Son of No Man Series

These are the first steps along the path to conquest. Tread lightly.   Born Esparan but raised in isolation, Tohmas Galanth wavers between blood and upbringing. Called north to defend the family he never knew, he must inspire Espar to rally, lest the invading Northlander forces conquer the land between the Ice Oceans and Outland Plains.   But Tohmas is not the naive commander his enemies or his allies expect. War is in his blood. He will not be deterred, though remnants of a crushed Rydan clan seek his head for a secret crime, and the Northlander chief readies a legendary dragon-wing axe for his throat.   His allies are no less eager to spill his blood. The Princes of Espar bicker for supremacy, unaware that the greatest threat to them all is Tohmas himself.

The line between enemy and ally blurs…   Tohmas Galanth has arrived in the north, outnumbered on every front. To survive his commitments to his besieged uncle, he must defeat the hoards, but DoomDragon is no easy foe and his battles are fought in steady retreat.   To end the decade-long war, Tohmas must survive assassinations, betrayals, spies, and the crumbling morale of his trapped men. His staunchest allies will become his greatest threats as the winter looms.

The truth will destroy it all.   Pinned in HillTop, winter eats away at Tohmas Galanth's forces. Tohmas' wizard is outmatched and in hiding. His warriors are tired and losing faith. The longer they wait, the closer the truth comes to unseating Tohmas' position as Prince of Galanth. His chances at victory are dwindling and the more Tohmas learns about his powerful enemy DoomDragon, the more his confidence wanes.   As Tohmas battles on, his family's crimes come to light. The Galanth have guarded their secrets for a generation, but now the blood of the fallen washes away their deceptions. Lies have always come easier for Tohmas, yet to protect the obscurity of his past, he must set right the blood feud he inherited. In a war where no one can be trusted, can anyone emerge victorious?   Dragons, wizards, and magical forces collide in this complex world of swords, sorcery, and ancient revenge.

War opens the path to conquest.   With new allies among the Northlanders and an unexpected friendship with their leader DoomDragon, Tohmas Galanth has ended the Northlander War. But as he turns his attention to bringing the traitorous Prince Marfaie to justice, he balances Northlander, Esparan, and Rydan needs. The decades of war between these peoples make trust fragile.   Marfaie seeks to drive a wedge between the allies by any means, whether dragons, thieves, wizards, or demons. If the Princes of Espar cannot rise above their history, the alliance will fracture and undo Tohmas' work.   While sorting friends from enemies, Tohmas hides his true plans for Espar: conquest in the name of the Rydans. But as his secret comes to light, old friends become new enemies and Tohmas' confidence falters. Who can he trust once the truth is known?

There will be no peace, not even for the people of Espar.   The people have suffered long enough under the reign of squabbling princes. Prince Tohmas of Galanth has the perfect solution: supersede the Princes with a King. With the blessing of his Goddess Inac and the strength of the enchanted sword SoulBurner, he will be that King.   While half of Espar pledges allegiance, the other half declares war. Tohmas' eyes turn to his greatest opposition, the Princedom of Trulin, where Prince Kelland is readying his majestic warhorses for battle. Victory in Trulin will only come with persistence and faith, but Inac's favor is becoming fickle. Without Inac, SoulBurner is nothing, and Tohmas' claim to Espar cannot be upheld.   As magic powers collide and dragons take to the skies, Tohmas faces a threat his training and years of experience in war are useless against: Prince Kelland's daughter Arnika Trulin.

History is written by the victors.   Victory has been bought with a bracelet; Tohmas Galanth is to be married. With Arnika Trulin's hand comes the Princedom of Trulin, freeing Tohmas to continue his conquest of Espar. But even magical love is real, and Tohmas is blind to any betrayal from within his ranks. As he marches, his enemies from this world and beyond plan a unified strike meant to stop him and free the conquered princedoms. Arnika is not the only target.   The closer he comes to success, the further Tohmas feels he is from what he wants for himself and for Espar. Chief Tamv of the Rydans is expecting homage and obedience. How can a son, even a pretend son, not honor his father?   He was born Esparan but raised Rydan. Now Tohmas must choose which to serve.