The Road of Bones

Winters debuts and launches the Ashen series with a darkly riveting Viking fantasy. At the outset, Silla Nordvig flees from Queen Signe along the treacherous Road of Bones. After her father’s death, Silla seeks refuge with the notorious Bloodaxe Crew, a band of mercenaries led by the brooding Rey “Axe Eyes” and his second in command, Jonas “The Wolf” Svik. As they journey toward safety, Silla must negotiate the dangers of the road, win the trust of the crew, and evade Skraeda, a relentless assassin sent by the queen. Along the way, secrets from Silla’s past unravel, revealing the true stakes of her perilous quest and testing the bonds of trust she establishes within Bloodaxe. Winters expertly balances intense action, rich world-building, and a slow-burning romance, creating a story that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant. Fans of the Witcher series and Danielle L. Jensen’s A Fate Inked in Blood will find much to love. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Nov.)