A YOUNG BOY MUST LEARN THE WAYS OF A WARRIOR IF HE IS EVER TO BECOME A PIT GUARD Far to the north of Ananduil, in the province of Kedielewen, a peaceful fishing village celebrates the harvest year when raiders attack. Orphaned and left to fend for himself after the massacre of his entire village, the tanner’s boy chances upon an encounter with a seasoned soldier, Commander Steigauf. A Pit Guard of Dendadia. Taken under Steigauf’s wing, the boy begins his training at the Shiverwind barracks and quickly gathers the skills to defend himself and fight for others. When a rider from across the land arrives seeking help with an investigation of the heinous murder of an unknown traveller, the boy accompanies Steigauf and a small band of unskilled soldiers, to Mountainfall, a place with a terrifying history and reputation. Along the way, the boy battles his inner demons, discovers love, and prepares to stare into the face of death. But nothing could prepare him for what awaits at Mountainfall.

In 2053, a state-of-the-art power facility harnessing the infinite energy of a singularity is secretly constructed deep beneath the icy expanse of Borden Island. When a UN team, including top officials and an elite security squad, is dispatched for a routine inspection, they stumble upon a horrifying discovery: a brilliant scientist is dead, and her newborn son exhibits terrifyingly rapid growth and intelligence. His chilling words, "Mother is coming," foretell a nightmare they could never have imagined. As the team grapples with escalating supernatural events, they are plunged into a harrowing fight for survival. Death, chaos, and unimaginable terror grip the facility, pushing the security detail to their limits. With time running out, they must unravel the dark secrets of the singularity and the mysterious boy before a cataclysmic force is unleashed. Prepare for a pulse-pounding sci-fi horror experience where the future of humanity hangs by a thread, and the greatest threat lurks in the shadows, waiting to be unleashed.

Action, intrigue, and magic collide in the second book in an epic fantasy trilogy, where Sir Konrad Vonvalt’s role as an Emperor’s Justice requires him to be a detective, judge, and executioner all in one—but these are dangerous times to be a Justice . . . A Justice’s work is never done. The Battle of Galen’s Vale is over, but the war for the Empire’s future has just begun. Concerned by rumors that the Magistratum’s authority is waning, Sir Konrad Vonvalt returns to Sova to find the capital city gripped by intrigue and whispers of rebellion. In the Senate, patricians speak openly against the Emperor, while fanatics preach holy vengeance on the streets. Yet facing down these threats to the throne will have to wait, for the Emperor’s grandson has been kidnapped - and Vonvalt is charged with rescuing the missing prince. His quest will lead him – and his allies Helena, Bressinger and Sir Radomir – to the southern frontier, where they will once again face the puritanical fury of Bartholomew Claver and his templar knights – and a dark power far more terrifying than they could have imagined. "Richard Swan's sophisticated take on the fantasy genre will leave readers hungry for more." – Sebastien de Castell on The Justice of Kings “A fantastic debut.” – Peter McLean on The Justice of Kings Also by Richard Swan: The Empire of the Wolf The Justice of Kings The Tyranny of Faith