FROM THE RUINS, A HERO WILL RISE Condemned as a murderer for killing the man who dishonored his sister, Blaine McFadden has been banished for years to a penal colony in the frigid northern wastelands of Edgeland. Military discipline and the oppressive magic of the governor's mages keep a fragile peace, as colonists struggle to survive in the harshest of conditions. But now the supply ships have stopped coming, and this bodes ill for the kingdom that banished the colonists . . . McFadden and the other exiles must decide their fate. They can remain in their icy prison, or they can return to the ruins of the kingdom that they once called home. Either way, destruction lies ahead . . .
From one of the most exciting writers of fantasy adventure comes the second novel in The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, a tale of unpredictable magic, battling warlords, and an exile's quest for vengeance. "A book that will take over readers' thoughts until long after the final page." — RT Book Reviews Survival is just the beginning. Blaine McFadden endured six long years in the brutal Velant prison colony, exiled for murder. War devastated his homeland of Donderath and destroyed the magic on which the Ascendant Kingdoms relied. Now Blaine and a small group of fellow exiles have returned to a lawless wasteland, where unrestrained magic storms wreak havoc and monsters roam free. Yet, amidst the chaos, rumors persist of a new magic that could restore the kingdoms. But the key lies with a dangerous, ancient ritual and a group of vanished survivors. Now McFadden's only hope is a small, desperate, quickly rallied army. Together they must make one last stand knowing that if they fail, the civilization of the Ascendant Kingdoms dies with them. The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga Ice Forged Reign of Ash War of Shadows Shadow and Flame
The newest novel in Gail Z. Martin's breathtaking Ascendant Kingdoms saga -- a tale of unpredictable magic, battling warlords, and the lust for vengeance. Amidst the shadows, chaos reigns. Blaine "Mick" McFadden managed to partially restore Donderath's magic, but not without a cost. He and the magic are now bound together, and the power remains dangerous and erratic -- draining the life from him with every use. New threats are rising from the wreckage of the battered kingdoms, and warlords both mortal and undead vie for control. Now, Blaine and his unlikely band of convict heroes must find allies amidst a sea of enemies, and discover a way to rebind magic to the will of mortals before it destroys him. And time is running out...
Explore the origins of Blaine McFadden and his allies in this short story prequel to the epic Ascendant Kingdoms Saga from Gail Z. Martin. Condemned to exile in an arctic prison colony for murdering his sister's attacker, Blaine McFadden has lost everything — his title, his family and his fiancéé. Velant Prison holds the worst of the kingdom's convicts, overseen by brutal guards who are exiles themselves. When a sadistic guard takes things too far, Blaine's insubordination makes him a target of the prison's notorious commander. To survive, Blaine needs to rely on his wits and his fists — and a few good friends to watch his back. Praise for the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga "Epic fantasy as it was meant to be read: gripping, action packed, and larger than life. A delight for any fan of the genre!" —Rachel Aaron “Epic fantasy at its best." —Aaron Rosenberg "A vivid, engrossing tapestry woven from epic heroism, post apocalypse struggles, perilous magic and darkest fantasy. A distinct and distinctive achievement." —Juliet McKenna "A book that will take over readers' thoughts until long after the final page." — RT Book Reviews The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga Ice Forged Reign of Ash War of Shadows Shadow and Flame No Reprieve
From Gail Z. Martin, one of the most exciting writers of fantasy adventure, comes the fourth and final novel in the epic Ascendant Kingdoms saga. Blaine McFadden and his allies have brought magic back under mortal command and begun to restore order to the beleaguered kingdom of Donderath. Now, new perils and old enemies gather for a final reckoning. Foreign invaders, a legendary dark mage and vengeful immortals fight Blaine's battered forces for control of the continent, and Blaine's weary army is the only thing standing between a kingdom struggling to rise from the ashes and a descent into fury and darkness.