Land of Szornyek Series

The apocalypse wasn't what anyone expected--no rising flood waters, no zombies, no nuclear bombs. Instead, monsters. Their sudden invasion left the world in shatters, and now, decades later, all that's left of human civilization are a few nomadic bands struggling to survive off the land. Askari was born to this world, and lives, fights, and survives alongside the community that raised her. But when she breaks one too many of the community's rules, her punishment is severe: leave. Armed with her bow and blade, Askari sets off alone, guided only by a map and the promise that if she can find a book hidden in a nearby town, then she can return. But what can one person do alone in such a harsh, violent landscape? How will she survive? Askari faces a challenge that will force her to learn not only about the world she lives in, but question what she believes about herself.

Hi, whoever is reading this, I'm Minda. Before the world ended I was studying biology in Baltimore. Of course, I never anticipated using my knowledge like this, but you never know when the world is going to end.  As I've survived, I've been keeping track of the creatures that have invaded our world. I've tried to do sketches and take notes of anything I think may be useful. And I have some friends who are going to try to make copies of this book to spread it around.  If you see something new or learn something about one of the monsters here, please write it down! The more information we all have, the easier it will be to survive. Well, maybe easy isn't the right word. But the more possible it will be.  I'll keep putting these books together as much as I can. And updating them.  Because if there's one thing humans do better than any other species or creature, it's communicate. That's our evolutionary skill. We survive by talking to each other.  Good luck, friends. And may the gargs' blood rain. When the apocalypse came, it did not whisper—it roared. In "Minda's Account of the End of the World," survival is etched on the pages of a hastily kept journal, beginning ten days after monstrous creatures claimed Earth as their own. Minda, a resilient survivor, documents the harrowing new reality with vivid detail and raw emotion. This short story is a companion to the Land of Szornyek series and appears in the special edition hardcover, Minda's Book of Monsters.

Thirty years post-apocalypse, Liah, daughter of the renowned survivor Minda, thrives in a nomadic community that navigates a monster-infested Earth. Her life changes when she meets Logan, a mysterious loner with deep knowledge of the creatures that now rule the wilds.   As Logan shares his unique understanding of which monsters can be used for food, he becomes an invaluable part of Liah's life. But it's not just survival skills he brings; sparks fly between him and Liah, offering a glimpse of new beginnings in the bleak wilderness.   "Minda's Daughter and the Man with the Empty Face" is a story of survival, innovation, and unexpected romance, proving that even in darkness, human connection and hope can flourish. Join Liah and Logan as they discover that some encounters can change the course of their lives forever.   This short story is a companion to the Land of Szornyek series and is set after "Minda's Account of the End of the World."

They've barely escaped from the voro with their lives. Now Askari, Harcos, Shujaa, and Fane are seeking refuge in the one place secure enough to give them time to heal: Greystone City. The city welcomes them with open arms, and Askari discovers a way of life she never believed was possible. In Greystone City, people are doing more than just surviving—they're living.   Plagued by nightmares from the City of Dod, Askari throws herself into the work of the city as she waits for her friends to heal, hoping to outrun her trauma. But the settlement is not as safe as it seems. Politics divide the people, and the new surge of monsters has brought a flood of refugees to the city. And monsters are lurking everywhere—even within the city's seemingly safe confines.   With every minute that passes, Askari regains more of her strength—and Devor gets closer to finding and destroying the Baratok. Askari has to decide: remain safely in the city, or brave the monster-ridden wilderness alone?

Head down, mouth shut—this is Askari's new mantra. A pall still hangs over the Baratok community from the rarohan attack only a few months before, and all Askari wants is to stay out of trouble and help her grieving community heal.   Until a stranger rides into camp. He offers her a chance to obtain something rare and valuable—monster blood with healing properties that could help prevent more of her people from dying. But when the mission goes wrong, she becomes the target of a relentless monster who won't stop pursuing her until she and everyone around her are dead. Her only thought is to lead it away from the Baratok community, even if that means sacrificing herself.   Injured, scared, and with only Harcos and Shujaa to help her fight, Askari flees from the Baratok with the monster on her tail. As she runs, fights, overcomes injuries, and encounters unimaginable terrors, she begins to wonder if she'll ever make it back home—or if she even wants to.

Find the Weatherman. This vague directive is all that Askari and the others have as they head north into an increasingly cold and snowy winter. With Minda leading the ragtag band of Baratok members, they head to the Marketplace, a center of trade for the many communities and tribes that survive within the region. But no one has seen the Weatherman in weeks.   Their only clue is from a crotchety old man named Moose, who agrees to lead them to the most recent location where he saw the Weatherman in exchange for a fee. They set out despite the looming snowstorm, knowing that if they fail, it's not only their own lives at stake, but the lives of everyone everywhere.   They have to stop the flood of monsters into the world, or there won't be anyone left to save.

Askari and the others spent their winter in the Vault, taking the time to heal, rest, and learn as much as they can. But with the first drops of melting snow, an all too familiar face appears: Devor. Askari knows he is taunting her, trying to get her to react and she knows she should resist. Yet all she wants is to kill him... until she finds out that there might actually be a way to save Agi in the process. As the days grow slowly warmer, Askari and the others embark on a mission to save their friend and fellow warrior--and possibly the future of the human race. This is the 5th action-packed book in the Land of Szornyek series

The forest is ablaze and Cleo's army is on the move, but that's not the worst of it. A new monster, the Dark Koponya, has stepped through the portal and threatens all life as they know it. Askari's life might not be easy, but at least she and many others have managed to find enough security to stay alive despite the monsters who plague the land. But now, the small peace they've found hangs in the balance.    Askari has barely had a chance to warn the human warriors of the new enemy they face, when she is captured in the forest and dragged off to meet the Dark Koponya. With the world afire and only Polly and Logan for support, Askari sees only one way to potentially rescue the world from the clutches of the Dark Koponya. She doesn't want to do it, but she's the only one who can.   And as far as she can tell, it's the only option they have left.   This action-packed finale of the Land of Szornyek series is filled with adventure, action, and excitement.  

I have to rescue Rudi. This is all Askari can think about as she races toward Greystone City. Her quarantine after being exposed to a deadly plague was short, but she knows anything could have happened to Rudi during that time. Before she gets very far, a flock of hulla interrupts her journey with terrible news: they have discovered a voro nest. And if Askari will negotiate an agreement between the hulla and the leaders of Greystone City, they will reveal its location. As if that weren't enough, when she arrives at Greystone City, she finds herself directly in the middle of a faceoff between the humans of Greystone City and the leaders of the three main monster groups—the Elnok, Cleo, and the leader of the koponya.   In addition, she must still figure out how to tell her grandmother and friends the truth of who she is despite her fear they will reject her. Between grappling with her new identity, searching desperately for Rudi, and coming to terms with this new world order, Askari must make a series of decisions which could have devasting consequences for herself, Greystone City, and potentially, the world.