Smoke and Rain

Written by V. S. Holmes

Narrated by Jake Ruddle

What happens when heroes are as broken as the world they must reforge?

A mad king’s genocide destroyed Alea's home and left her sanity in tatters. Wracked with grief, she now faces a lonely life in a strange city. The war has other plans. Caught in the crossfire between the gods and their creators, Alea’s new friend Arman abandons his idyllic jeweler’s life—and his humanity—to protect them both from the coming terror.

Across enemy lines, bastard lieutenant Brentemir Barrackborn is horrified by the blood on his hands. If he has any hope of redemption—or surviving the war—he must choose between his newfound family and the gods he worships.

As Arman and Brentemir's sacrifices grow, Alea realizes that only the darkness inside her can end the bloodshed.

Winner of Literary Titan's Gold Award in June 2020; Winner of New Apple Literary's 2015 Excellence in Independent Publishing in Fantasy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amphibian Press
• Release date: Jul 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781949693010

V. S. Holmes

V. S. Holmes is an international bestselling author. They created the REFORGED series and the NEL BENTLY BOOKS. Smoke and Rain, the first book in their fantasy quartet, won New Apple Literary's Excellence in Independent Publishing Award in 2015 and a Literary Titan Gold in 2020. In addition, they have published short fiction in several anthologies. When not writing, they work as a contract archaeologist throughout the northeastern U.S. They live in a Tiny House with their spouse, a fellow archaeologist, their not-so-tiny dog, and own too many books for such a small abode. As a disabled and queer human, they work as an advocate and educator for representation in SFF worlds.