The Warden

February 1, 2023

Lady Aelis de Lenti un Tirraval, daughter of a noble house, was determined to become a Magister of the Lyceum, one of the only female necromancers, and create her own profitable life in a lovely cultured city as its Warden. Instead, Aelis finds herself as Warden of Lone Pine, a tiny village far removed from most of what she considers civilization. For the next two years Aelis will serve the residents and likely have manual labor and farm husbandry as the bulk of her duties. When a traveling salvage group makes its way to Lone Pine, Aelis soon finds that trouble has followed them. As she works to track the source of the problems, Aelis discovers that the answers lie in magic: old, repudiated magic that no Magister should ever consider using. But it may lead Aelis on a path far bigger than Lone Pine. High stakes are set with characters rooted in war and magical trauma, and Aelis's school scenes frame her new role and discoveries. VERDICT Ford (Cheap Heat) begins an appealing new fantasy series filled with adventure, action, and old magic.--Kristi Chadwick

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February 20, 2023
Ford (the Paladin Trilogy) captures an endearing fish out of water vibe in this pleasantly romantic fantasy about the importance of supporting one’s local necromancer. Ambitious necromancer Aelis de Lenti is disappointed to be appointed Warden of the remote frontier town of Lone Pine, off on the edge of fallen Old Ystain kingdom and far from the city life she enjoys. Overqualified but determined to keep the peace and win over her wary neighbors, she turns her considerable skills to dealing with tavern brawls, sheep-killing bears, and family squabbles. Helping her cope are the ex-military spouses who run the local tavern, a half-orc shape-shifter whose silence in tracking is matched by his eloquence in speaking, and a beautiful half-elf adventurer who might prove more than a friend. But there’s a reason Aelis was assigned to Lone Pine: a nest of undead monstrosities lurks in the orc-haunted wilderness that the town borders, and it falls to Aelis to keep them from overrunning the kingdom. The charming misfit cast is the highlight here. Readers who enjoy the maturing mages and heroes of Robin McKinley and Melissa Caruso will find another youngster on the rise to cheer for in these pages. Agent: Paul Lucas, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc.

March 1, 2023
A young woman must leave behind the relative luxury of her upbringing and recently graduated collegiate life to serve as a Warden, a wizardly protector, of a rural community at the rough edge of her kingdom. But while Aelis has her powers of enchantment and necromancy on her side she is unprepared for mistrustful farmers, destructive goats, and a crumbling tower ruin as a home. Tedium is quickly shattered by a possible fratricide, cursed gold, and echoes of old, dangerous magics threatening the peace. Aelis will need all her abilities and wits to face this fight, hopefully without becoming distracted by her feelings for lovely adventuress Maurenia. A great first entry in a series, setting up an interesting sword-and-sorcery world whose secondary cast clearly has stories to tell, from retired soldiers turned innkeeping couple Rus and Martin to a pair of dwarves who are bankers turned adventurers. Fans of Brandon Sanderson will enjoy details about the complex magical system. It will be fascinating to see where Aelis, and her world, goes from here.

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