Antony Ryan - Queen of Fire [Raven's Shadow 3]

It took the best part of another hour before a scouting party came their way, two riders and a clutch of dogs making directly for their hill. The wolf rose when they had begun to climb the slope, the riders immediately dragging their mounts to a halt while the hounds milled about, whining in fear as their masters whipped at them, uttering curses and threats.
And the wolf howled.
Frentis shrank from the vastness of the sound, sinking to the earth, eyes clamped tight shut and hands over his ears as it soared across the fields and hills, the force of it cutting through him like a ragged saw-blade. Not since the long years of the binding had he felt so helpless, so small.
He opened his eyes as the howl faded, finding the wolf staring down at him, green eyes meeting his and birthing a realisation that it knew him, knew his every secret, every hidden scrap of guilt. It dipped its head, a rough tongue scraping over Frentis's forehead, drawing a whimper and leaving something new. A message. It wasn't a voice, more a certainty, a clear and brightsurety shining in his mind: you must forgive yourself.
Frentis felt a laugh escape him as the wolf drew back, blinked again, then turned to lope away. Frentis stood to watch it run, a silver streak through the twisting grass, disappearing in a heartbeat.
The whinny of a panicked horse brought him back to his senses, turning to find the two riders staring at him in shock, their dogs a good distance away, yelping in fear as they raced for the camp. Frentis chose the rider in the left, palmed a throwing knife ant sent it into his throat. He fell from his horse, blood frothing from his mouth as he cluched at his neck. His companion's wide-eyed gaze shifted to Frentis and back again, hands twitching in his reins, his sword untouched at his side.
'You have a report to make,' Frentis told him. 'Give Lord Darnel the Red Brother's regards.'

Great book and the conclusion of a fantastic trilogy! Queen of Fire has it all: epic battles, deep and diverse charakters and even some romance - but less distracting than in A Song of Ice and Fire. In Raven's Shadow the focus lies considerably more on fighting but without overdoing it.

Conclusion: You like fantasy books? Read the trilogy! You already read Blood Song and Tower Lord? Read Queen of Fire - you won't be disappointed!