Strong heroines and riveting storytelling are the hallmark of groundbreaking fantasy author Kate Elliott (Crown of Stars, Crossroads). Her long-awaited first collection showcases twenty years of her finest work. Captured here are many of Elliotts previously out-of-print tales, four previously unpublished essays, and a brand new Crossroads story, On the Dying Winds of the Old Year and the Birthing Winds of the New.Elliott's bold adventuresses, complex quests, noble sacrifices, and hard-won victories shine in classic, compact legends. In The Memory of Peace, a girls powerful emotions rouse the magic of a city devastated by war. Meeting in The Queens Garden, two princesses unite to protect their kingdom from the blind ambition of their corrupted father. While Riding the Shore of the River of Death a chieftains daughter finds an unlikely ally on her path to self-determination.Elliotts many readers, as well as fantasy fans in search of powerful stories featuring well-drawn female characters, will revel in this unique gathering of truly memorable tales.