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The Holy Mountain #2
The Dead Man's Empire
Not yet published
Expected 24 Mar 26An innovative grimdark fantasy, with expansive world-building, powerful female characters and political intrigue, for fans of Brandon Sanderson and Scott Lynch. The follow up to the award winning The Last Blade Priest.
Growing tensions between the Mirolene Empire and the League threaten the stability of the world, spreading fear and mistrust across the land. Their rivalries threaten the religion that worships Craithe, the God Mountain, and the resurgence of the fabled, and utterly insane, elven race, it’s not a good time to be a reluctant bride about to be married off to seal an alliance between ancient rivals.
Princess Syzenne’s attitude is famed across the kingdom, but she’s hiding a secret. She’s a Scourge - a powerful being armed with terrifying abilities at her fingertips. And as political tensions come to a head, it turns out she may not be the only one with the potential to change the world…
The Dead Man’s Empire revisits the characters and the trials of The Last Blade Priest, adding powerful new characters and plot twists into the growing crisis that is sweeping the world.
Growing tensions between the Mirolene Empire and the League threaten the stability of the world, spreading fear and mistrust across the land. Their rivalries threaten the religion that worships Craithe, the God Mountain, and the resurgence of the fabled, and utterly insane, elven race, it’s not a good time to be a reluctant bride about to be married off to seal an alliance between ancient rivals.
Princess Syzenne’s attitude is famed across the kingdom, but she’s hiding a secret. She’s a Scourge - a powerful being armed with terrifying abilities at her fingertips. And as political tensions come to a head, it turns out she may not be the only one with the potential to change the world…
The Dead Man’s Empire revisits the characters and the trials of The Last Blade Priest, adding powerful new characters and plot twists into the growing crisis that is sweeping the world.
- GenresFantasy
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 24, 2026
3 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 23, 2025
A worthy successor to the excellent first book in this series. Some of the most unusual (complimentary) fantasy I’ve encountered in years. Already excited to read the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sequel to 2022’s to The Last Blade Priest, one of my favorite fantasies of recent years, The Dead Man’s Empire is a more-than-worthy next installment in the series.
Four women stand at the center of the action: Duna, the secret weapon coming into her powers; Syzenne, the unwanted princess struggling to keep her head above water in the moldering, decadent court of what was once the most powerful empire in the world; Anzola, the politician watching as her victory turns to ashes; and Elecy, the fanatic priest willing to burn the world with her faith.
A tale of dead -- and not-so-dead -- demigods, decaying empires, drug-pushing elves, necromantic horrors, secret powers, and incipient holy war intersects with questions of faith and identity to create a yarn with depth.
Laden with action and intrigue in equal measures, this is a fantasy that will appeal to all fans of the genre. I look forward to the next installment with eager anticipation!
Four women stand at the center of the action: Duna, the secret weapon coming into her powers; Syzenne, the unwanted princess struggling to keep her head above water in the moldering, decadent court of what was once the most powerful empire in the world; Anzola, the politician watching as her victory turns to ashes; and Elecy, the fanatic priest willing to burn the world with her faith.
A tale of dead -- and not-so-dead -- demigods, decaying empires, drug-pushing elves, necromantic horrors, secret powers, and incipient holy war intersects with questions of faith and identity to create a yarn with depth.
Laden with action and intrigue in equal measures, this is a fantasy that will appeal to all fans of the genre. I look forward to the next installment with eager anticipation!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews