A Missing Princess. A City Under Siege. A Compendium 0f The Blackest Sorcery.The Grand Mage of Caragol is the most dangerous man in the realm, so when Kerstin steals his spellbook right out of his tower, she lights up a firestorm of trouble.
An army sweeps through the city of Klomm, but countless lives are a petty sum for such great power. With the spellbook, Kerstin can deal with the villainous Count Olgris, and the unspeakable horrors conjured by the Grand Mage.
But she is dancing on a spider's thread.
Meanwhile on the other side of the kingdom, fifteen-year-old Hinkle walks a tightrope of her own, spinning a web of dangerous lies around her new master, Sir Gilkrist of Lothellae.
When Sir Gilkrist's quest brings them to Klomm, she discovers the secrets she's been hiding are darker than she ever imagined. A diabolical scheme threatens to engulf the world in shadow and blood - and it has everything to do with her Aunt Kerstin.
But can Sir Gilkrist help her ... or will he devise a dark purpose of his own?
Praise from readers:
★★★★★ - "A fresh take on witches, knights and magic. While the novel stays true to its genre, the author brings a fresh look at magic, the dark arts, and everything in between. Characters are relatable and I really enjoyed the horror elements as well. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series."
★★★★★ - "I loved the darkness of some of the characters. The writing was very descriptive and immersive. A fantastic start to the series!"
★★★★★ - "Great fantasy novel. Action and excitement on the surface with deeper and heavier undertones. Rains builds a complex and immersive world of nations at war, old grudges, magic and intrigue."
★★★★★ - "The Cracked Altar takes the reader into a masterfully woven narrative. The characters are nuanced. The writing style is unique. The plot is winding. There is somehow the right mix of dark and humour. Timothy Rains demonstrates true power of creation in his work. Can't wait for the next in the series."
General Atmosphere: starts off as a bit of a slow burn as intrigue and tension builds - then the wheels start coming off around chapter 10
Age of Protagonist: 15
Foul Language: Mild
Series Completion: Ongoing. Books 2 and 3 well in progress.
Cliffhanger: While the main dilemma is resolved, it does end on a rather riveting note ...
⚠Trigger Warning: This book contains violence, misogyny, frequent depictions of occult and superstition, as well as religious themes which may be offensive or unsettling to some.
This book is for anyone who loves:
Knights and witches
Tales of chivalry
Dark fantasy
Underdog heroines
Medieval fantasy
Young Adult fantasy
Girls who suffer from startling visions and ecstatic trances
Truly eerie magic
Essentially, imagine Hitomi from Escaflowne and Morrigan from Dragon Age go to Jaimie Lannister's for a séance.
Start reading The Cracked Altar now.
