Fortress of Frost and Fire is the second Mercedes Lackey novel connected with The Bard's Tale setting. Coauthored with Ru Emerson, it follows Castle of Deception in the route recorded here and comes before Prison of Souls. Readers who want to follow Lackey's contributions in publication sequence can use it as the middle book. Baen's official listing confirms the title, contributors, and inclusion among Lackey's Bard's Tale novels.