The Tangled Lands

This collection of four linked novellas is set in Khaim, the last remaining city in a faded empire crippled by a magic that perpetuates the growth of a deadly bramble that threatens lives and livelihoods. "The Alchemist" is a man who has sacrificed his life to search for a cure to the bramble, only to discover he has more to lose when he finally succeeds. "The Executioness" is a woman who builds an army of mothers who seek revenge when their children are taken by raiders from another city. In "The Children of Khaim," refugees from a city overcome by bramble are sold into slavery and worse. "The Blacksmith's Daughter" revolves around a woman made strong by circumstance when she must risk everything to save her parents from a corrupt duke. Each story delivers a glimpse of a distinct grim fate accorded to the citizens of Khaim.