Braylar is still poisoned by the memories of those slain by his unholy flail Bloodsounder, and attempts to counter this sickness have proven ineffectual. The Syldoonian Emperor, Cynead, has solidified his power in unprecedented ways, and Braylar and company are recalled to the capital to swear fealty. Braylar must decide if he can trust his sister, Soffjian, with the secret that is killing him. She has powerful memory magics that might be able to save him from Bloodsounder’s effects, but she has political allegiances that are not his own. Arki and others in the company try to get Soffjian and Braylar to trust one another, but politics in the capital prove to be complicated and dangerous. Deposed emperor Thumarr plots to remove the repressive Cynead, and Braylar and Soffjian are at the heart of his plans. The distance between “favored shadow agent of the emperor” and “exiled traitor” is unsurprisingly small. But it is filled with blind twists and unexpected turns. Before the journey is over, Arki will chronicle the true intentions of Emperor Cynead and Soffjian.
**
Review
“Veil of the Deserters is everything I was looking for in the highly anticipated follow-up to Scourge of the Betrayer. What Jeff Salyards has crafted here is a rare sequel that actually manages to outdo the first. . . . Paced exceptionally well throughout, it also has the kind of killer climax that manages to completely satisfy, while still leaving the reader desperate for more.”— Beauty in Ruins
“Jeff Salyards creates a vibrant tapestry of betrayal, intrigue, and brotherhood. In Veil of the Deserters, conspirators weave plots within plots in a land where memory can be wielded like a weapon. Salyards’s characters are bold and complex as they clash upon the world’s stage. The magic is refreshingly innovative. This is one you don’t want to miss.” —Jon Sprunk, author of the Shadow saga
“Mix a dash of Lord of the Rings and the Riyria Revelations with a pinch of the Broken Empire and you’ve got a taste of the Bloodsounder’s Arc. Dark, witty, and full of wonder, Salyards’s characters scream from the page.” —Tim Marquitz, author of the Demon Squad series and Embers of an Age
“Veil of the Deserters builds upon the promise of Scourge of the Betrayer, continuing Salyards’s unique blend of gritty realism, brutal action, and thoughtful introspection even as the story deepens with a host of intriguing revelations. If you’ve any taste for military fantasy, read these books!” —Courtney Schafer, author of The Whitefire Crossing and The Tainted City
“Jeff Salyards continues to impress with Veil of the Deserters, second in his Bloodsounder’s Arc, chronicling the adventures of Captain Braylar Killcoin and his company of soldiers. Told from the point of view of a young scribe, Veil of the Deserters gives us a believable and brutal world filled with believable and brutal characters, dark machinations, and political intrigue. A fast, fun read for fans of gritty, well-told fantasy.” —Ken Scholes, author of the Psalms of Isaak series
“Veil of the Deserters is a gritty military fantasy with intriguing world building and grimly dark magic, as well as complex, interesting characters.” —Martha Wells, author of the Books of the Raksura series
About the Author
Jeff Salyards grew up in a small town north of Chicago. While it wasn't Mayberry, it was quiet and sleepy, so he got started early imagining his way into other worlds that were loud, chaotic, and full of irrepressible characters. While he ultimately moved away, he never lost his fascination for the fantastic. Though his tastes have grown a bit darker and more mature over the years. Jeff lives near Chicago with his wife and three daughters. By day, he is a book editor for the American Bar Association; by night, he will continue to crank out novels as long as there are readers willing to read them.
Description:
Braylar is still poisoned by the memories of those slain by his unholy flail Bloodsounder, and attempts to counter this sickness have proven ineffectual. The Syldoonian Emperor, Cynead, has solidified his power in unprecedented ways, and Braylar and company are recalled to the capital to swear fealty. Braylar must decide if he can trust his sister, Soffjian, with the secret that is killing him. She has powerful memory magics that might be able to save him from Bloodsounder’s effects, but she has political allegiances that are not his own. Arki and others in the company try to get Soffjian and Braylar to trust one another, but politics in the capital prove to be complicated and dangerous. Deposed emperor Thumarr plots to remove the repressive Cynead, and Braylar and Soffjian are at the heart of his plans. The distance between “favored shadow agent of the emperor” and “exiled traitor” is unsurprisingly small. But it is filled with blind twists and unexpected turns. Before the journey is over, Arki will chronicle the true intentions of Emperor Cynead and Soffjian.
**
Review
“Veil of the Deserters is everything I was looking for in the highly anticipated follow-up to Scourge of the Betrayer. What Jeff Salyards has crafted here is a rare sequel that actually manages to outdo the first. . . . Paced exceptionally well throughout, it also has the kind of killer climax that manages to completely satisfy, while still leaving the reader desperate for more.”— Beauty in Ruins
“Jeff Salyards creates a vibrant tapestry of betrayal, intrigue, and brotherhood. In Veil of the Deserters, conspirators weave plots within plots in a land where memory can be wielded like a weapon. Salyards’s characters are bold and complex as they clash upon the world’s stage. The magic is refreshingly innovative. This is one you don’t want to miss.”
—Jon Sprunk, author of the Shadow saga
“Mix a dash of Lord of the Rings and the Riyria Revelations with a pinch of the Broken Empire and you’ve got a taste of the Bloodsounder’s Arc. Dark, witty, and full of wonder, Salyards’s characters scream from the page.”
—Tim Marquitz, author of the Demon Squad series and Embers of an Age
“Veil of the Deserters builds upon the promise of Scourge of the Betrayer, continuing Salyards’s unique blend of gritty realism, brutal action, and thoughtful introspection even as the story deepens with a host of intriguing revelations. If you’ve any taste for military fantasy, read these books!”
—Courtney Schafer, author of The Whitefire Crossing and The Tainted City
“Jeff Salyards continues to impress with Veil of the Deserters, second in his Bloodsounder’s Arc, chronicling the adventures of Captain Braylar Killcoin and his company of soldiers. Told from the point of view of a young scribe, Veil of the Deserters gives us a believable and brutal world filled with believable and brutal characters, dark machinations, and political intrigue. A fast, fun read for fans of gritty, well-told fantasy.”
—Ken Scholes, author of the Psalms of Isaak series
“Veil of the Deserters is a gritty military fantasy with intriguing world building and grimly dark magic, as well as complex, interesting characters.”
—Martha Wells, author of the Books of the Raksura series
About the Author
Jeff Salyards grew up in a small town north of Chicago. While it wasn't Mayberry, it was quiet and sleepy, so he got started early imagining his way into other worlds that were loud, chaotic, and full of irrepressible characters. While he ultimately moved away, he never lost his fascination for the fantastic. Though his tastes have grown a bit darker and more mature over the years. Jeff lives near Chicago with his wife and three daughters. By day, he is a book editor for the American Bar Association; by night, he will continue to crank out novels as long as there are readers willing to read them.