The Ruins of Ambrai

In Lenfell's far past, its population is decimated by the Waste Wars, and the ruling class has emerged based on the ability to have healthy children. This leads to a very matriarchal society with women holding all the power and men treated as cattle.

The plot centers around a war between two rival magical factions, the Mage Guardians and the Lords of Malerris. In the midst of this war are the three primary characters, Glenin, Sarra, and Cailet Ambrai, sisters who were torn apart after the destruction of Ambrai, their home.

The book starts with Collan, who is enslaved by Scraller. Col is rescued by Gorynel Desse, and then Collan starts his work as a bard. The three girls are descendants of the Ambrai line. After a political confrontation, the father, Auvry Feiran, takes Glenin to Ryka Court. The mother, Maichen Ambrai, takes Sarra to Ostinhold, where Maichen gives birth to Cailet, but then dies. Sarra is then taken to live in Roseguard with Lady Agatine and Orlin. Cailet stays in Ostinhold as a relative of the Ostins.

Dean Evans reviewed The Ruins of Ambrai for Arcane magazine in 1996, rating it a 5 out of 10 overall.[1] Evans comments that "If you make it past the lengthy scene-setting, a sprawling tale of sibling rivalry unfolds, a political mud-bath that pits sister against sister against sister. It's neatly constructed and pacy, but lacks that certain something that would make it a fantasy 'must-have'. Ruins is a canned swords-and-sorcery tale and a fairly unremarkable one at that."[1]