The Legions of Fire

In this epic historical fantasy saga debut by the author of the Lord of the Isles, four young people must face dangerous magic to save the world.
"Drake... vividly recreates the attitudes of patrician Romans in this fantasy tale... . Fans of fantasy and historical fiction will enjoy." - Publishers Weekly
In this novel of magical menace to the survival of all humanity, David Drake introduces a new fantasy world, Carce, based on Europe during the later Roman Empire.
Far in the north, a group of magicians perform a strange dance on a volcanic island. They intend to open a gateway for supernatural creatures that will allow them to devastate the planet and destroy all life. Not knowing the cause, two young men, Corylus and Varus, and two women, Hedia and Alphena, each separately pursue the answer to mysterious and threatening happenings that prefigure disaster in the great city of Carce, the center of civilization. Through magical voyages in other realities where fantastic creatures, and even gods, help or hinder them, each of them must succeed or not just the city but the world will end in fire.
The Legions of Fire is the first of a fantasy quartet set in the world of the city of Carce.
"Recommended for all action fantasy fans, not least because three of the four protagonists are on the verge of adulthood, which promises a bildungsroman atmosphere throughout the succeeding volumes." - Booklist