From the author of the critically acclaimed THE WOLF OF OREN-YARO comes this standalone novel that takes on the origin story of the Blackwood Marauders in the world of Agos-agan. Growing up in a quiet farm, young Luc didn't dream of adventures until he fails the military entrance exam. Robbed of the chance to prove his worth to his adoptive family, he crosses paths with a group of vicious, bloodthirsty mercenaries out on a monster-hunting quest. With only his quick wits and honesty to fall back on, Luc's problems take a turn for the worst when he falls into a trap set by Roena Blackwood, the eldest of the local duke's daughters. Dragged into a twisted plot concocted by a power-hungry merchant, Luc must find a way to save the lives of those around him--including the very mercenaries he was fated to kill.

It is said that when a mage is born in Dageis, the whole world rejoices. Everywhere else, the world mourns. Born outside the affluent empire, Ylir yn Ferral and Sume Kaggawa's daughter might just be one of the most agan-gifted child the continent has seen. But without her father's coin and influence, the girl is a walking disaster. Raised by her uncle Kefier, she is a beacon which attracts the power-hungry to the fray--just like the monster her father and his ilk remain obsessed with. Sume, Kefier, and even Ylir must reckon with the part their family is starting to play in the grand scheme of things--or lose everything in the blink of an eye.

Contextualizes and annotates the influential, scandalous, and entertaining texts which appeared in the "Blackwood's Magazine" between 1817 and 1825. This title features a detailed general introduction, volume introductions and endnotes, providing the reader with an understanding of the origins and early history of "Blackwood's Magazine".