Born to the Blade

For centuries the Warders’ Circle on the neutral islands of Twaa-Fei has given the countries of the sky a way to avoid war, settling their disputes through formal, magical duels. But the Circle’s ability to maintain peace is fading: the Mertikan Empire is preparing for conquest and the trade nation of Quloo is sinking, stripped of the aerstone that keeps both ships and island a-sky. When upstart Kris Denn tries to win their island a seat in the Warder’s Circle and colonial subject Oda no Michiko discovers that her conquered nation’s past is not what she’s been told, they upset the balance of power. The storm they bring will bind all the peoples of the sky together…or tear them apart.

This is my first foray into the world of collaboration. Born to the Blade is an epic fantasy novel co-written with Michael R. Underwood, Malka Older, and Cassandra Khaw, published by Serial Box, a company specializing in serialized fiction. Subscribe to season one of Born to the Blade and you’ll get weekly installments in both ebook and audio form — or wait until the season is finished and pick up the whole thing in a print omnibus. It’s “airing” now, and will finish by the end of June!