First Crucible

Doubt had followed Auren Thane for as long as he could remember – not because the world had ever given him reason to hope, but because it never had.

Dragged from his quiet village into a war he does not understand, Auren is named a man of valor by an angel and charged with an impossible task: reclaim the seven primordial peaks, where the virtues that once held the world together lie buried beneath ancient evil.

He will not walk alone. A guarded swordswoman. A charming wanderer. A grieving soldier. An aging scholar. Together they will face horrors that feed upon fear – and discover that some battles are won long before a sword is ever drawn.

When searching for a new series to write, I wanted one driven by characters who made the world real. On top of that I needed a world in despair. Using the teachings of a faith leader I follow, I decided upon the idea of seven mountains, placed during creation, that hold the virtues needed. From there I crafted the story.

Thank you for joining me for this adventure. I hope you walk this world with me and watch as it changes before our eyes.

James M. Ellis