The Scorched Earth is the second book in The Chaos Born series, following Children of Fire.

The three talismans of power, the Crown, the Sword, and the Ring, protect the realm but are dangerous to wield or wear, unless all three are together, and they are not. Keegan, Vaaler, Scythe, Norr, and Jerrod continue their quest to save their world from the effects of Chaos and thwart Daemron the Slayer.  Cassandra, keeper of the Crown, struggles to ward off the baleful influence of her former mentor Rexol, who is determined to take the Crown for himself. And Queen Rhianna has been enspelled by Orath, so that all her actions and decisions are tainted by his malice.

Tragedy and triumph are present in equal measure in this adventure, which should appeal to readers of the Sword of Shannara series. ~~ Chris R. Paige