{"product_id":"blackmark-an-epic-fantasy-adventure-sword-and-highland-magic-9781943199129","title":"Blackmark: An Epic Fantasy Adventure Sword and Highland Magic","description":"\u003cb\u003eA nation's elite warriors vanished. A throne in jeopardy on the heels of murder. War devouring the survivors...\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe Kingsmen have vanished. Elite fighters for the king, they were summoned to re-swear their bonds or be charged with treason, and were never heard from again. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eElohl den'Alrahel was just a boy when his people disappeared. Now a jaded military veteran, inked with the Blackmark and despised for it, he seeks the truth of the betrayal that decimated his people. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eReturning to the capitol, Elohl reunites with his sister Olea, Guard Captain for the new young queen, in search of answers. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut a network of assassins controls the throne, since the old king's death. An attempt on the queen's life plunges the nation into chaos, calling on Elohl to make a dangerous choice-to protect the crown that betrayed him, or not. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eNow, Elohl and Olea must give up everything to shatter the hidden sect that usurps power from the throne. Joining with friends long scattered, they rediscover an ancient battle between the Kingsmen and a shadowy force that has hounded them for centuries, the Khehemni. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs war threatens, will the exiled new queen trust the Kingsmen once more? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOr will a bloody war be reaped in the shadows-burning all nations and bringing kings to their knees? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis gritty \u0026amp; heroic epic fantasy series from an Amazon bestselling and award-winning author explores a complex world of treachery, war, and magic. Featuring outcast misfits battling against all odds, multi-POV and multi-racial characters, spectacular world-building, and low magic with a high magic past, these deeply layered sword and sorcery novels have been compared to Robert Jordan's \u003ci\u003eWheel of Time\u003c\/i\u003e, Patrick Rothfuss' \u003ci\u003eKingkiller Chronicles\u003c\/i\u003e, George R. R. Martin's \u003ci\u003eA Song of Ice and Fire\u003c\/i\u003e, Andrzej Sapkowski's \u003ci\u003eThe Witcher\u003c\/i\u003e, and Brandon Sanderson's \u003ci\u003eStormlight Archive\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJoin Jean's email list at http: \/\/jeanlowecarlson.com\/ for updates about new releases, ARCs, short story freebies, and Jean's latest book reviews and videos! Award-winning author Jean Lowe Carlson writes adventurous epic fantasy fiction with a dark twist. Exciting, challenging, and passionate, her novels take the reader upon dire adventures while exploring deep human truths. In 2016, she was the recipient of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist medal for her dark fantasy \"Tears\".\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Jean Lowe Carlson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50516866695442,"sku":"9781943199129","price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_bda2e577-97ba-4e0c-ad00-817cdb75c14d.jpg?v=1731029210","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/blackmark-an-epic-fantasy-adventure-sword-and-highland-magic-9781943199129","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}