by Ryan C. Blake
Banished from Kelwes after an affair with the princess, commoner Owen Lockhart retreats to the isolated island of Hufflin, determined to live out his days quietly, anonymously, and with as little purpose as possible. When Sara Grayson, daughter of Owen’s slain mentor, arrives begging for help to stop a looming war, Owen sees a chance to reclaim the life he lost and avenge the man who made him who he was. To prevent the war, they must reach a hidden weapon before the King of Kelwes does. Their only path to it lies through the Tydell Tournament, a brutal contest where only one fighter survives. Preparing for the tournament drags Owen and Sara across the kingdoms of Gormire, forcing them into dangerous bargains, deadly quests, and the crosshairs of enemies who want them dead. Surviving the journey may prove harder than surviving the tournament itself. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A new chapter every week. What to expect - This novel takes place over 7 parts, below are brief previews. Don't read on if you'd prefer to avoid light spoilers. Part 1 A man with a mysterious power has the key to an all-powerful weapon which he intends to sell to the highest bidder. Owen and Sara must find him and take the key before he flees the island or puts the key in dangerous hands. If they fail, their quest is over before it begins. Part 2 Short on the gold required to enter the Tydell Tournament, Owen and Sara accept a royal contract to stop four of the kingdom's deadliest men from sabotaging an upcoming wedding. Their hunt drags them through a town overrun by clockwork soldiers who believe they're human, a seaside village at war with mermaids, and a poison-soaked race against time. And at the end of all that waits the most dangerous battlefield of all: a royal wedding. Part 3 Arriving at the Baskerville estate to collect a long-overdue debt, Owen and Sara instead crash the reading of a will. The dead in question is believed to have been torn apart by the legendary werewolf haunting the nearby forest. Our heroes are offered a fortune if they can solve the mystery. However, a rival detective with far more experience is also on the case. The first to uncover the truth wins the reward. Second place might not survive. Part 4 Stonegarden's famed Arax armour, some of the strongest in the realm, has mysteriously vanished from production. To earn a set for the upcoming tournament, Owen and Sara strike a deal with the queen. She reveals the secret source of Arax and sends them to confront the colossal being responsible for the kingdom's crisis. What they find is far more tragic than a simple monster hunt. Part 5 With their tournament preparations finally complete, Owen and Sara spend their final days before the tournament in Padcliffe. Before they can really kick their feet up, a mysterious virus sweeps through the kingdom. The gates are slammed shut. No one enters or leaves. The kingdom is on lockdown. When people begin vanishing from their homes overnight, Owen and Sara suspect it's linked to the virus. Their investigation leads them into the streets after dark, where they uncover the horrifying truth behind the sickness, and that nightmares can come to life. The clock is ticking. If they don't find a way to open the city's gates they'll miss the tournament and their quest could be over. Part 6 Owen enters the brutal Tydell Tournament, where every round pushes him closer to breaking physically, mentally, and morally. The appearance of Rebecca forces him to question everything he's fighting for. Part 7 The truth behind The Weapon is finally revealed, but the danger sweeping the kingdom is worse than initially thought.
