi that he will find and rescue her, no matter what, if war separates them. The separation comes unexpectedly soon, when young Sir Ilohan asks Jonathan's company on a journey commanded by the king.

From this beginning, Bright Against the Storm enthralls readers with believable characters and a gripping plot. Is Ilohan's mission what it seems, an irrelevant footnote to the gathering storm of war? Why do deadly foes dog his footsteps almost from the beginning? Can Jonathan and Ilohan escape their enemies and finish the king's quest? Will Karolan -- and Naomi -- weather the storm?

Bright Against the Storm has the adventure and wonder typical of good fantasy, but manages without elves or sorcerers -- with a world that seems more real, closer to home. Weariness and betrayal fall on the leading characters as they fall on us, with no magic spells offering an easy way out. Despite the hardness of their lives, they find cause to rejoice. Their heroism and love glow in the midst of their dangerous world. They have confidence that the battles of their times are worth fighting -- and that with care and wisdom they can fight on the right side. Reading Bright Against the Storm re-awakens dreams that our jaded, cynical world beats down -- dreams that heroism is possible in the real world.