Farlander is the first book in the Heart of the World Series written by Col Buchanan

Col Buchanan

Col Buchanan is a British fantasy writer.His first book Farlander, released in March 2010 by Tor, won the David Gemmell Legend Award for Fantasy.He lives in Lancaster, England.-Reviews:...

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The book follows the story of Ash, a member of a sect of assassins known as Rōshun, who offer protection through the threat of vendetta, and Nico, who is a street urchin living in the city of Bar-Khos, which is under siege

Siege

A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...

by the Holy Empire of Mann.