Book One: The Warden

Aelis de Lenti, Lone Pine's newly assigned Warden, is in deep trouble. She has just opened the crypts of Mahlgren, releasing an army of the undead into the unprotected backwoods of Ystain.

To protect her village, she must unearth a source of immense necromantic power at the heart of Mahlgren. The journey will wind through waves of undead, untamed wilderness, and curses far older than anything Aelis has ever encountered. But as strong as Aelis is, this is one quest she cannot face alone.

Along with the brilliant mercenary she's fallen for, a half-orc friend, and a dwarven merchant, Aelis must race the clock to unravel mysteries, slay dread creatures, and stop what she has set in motion before the flames of a bloody war are re-ignited.

“Dark and delightful . . . A reading experience that captures the best essence of a single-player tabletop RPG romp with a sly and witty gamemaster.”—Elizabeth Bear, Multiple Hugo Award Winner
 
"Captures an endearing fish out of water vibe in this pleasantly romantic fantasy about the importance of supporting one’s local necromancer. . . . The charming misfit cast is the highlight here. Readers who enjoy the maturing mages and heroes of Robin McKinley and Melissa Caruso will find another youngster on the rise to cheer for in these pages."—Publishers Weekly
 
"A great first entry in a series, setting up an interesting sword-and-sorcery world whose secondary cast clearly has stories to tell, from retired soldiers turned innkeeping couple Rus and Martin to a pair of dwarves who are bankers turned adventurers. Fans of Brandon Sanderson will enjoy details about the complex magical system. It will be fascinating to see where Aelis, and her world, goes from here."—Booklist