If you like intense battle scenes and unexpected plot twists, then you will love Paul J Bennett's tale of a soldier who thinks outside the box.

A Few Words from Paul

When I started writing Ashes, I knew I wanted to tell the story of an extraordinary pair of mages. Though roughly the same age, they are from entirely different backgrounds, his the rustic life of a small, backward village, hers one of relative privilege amongst the most powerful mages on the continent. Each is naïve in their own way, but together they form a formidable partnership, one which makes them both stronger.

Along the way, they meet others, such as Brother Cyric. His devotion to the church helps introduce the Church of the Saints, an archaic, confusing organization that is showing signs of crumbling. Athgar and Natalia’s story is far from over, as you will see in book 2 of the series, Embers. Brother Cyric, meanwhile, still his own issues to deal with, and these will be explored at a later date in a new series of books!

I must, of course, thank all the wonderful people that helped bring this story to fruition. It was a long road, made longer by all the background detail I had to develop to bring this new story to fruition. Once again, a big thank you to Christie Kramberger, for creating the cover art.

I would also thank the following people for their insightful input and support during this process:

Brad Aitken, Jeffrey Parker, Stephen Brown, Rachel Deibler, Tim James, Mark Tracy, Phyllis Simpson, Don Hinkley, James McGinnis, David Clark, Kathy Brown, Stuart Rae, and Diana 'Dee' Lundgren.

As before, my biggest thanks must go to my wife, Carol Bennett, without who’s tireless efforts this book would not have reached print.

Finally, I thank my readers. I originally started writing because I felt I had stories to tell, and you, the readers, have responded with enthusiasm and glee, encouraging me to write even more.

About the Author

Paul J Bennett (b. 1961) emigrated from England to Canada in 1967. His father served in the British Royal Navy, and his mother worked for the BBC in London. As a young man, Paul followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the Canadian Armed Forces in 1983. He is married to Carol Bennett and has three daughters who are all creative in their own right.

Paul’s interest in writing started in his teen years when he discovered the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons (D & D). What attracted him to this new hobby was the creativity it required; the need to create realms, worlds and adventures that pulled the gamers in to his stories.