The Coward

Book excerpt: A “knock-out” fantasy adventure about how “even the most vicious monster battles are less harrowing than the struggles within men’s souls”—for fans of D&D and Joe Abercrombie (Publishers Weekly). With evil rising in the Frozen North, Kell Kressia is called upon to save his people once again—but what if he’s more coward than hero? Kell Kressia is a legend, a celebrity, a hero. At 17, he set out on an epic quest with a band of wizened fighters to slay the Ice Lich and save the world—but only he returned victorious. The Lich was dead, the ice receded, and the Five Kingdoms were safe. Ten years later, Kell lives a quiet farmer’s life, while stories about his heroism are told in every tavern across the land. But now a new terror has arisen in the north. Beyond the frozen circle, north of the Frostrunner clans, something has taken up residence in the Lich’s abandoned castle. And the ice is beginning to creep south once more. For the second time, Kell is called upon to take up his famous sword, Slayer, and battle the forces of darkness. But he has a terrible secret that nobody knows. He's not a hero—he was just lucky. Everyone puts their faith in Kell the Legend, but he’s a coward who has no intention of risking his life for anyone . . .