Lukan Kitamon is a disgraced card-sharp and a scholar who fled his noble responsibilities for a life of gambling. After his estranged father is murdered under strange circumstances, Lukan travels to the merchant city of Sutharen to investigate. He discovers his father was obsessed with the remains of a dead civilization and a legendary empire. To find the killer, Lukan must navigate a criminal underworld of trade guilds and alchemists while deciphering clues hidden in forgotten artifacts and ancient scriptures.
Readers of gritty secondary-world fantasy who enjoy intricate mysteries will find a grounded story here. This book appeals to those who prefer flawed protagonists and urban settings filled with political maneuvering. The reader gains a clear understanding of a complex magic system based on alchemical science and historical ruins. They walk away with a solved murder mystery that reveals a larger conspiracy involving the lost origins of their world’s power structures.
- Published
- 2024
- Language
- EN
