![A Lullaby of Sand and Silver - [Cozy but Dangerous Fantasy + Coming-of-Age + Character-Driven] STUBBING SEP 30](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.royalroadcdn.com%2Fpublic%2Fcovers-large%2F143082-a-lullaby-of-sand-and-silver-cozy-but-dangerous.jpg%3Ftime%3D1788990390&w=640&q=75)
by Lucian T. Einar
STUBBING SEPTEMBER 30 — READ IT FREE WHILE IT LASTS The Royal Road version of this novel will be removed on October 1, 2026, ahead of its official publication on November 10, 2026. OF SAND AND SILVER Book One: A Lullaby of Thieves and Tea Royal Road Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through September 30 Preorder, Follow, or Join the ARC Official Website:https://lucianteinar.com/ Preorder on Amazon:https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B0HH94TZQD Add It on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/258058078-a-lullaby-of-thieves-and-tea Apply for a Free Digital ARC:https://forms.gle/Nayj2sz2dG3K8Rd69 ARC reviews are appreciated but never required. Regular fantasy readers and first-time ARC readers are welcome to apply. Softness gets you killed. Azhra learned that before the contract that cost her an eye. Azhra, a young Azqára assassin, survives by striking first and trusting no one. But when a job goes wrong, she flees into the wilderness wounded, half-blind, and clinging to the only thing she has left: her mother’s lullaby. The wizard Ithráin finds her and offers the one thing Azhra fears more than violence: kindness. Under his care, she becomes his apprentice and begins building a life she never expected to have. Then the Vault within the Archive of Wissenheim is breached. Something ancient is stolen—and something far more dangerous binds itself to Azhra’s blood. Tazhār al-Qaṭʿ, the Weapon of Severance, grants her extraordinary power under one brutal law: use it for cruelty, vanity, or vengeance alone, and it will consume her from within. With rival Sages, hidden factions, and dangerous relics circling the Archive’s secrets, Azhra must learn to control the weapon before the instincts that kept her alive become the reason she destroys herself. A Lullaby of Thieves and Tea is the first novel in the Of Sand and Silver saga—a cozy-but-dangerous high-fantasy adventure about found family, ancient relics, living weapons, and a feral girl discovering that survival and living are not the same thing. The Of Sand and Silver Saga Book One: A Lullaby of Thieves and Tea Book Two: A Ballad of Storms and Salt Book Three: A March of Pilgrims and Phantoms Book Four: A Waltz of Sand & Silver More journeys—and considerably more trouble—to follow. Genres and Themes Cozy-but-dangerous fantasy High and epic fantasy adventure Character-driven journey fantasy Found family Coming of age Mentor-and-apprentice relationship Thieves, rogues, and morally complicated characters Castlepunk and solarpunk worldbuilding Clockwork, solar, and runic magitech Structured Aether magic Ancient ruins, cursed artifacts, and forgotten mysteries Emotional healing and learning to trust What to Expect A young assassin who insists she is “fine” while bleeding everywhere An ancient wizard who runs on herbal tea, patience, and impossible magic A mentor-and-apprentice bond that becomes a family one argument at a time Long journeys on foot, by boat, by horse, and eventually by airship Quiet campfire conversations after everyone spends the day screaming Clockwork knights, sun-powered cities, grown-wood buildings, river markets, desert caravans, and sky-guild ports Thaumaturgy, glyphs, wards, sun-runes, and other forms of Aether craft Small jobs that develop an alarming habit of becoming large disasters Ancient relics, sealed Vaults, rival Sages, and living weapons with opinions Trust issues, trauma, emotional breakthroughs, and stew of questionable legality Fights, flight, mild arson, and at least one pirate-fleet problem No world-saving prophecy—just people helping whoever happens to be standing in front of them The wonder and melancholy of Frieren, Witch Hat Atelier, and Studio Ghibli—but with more knives The story balances warmth, food, tea, humor, and found family with the genuine danger and larger scope of high fantasy. It is cozy, but it is not entirely low-stakes.
| # | Title | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | — CHAPTER ONE— OF AUTOMATA, WICKED LORDS, AND BLOODY COURTYARDS | 0 |
| 2 | — CHAPTER TWO— OF BROKEN WINGS, BLOODIED ESCAPE, AND SILENT CAVES | 0 |
| 3 | — CHAPTER THREE— OF BROKEN BODIES, WHISPERED RUNES, AND GENTLE HANDS | 0 |
| 4 | — CHAPTER FOUR— OF OLD BONES, OLD MANNERS, AND UNFAMILIAR SAFETIES | 0 |
| 5 | — CHAPTER FIVE— OF BONES, BRUISES, AND BAD TIMING | 0 |
| 6 | — CHAPTER SIX— OF SHATTERED PORCELAINS, QUIET THUNDERS, AND WARNINGS IGNORED | 0 |
| 7 | — CHAPTER SEVEN— OF THIN PATIENCES, HARD ROADS, AND LOST KNIVES | 0 |
| 8 | — CHAPTER EIGHT— OF GHOST WATER, QUIET MAGIC, AND UNPAID WIZARDS | 0 |
| 9 | — CHAPTER NINE— OF SUNFLOWER FESTIVALS, PICKPOCKETS, AND WATCHFUL WIZARDS | 0 |
| 10 | — CHAPTER TEN— OF LOCKPICKS, HOT CHOCOLATES, AND FIRST SMALL SMILES | 0 |
| 11 | — CHAPTER ELEVEN— OF DYING BEASTS, GOLDEN RUNES, AND MERCIES THAT STUNG | 0 |
| 12 | — CHAPTER TWELVE— OF WOUNDED MOTHERS, HOLLOW SONGS, AND QUIET PYRES | 0 |
| 13 | — CHAPTER THIRTEEN— OF DUSTY HATS, BREAD KILNS, AND WAR-SCARRED TOWNS | 0 |
| 14 | — CHAPTER FOURTEEN— OF TEA TRAYS, TASTE TESTS, AND TABOO PRAISES | 0 |
| 15 | — CHAPTER FIFTEEN— OF SMALL MIRACLES, SHARED MEALS, AND UNEXPECTED KINDNESSES | 0 |
| 16 | — CHAPTER SIXTEEN— OF GONDOLAS, FLOATING LIBRARIES, AND FORGOTTEN NAMES | 0 |
| 17 | — CHAPTER SEVENTEEN— OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS, QUIET GARDENS, AND SUDDEN EXPLOSIONS | 0 |
| 18 | — CHAPTER EIGHTEEN— OF TROLL BLOODS, SHATTERED HALLS, AND SCREAMING CHILDREN | 0 |
| 19 | — CHAPTER NINETEEN— OF EXPLOSIONS, TROLL BLOOD, AND LIBRARY SECURITY | 0 |
| 20 | — CHAPTER TWENTY— OF FROST TROLLS, POISONED HANDS, AND SHATTERED HALLS | 0 |
| 21 | — CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE— OF VAULT BREACHES, RAMPAGING TROLLS, AND BLEEDING CHAMPIONS | 0 |
| 22 | — CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO— OF SHATTERED GLYPHS, BROKEN CHAINS, AND FALLING LIGHT | 0 |
| 23 | — CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE— OF ASHES, ECHOES, AND BURNING NAMES | 0 |
| 24 | — CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR— OF BROKEN TOYS, EMPTY BELLIES, AND CLOSED GATES | 0 |
| 25 | — CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE— OF KNIVES, PERFUMED LIES, AND SILENCED SCREAMS | 0 |
| 26 | — CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX— OF BLOODBOUND WEAPONS, SHATTERED BODIES, AND UNHOLY PACTS | 0 |
| 27 | — CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN— OF DESERT SAGES, SILVER BLOOD, AND NEAR-DEATH BARGAINS | 0 |
| 28 | — CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT— OF STOLEN LEGACIES, RISING ECHOES, AND COMING CATASTROPHES | 0 |
| 29 | — CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE— OF ANCIENT PRIESTESSES, INNER SANCTUMS, AND WALKING FLAMES | 0 |
| 30 | — CHAPTER THIRTY— OF REVERBERATIONS, AFTERMATHS, AND WHAT COMES NEXT | 0 |
| 31 | — CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE— OF SILVER VEINS, QUIET GARDENS, AND UNTRAINED POWERS | 0 |
| 32 | — CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO— OF SHATTERED NOISES, AWAKENED SIGHT, AND LIVING LINES | 0 |
| 33 | — CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE— OF AWAKENED SELVES, STORM EYES, AND CHANGING FORMS | 0 |
| 34 | — CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR— OF SURPRISE FEASTS, HONEYED SKEWERS, AND LOYAL FOOLS | 0 |
| 35 | — CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE— OF PILOTS, PASSENGERS, AND PROMISED HORIZONS [START OF BOOK 2] | 0 |
| 36 | — CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX— OF CLOUD SEAS, WIND BARRIERS, AND CHILDLIKE WONDER | 0 |
| 37 | — CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN— OF SALTED FEASTS, SUDDEN BELLS, AND WYVERN SHADOWS | 0 |
| 38 | — CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT— OF WYVERN FLOCKS, LAKE SKIMS, AND GRAVITY FIELDS | 0 |
| 39 | — CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE— OF SALT WINDS, OPEN SEAS, AND STEADY BREATHS | 0 |
| 40 | — CHAPTER FOURTY— OF STARBOARD HORIZONS, SUNSET SEAS, AND SKY WHALES | 0 |
| 41 | — CHAPTER FOURTY-ONE— OF COASTAL CITIES, OPEN PASSPORTS, AND UNPACKED LIVES | 0 |
| 42 | — CHAPTER FOURTY-TWO— OF MUSEUM HALLS, STORM GLASSES, AND PROMISES | 0 |
| 43 | Announcement 01 | 0 |
| 44 | — CHAPTER FOURTY-THREE— OF HATS, RIBBONS, AND MARKET SONGS | 0 |
| 45 | — CHAPTER FOURTY-FOUR— OF GUILD YARDS, SPARING HANDS, AND WOODEN BLADES | 0 |
| 46 | — CHAPTER FOURTY-FIVE— OF SINGING BRIDGES, WARM LOAVES, AND OPEN DOORS | 0 |
| 47 | — CHAPTER FOURTY-SIX— OF COALS, SHARED TABLES, AND HOMECOMING CARTS | 0 |
| 48 | — CHAPTER FOURTY-SEVEN— OF HURDY-GURDIES, HERB TEAS, AND HEARTH-WARM LAUGHTER | 0 |
| 49 | — CHAPTER FOURTY-EIGHT— OF PIRATE SAILS, PILOT’S CALLS, AND NO TURNING BACK | 0 |
| 50 | — CHAPTER FOURTY-NINE— OF BLACK SAILS, CANNON FLASHES, AND BURNING WATER | 0 |
| 51 | — CHAPTER FIFTY— OF NIGHT WINDS, IRON RAILS, AND FALLING STARS | 0 |
| 52 | — CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE— OF SHADOW FLIGHTS, RAIL CANNONS, AND STERN WINDOWS | 0 |
| 53 | — CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO— OF IRON BEASTS, HUMAN COSTS, AND CONTROLLED RUINS | 0 |
| 54 | — CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE— OF HIDDEN FAULTS, FALSE READINGS, AND CHOKING BEASTS | 0 |
| 55 | — CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR— OF SABOTAGE PAYOFFS, SCREAMING HULLS, AND FALLING POWER | 0 |
| 56 | — CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE— OF PIRATE KINGS, HORNET NESTS, AND BLOOD TRAILS | 0 |
| 57 | — CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX— OF QUARTERDECK SHADOWS, STOLEN MOMENTS, AND CUT THROATS | 0 |
| 58 | — CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN— OF SILENCED WARDS, BURNING ROOMS, AND NAMED TRAITORS | 0 |
| 59 | — CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT— OF STONE CELLS, AETHER WARDS, AND SHACKLED WIZARDS | 0 |
| 60 | — CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE— OF SLEEPY GUARDS, BLUE CHAINS, AND QUIET WORDS | 0 |
| 61 | — CHAPTER SIXTY— OF FIRE, CHAINS, AND BROKEN TEETH | 0 |
| 62 | — CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE— OF FIRE, CHAINS, AND BROKEN TEETH | 0 |
| 63 | — CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO— OF WEAPONS, POWDER, AND TREASURE. | 0 |
| 64 | — CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE— OF SMOKE, BERSERKERS, AND SKIFFS | 0 |
| 65 | — CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR— OF RAGGED SAILS, OWL SONGS, AND LAST-MINUTE | 0 |
| 66 | — CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE— OF OPEN WATERS, STOLEN SHIPS, AND MISSING CHARTS | 0 |
| 67 | — CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX— OF PRAISE, PANIC, AND UNWANTED ANCHORS | 0 |
| 68 | — CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN— OF TEETHED TIDES, BERSERKER RAGES, AND MONSTER ROARS | 0 |
| 69 | — CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT— OF CALLING NOTES, CAPSIZED HORIZONS, AND ABYSSAL MAWS | 0 |
| 70 | — CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE— OF STOPPED SECONDS, TERVAINNE CHANTS, AND KRAKENS | 0 |
| 71 | — CHAPTER SEVENTY— OF SALT GRAVES, LAST RITES, AND NEW HORIZONS | 0 |
| 72 | — CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE— OF WARM HANDS, HUSHED SECRETS, AND BUTTERFLY BRAVADO | 0 |
| 73 | — CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO— OF PARTING PROMISES, ROAD DUST, AND OLD TEETH IN NEW SHADOWS [END OF BOOK 2] | 0 |
| 74 | Announcement - May 18, 2026: Book 3 update, saga title plans, and a future relaunch | 0 |
| 75 | — CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE— OF CHAINS, WARDS, AND UNWELCOME QUESTIONS [START OF BOOK 3] | 0 |
| 76 | Announcement - A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE MAP | 0 |
| 77 | — CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR— OF WARDS, NEWSPAPERS, AND BORDER BARGAINS | 0 |
| 78 | — CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE— OF SADDLE SORENESS, DUEL LESSONS, AND BANDIT MASKS | 0 |
| 79 | — CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX— OF SNOBS, NECROPOLISES, AND TELEPORTATION TRAPS | 0 |
| 80 | — CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN— OF SUBJUGATION COLLARS, SMOKE SIGNALS, AND HIDDEN SCATTERGUNS | 0 |
| 81 | — CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT— OF SMOKE, SCATTERGUNS, AND SURVIVORS | 0 |
| 82 | — CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE— OF MEDALS, MONEY, AND PEOPLE WHO LIVED | 0 |
| 83 | — CHAPTER EIGHTY— OF MARKETPLACES, HEMLINES, AND RECOGNITIONS | 0 |
| 84 | — CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE— OF ROADS, WITCHES, AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS | 0 |
| 85 | — CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO— OF RAVINES, WALKERS, AND WESTWARD ROADS | 0 |
| 86 | — CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR— OF WARGS, BARBECUES, AND GRAND SAGES | 0 |
| 87 | — CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE— OF BORDER TOWNS, DANCES, AND DEPARTURES | 0 |
| 88 | — CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE— OF HAMLETS, HEALING, AND HEDGE-WITCHES | 0 |
| 89 | — CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX— OF SHRINES, LESSONS, AND LOST PARTIES | 0 |
| 90 | — CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN— OF PARTINGS, PROMISES, AND UNDEAD CITIES | 0 |
| 91 | — CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT— OF SHADOW-THREADS, WAR GHOSTS, AND CHECKPOINTS | 0 |
| 92 | — CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE— OF FALLEN COMRADES, RELEASES AND TEMPLES | 0 |
| 93 | — CHAPTER NINETY— OF MIASMA, ALTARS, AND OLD GRIEFS | 0 |
| 94 | — CHAPTER NINETY-ONE— OF LOCKETS, HORDES, AND LICHES | 0 |
| 95 | — CHAPTER NINETY-TWO— OF MIRRORS, MASTERS, AND APPRENTICES | 0 |
| 96 | — CHAPTER NINETY-THREE— OF RELEASES, MERCIES, AND BETRAYALS | 0 |
| 97 | — CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR— OF STAVES, FUGITIVES, AND GRAVES | 0 |
| 98 | — CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE— OF TANGLES, SUMMONS, AND BURIALS [END BOOK 3] | 0 |
| 99 | Important Update: Google Books, the Relaunch, Book Four, and the Future of Sand and Silver | 0 |
| 100 | Cover Reveal, Amazon Preorder, ARC News—and the Royal Road Stub Date | — |
| 101 | ARC Sign-Ups Are Open! Royal Road Readers, This One Is for You | — |
| 102 | Announcement: Welcome to Codex of Ages | 0 |
