The Ten Courts of Hell

by Niels Saunders

Witness the Origin of Akame

For centuries, Tobata Village has worshipped the Golden Emissary, a mercurial wish-granting creature who lives atop the nearby Mount Haku. Disillusioned by a childhood tragedy, only one villager refuses to venerate the a humble farmer named Yoshiharu of the Clear Skies, long before he will become known as Akame.

When Yoshiharu’s family suffers several misfortunes, his neighbours vilify him as a cursed heretic. His only hope is to bargain with the very Emissary he has scorned for most of his life. The Emissary, however, is none other than Hanya, and the wishes he grants are often devious and cruel.

Seeking vengeance, Yoshiharu must endure the Ten Courts of Hell and confront Estera himself on his hill of skulls. Meanwhile, Laurent journeys to free himself of the blue rose’s poison and Juzo’s quest for the twelve eggs continues. With all stories colliding, the sad fates of Yoshiharu, Laurent and Hanya are finally revealed.

The Ten Courts of Hell is the sixth book in The Legend of Saru.

333 pages, Paperback

Published October 19, 2023

About the author

Niels Saunders wrote his first book when he was sixteen and hasn't stopped since. Born in Cambridge, he grew up in Devon and has lived in Canterbury, Brighton and Tokyo. He loves to write in many genres including fantasy, thriller and comedy. His short stories have been published in Ambit and Chapman magazines and he was awarded a distinction for the Creative and Critical Writing MA at the University of Sussex. When he's not writing or reading, you'll find him smoking meat, watching films or playing video games. His fantasy series, The Legend of Saru, was finished in 2024.