The Weight of Ashes

Eighteen-year-old Caelan has spent his entire life in the quiet village of Ashwick, helping his mother run her apothecary, drinking with his closest friend, and trying to make sense of a world where magic determines a person's worth.With little talent for magic and no grand ambitions, Caelan has never imagined himself as anything more than an ordinary villager.But beyond the peaceful borders of Ashwick, war is spreading. Rumors of a mysterious army and creatures long believed to be extinct begin to reach the village, bringing fear and uncertainty to a place that has known little of either.As the threat draws closer, Caelan finds himself caught between his desire to protect those he loves and the terrifying reality of a conflict he is powerless to stop.In a world where ancient magic has been forgotten and the dead refuse to remain buried, Caelan will discover that some questions are better left unanswered—and that the greatest battles are not always fought with swords or spells.The Weight of Ashes is a dark fantasy tale of loss, friendship, and the burden of finding one's place in a world on the brink of destruction.