A dear friend is brutally beaten. Two thieves want answers. Riyria is born.One year earlier, two thieves were saved from certain death by the compassion of a stranger. Unable to forget the woman who saved their lives, Royce and Hadrian now return to Gwen DeLancy and are shocked when she refuses to speak to them. Baffled, the two thieves discover Gwen has been brutally beaten by a powerful noble--beaten so badly she can't face them. But Gwen doesn't know about Royce's past, doesn't understand how much he cares for her, and doesn't realize what he is capable of--but she's about to find out.The Rose and the Thorn is the second book in The Riyria Chronicles, a prequel series featuring the early adventures of Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater. Taking place twelve years before the events in Michael J. Sullivan's bestselling The Riyria Revelations, the books can be enjoyed either in order of publication or chronological order.Publication OrderTheft of Swords (Riyria Revelations #1 & #2): contains The Crown Conspiracy & AvemparthaRise of Empire   (Riyria Revelations #3 & #4): contains Nyphron Rising & The Emerald StormHeir of Novron  (Riyria Revelations #5 & #6): contains Wintertide & PercepliquisThe Crown Tower (Riyria Chronicles #1)The Rose and the Thorn (Riyria Chronicles #2)Chronological OrderThe Crown Tower (Riyria Chronicles #1)The Rose and the Thorn (Riyria Chronicles #2)Theft of Swords (Riyria Revelations #1 & #2): contains The Crown Conspiracy & AvemparthaRise of Empire   (Riyria Revelations #3 & #4): contains Nyphron Rising & The Emerald StormHeir of Novron  (Riyria Revelations #5 & #6): contains Wintertide & PercepliquisContact InformationTwitter: @author_sullivanFacebook: facebook.com/michael.james.sullivanemail: michael.sullivan.dc@gmail.com