Lyra Series by Patricia C. Wrede

In the magic woods of Lyra, a noblewoman struggles to escape from a faceless man. Trouble is brewing in Alkyra. While the kingdom’s noblemen squabble, on their borders an ancient enemy, the Lithmern, raises an army. As the head of the Noble House of Brenn attempts to organize an alliance, the princess Alethia celebrates her twentieth birthday. She is a remarkable woman: quick-witted, beautiful, and handy with a throwing knife... moreIn the magic woods of Lyra, a noblewoman struggles to escape from a faceless man. Trouble is brewing in Alkyra. While the kingdom’s noblemen squabble, on their borders an ancient enemy, the Lithmern, raises an army. As the head of the Noble House of Brenn attempts to organize an alliance, the princess Alethia celebrates her twentieth birthday. She is a remarkable woman: quick-witted, beautiful, and handy with a throwing knife. But on the next night, she passes through a dark corridor on her way to the banquet hall, and never emerges from the shadows. The Lithmern have kidnapped the princess. When Alethia regains consciousness, an evil Lithmern with a face made of shadows is carrying her through the forest. These are magic woods, home to fabled creatures whose existence she has always doubted. To find her way home, Alethia will have to learn to trust in the old tales, whose legends of magic and daring hold the only hope of saving her kingdom. less

Emerek and Flindaran, a pair of wandering minstrels, find themselves in peril when their discovery of an ancient, magical harp leads into conflict with the sorcerers of Lyra.

This spellbinding tale of dark magic takes readers back to Lyra, the world of Shadow Magic and Daughter of Witches. THERE STANDS A TWISTED TOWER. .. hidden in the Windhome Mountains. Something is imprisoned there -- the Sisterhood of Stars does not know precisely what, but something is bound tight with a wizard's spell so that it can never escape again. Kayl is one of the few to have looked upon the Twisted Tower... moreThis spellbinding tale of dark magic takes readers back to Lyra, the world of Shadow Magic and Daughter of Witches. THERE STANDS A TWISTED TOWER. .. hidden in the Windhome Mountains. Something is imprisoned there -- the Sisterhood of Stars does not know precisely what, but something is bound tight with a wizard's spell so that it can never escape again. Kayl is one of the few to have looked upon the Twisted Tower. She has no desire to see it again - she left the Sisterhood long ago, settling down to a quiet life. Her sword lies unused in a secret place beneath the stones of her hearth. But something evil is leaking from the Tower. And now a sorceress and a wizard have appeared on Kayl's doorstep, demanding she take up the sword again. less

The world of Lyra is the world of two moons which humans share with the folk of magic: the silvery people of the ancient Shee, the elusive forest-dwelling Wyrd, and the dread Shadow Born, whose evil seeps into men's hearts and the shadows of the world. In this Lyra adventure, a proud young mountain woman must leave her stronghold to travel to the city and accomplish a bitter task... moreThe world of Lyra is the world of two moons which humans share with the folk of magic: the silvery people of the ancient Shee, the elusive forest-dwelling Wyrd, and the dread Shadow Born, whose evil seeps into men's hearts and the shadows of the world. In this Lyra adventure, a proud young mountain woman must leave her stronghold to travel to the city and accomplish a bitter task. Her mother, a soldier, died suddenly in the line of duty there, leaving behind the beautiful Raven Ring -- an ancient family heirloom that is much, much more than it seems. Retrieving her mother's ring is a simple matter -- but getting it home again will prove no easy task. For there are dark forces at work in Lyra. .. . less