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 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.