The Fire and the Forge (Pantheon)

Would you rather be the conquered or the conqueror?

In a world where gods pull the strings of mortals and people wield the power of the elements, the nation of Libera is attacked by its age-old enemy, the Kem, who lay waste to the land and its armies with their demonic powers of fire and steel.

Imharak, a blacksmith's apprentice, is forced to leave his home town when it is raided and burned to the ground.

Together with his master, Gaius, he flees into the wilderness, heading for Gaius' brother, who is caught near a city that has just been conquered by the Kem.

What troubles Imharak is not so much the invasion, but the fact that he shares the same powers as the invaders, leading him to question where he came from.

He never knew his parents - he was raised as a Liberite and destined to be a common blacksmith.

His powers had always made him an outcast, and now he starts to think he might have more in common with the conquerors than with the conquered.

An origin myth of gods and heroes will crumble and give way to a history of tyrants, slaves and genocide. 

Soon, Imharak will find his allegiances torn between both sides. As he and Gaius journey closer to the lion's den, Imharak will discover who he really is and what he is capable of.

A bloody, harrowing adventure that takes its cues from ancient civilisations and mythologies, The Fire and the Forge is like no fantasy you've ever read.

While a lot of epic fantasy is set in a world resembling medieval Europe, The Fire and the Forge is influenced by ancient Mediterranean civilisations like Egypt, Israel, Carthage and Rome.

It owes more to the world of the Old Testament and Mt. Olympus than the world of knights, wizards and castles.

You’ll find no elves, dwarves or goblins here. No dark lords, dragon-slayers or prophecies.

You’ll find no good or evil, but only a grey sense of morality as people are forced to make life-or-death decisions in a harsh and brutal world.

From the very first sentence, this intimate, character-driven tale will dig its hooks into you and haul you along to the bitter end.