In the epic conclusion to the Fallen Kings Cycle, set in the world of The Chronicles of the Necromancer, the long awaited battle has begun. War has come to the Winter Kingdoms. The Dread will rise. Kings will fall. Summoner-King Tris Drayke takes what remains of his army north for a war he is ill-prepared to fight, as reports from spies confirm Tris's worst fear. A new threat rises across the sea: a dark summoner who intends to make the most of the Winter Kingdoms's weakness. In Isencroft, Kiara's father is assassinated and she will now have no choice except to return and claim the crown. But she must leave behind her husband and their infant son to face the dark power that threatens her rule. The Dread s the epic conclusion to the Fallen Kings Cycle. Praise for the Fallen Kings Cycle: "[For] fans of Martin's previous series as well as those who enjoy the large-scale fantasy of George R.R. Martin and Robert Jordan." — Library Journal "Gail Z. Martin has a good grasp of pacing, and tells a fast-paced tale laced with plenty of action. "― SF Site "A pleasant and enjoyable read that any lover of fantasy should enjoy."― Midwest Book Review

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 . . .

An exile's quest for vengeance continues in a world of unpredictable magic and battling warlords in this second entry in the exciting fantasy adventure series. " Reign of Ash is a book that will take over readers' thoughts until long after the final page, as they anxiously await for the final installment." ― 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 acclaimed fantasy author delivers "the perfect conclusion to a truly epic tale" as a struggling kingdom faces the ultimate threat (Michael J. Sullivan, author of the Riyria novels). 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. 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. This is the final reckoning.

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

As plague and famine scourge the Winter Kingdoms, a vast invasion force is mustering from beyond the Northern Sea. And at its heart, a dark spirit mage wields the blood magic of ancient, vanquished gods. Summoner-King Martris Drayke must attempt to meet this great threat, gathering an army from a country ravaged by civil war. And neighbouring lands reel toward anarchy while plague decimates their leaders. Drayke must seek new allies from among the living - and the dead - as an untested generation of rulers face their first battle. Then someone disturbs the legendary Dread as they rest in a millennia-long slumber beneath sacred barrows. Their warrior guardians, the Sworn, know the Dread could be pivotal as a force for great good or evil. But if it's the latter, could even the Summoner-King's sorcery prevail?

The comfortable world of Martris Drayke, second son of King Bricen of Margolan, is shattered when his older half-brother, Jared, and Jared's dark mage, Foor Arontala, kill the king and seize the throne. Tris is the only surviving member of the royal family aside from Jared the traitor. Tris flees with three friends: Soterius, captain of the guard; Carroway, the court's master bard; and Harrtuck, a member of the royal guard. Tris harbors a deep secret. In a land where spirits walk openly and influence the affairs of the living, he suspects he may be the mage heir to the power of his grandmother, Bava K'aa, once the greatest sorceress of her age. Such magic would make Tris a Summoner, the rarest of magic gifts, capable of arbitrating between the living and the dead.

The third book in the stunning fantasy series from Gail Z Martin. This novel follows the break out success of The Summoner and The Blood King.

The stunning third installment in Gail Z. Martin's breathtaking Ascendant Kingdoms saga — a tale of unpredictable magic, battling warlords, and the lust for vengeance. “Epic fantasy at its best." —Aaron Rosenberg 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 seas of enemies, and discover a way to rebind magic to the will of mortals before it destroys him. And time is running out. . . "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 The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga Ice Forged Reign of Ash War of Shadows Shadow and Flame