Born without a Gift, Solyana is an unlikely savior. But when blizzards and prophecies compel her, Solyana plans to journey into greater Mothmar–where every previous expedition has led to death. Unwinding the mysteries of the past and present, Solyana’s choices could spell survival or extinction and unknowingly bind her to another . . . Disdained by her father and overshadowed by her siblings, Pallah finds home with a group of elusive zealots. Discovering her Gift is forbidden only pushes Pallah to obey the persistent voice in her head, moving her toward a decision that could end in irreversible darkness. Can Solyana find the truth to the prophecy before she is thrust into the awaiting abyss? Can Pallah discover her true purpose before her world collapses in on itself?
With her newly acquired Gift burning inside her, Solyana Marusda evades the Taka Reu while in search of uncovering the prophecy’s secrets. But the answers are paved in sacrifices that make her wonder whether she is the savior of her people or their destruction.Growing in her connection with the Mother Below yet separated from all that she’s ever loved, Pallah searches for a place of belonging only to find herself the instrument of chaos. Compelled by forces beyond her control, there is no way of telling what is or isn’t her own will.All the while, someone is watching, waiting—with more sinister schemes than either girl can know.
Listen, this was supposed to be simple. Kaelin Thorn: professional assassin, expert brooder, collector of emotional scars had one mission. Kill the king. Straightforward. Efficient. The sort of thing you can check off before lunch. But somewhere between the exploding Ale Trials, the cursed inn, and the incident with the goat. (Why are there so many goats?) Kaelin accidentally acquired a travel companion: Tobias, a bright-eyed mage with a suspiciously soft heart and a tendency to monologue about feelings. A soundtrack: Brug, a non-binary orc with a lute and lyrics. Oh, and Timber—the world’s most judgmental dog, who communicates entirely through eyebrow movements and existential sighs. Now, Dear Reader, our dear assassin finds herself knee-deep in other people’s problems, which, as it turns out, are harder to stab than advertised. There will be quests. There will be chaos. There will be . . . feelings (and Kaelin’s tragic attempts to avoid them). Will she save the realm? Probably, but not intentionally. She might just save herself—between side quests, snark, and the occasional dagger to the heart (metaphorical or otherwise). Side Quest is a cozy, chaotic fantasy for anyone who’s ever tried to stay on mission and ended up adopting a mutt, a mage, and a moral compass instead.
