Gods Are Bastards

It was a world of sword and sorcery, but that was a thousand years ago. When the gods turn their backs, true adventurers are needed more than ever. For centuries, the Empire of Tiraas has surged forward in the name of peace, commerce, and political power, evolving from its early days of heroes, quests, and reckless abandon in favor of a more refined, industrious existence. Today, rails connect cities and outposts. Religion is power-even if the gods have gone silent. Magic is a commodity. Dwarves and elves are carefully discouraged from exhibiting any unwanted behaviors. Even the scariest monsters are dealt with diplomatically. Needless to say, the days in which a person could make a living as a wandering adventurer are long since gone. But a nightmarish darkness looms, and those dormant, discarded ideals of courage, honor, and death-defying heroism must somehow rise to the surface once again. Because a demonic force has returned from the past-and it means to stay. Meanwhile, at the University of Last Rock on the unforgiving, notably uncivilized frontier, an unruly band of youngsters yearns to show the world what they can do. And they are just about to begin their schooling in good old-fashioned magic, combat, and all-around adventure-seeking. Unfortunately for them, they will need much, much more than that if they have any hope of saving the world. And save the world they must . . . The genre-blending fantasy epic based on the hit web novel with more than eleven million views-plus almost four million views on Royal Road-now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook! Tropes include: teamwork makes the dream work, best frenemies, and opposites attract.

A band of adventuring young hopefuls strikes out into the wild-and straight into peril-in the thrilling second installment of this fantasy western series. The Empire of Tiraas has spent ages casting off its sword-and-sorcery shackles in favor of high finance, practical magic, and keeping those with power in power. Everything is malleable in the name of progress. And those that cannot be bent can easily be broken-quite painfully if necessary. But far away on the frontier, anything goes. And the University has not ceased instructing would-be adventurers on the finer points of unlocking their potential as elves, warriors, paladins, pirates, half-demons, and anything else the empire considers a threat. Now, the latest batch of brash, brawling freshmen are venturing outside the classroom on a trek to the Golden Sea for a lesson in reality. A seriously harsh lesson, to be precise. This sea is like nothing they have ever faced: an ever-shifting desert of mystery, myth, and monsters where friendship, loyalty, and their very souls will be challenged. Meanwhile, trouble brews in the nearby town of Last Rock, as a dangerous enforcer and a battle-hardened wizard duel over a cunning elven thief who has a greater role to play in the power structure of Tiraas than anyone realizes. The pieces are set, and all will have to overcome their differences-and some very temperamental similarities-if they hope to survive. The second volume of the genre-blending fantasy epic based on the hit web novel with more than eleven million views-plus almost four million views on Royal Road-now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook! Tropes include: teamwork makes the dream work, best frenemies, and opposites attract.