THE SHIELDBREAKER, Book Two: Holiest of Cities
by Thomas Clark Schecter
PEACE BUILT ON A LIE CAN ONLY LAST SO LONG...
Unaware of the fate of their civilian caravan, the warriors of Hodrir join the Pohyor horde and take up residence as part of the warlord’s garrison in the proud, ancient, collapsing city of Ikune.
Kareva is still struggling to keep control of his madness as well as his people, and his heroics at Valtaa are only worth so much political capital, especially after he bent the knee to an outsider.
Meanwhile, tensions within the warlord’s inner circle threaten the all-important air of invincibility that binds the assorted Pohyor tribes to their leader—especially since Ikune has historically never stayed in the same hands for long.
The only certainty, in a city built on the illusion of stability, is that nothing is sacred enough to be completely safe when the truth finally comes out…
What readers are saying
“Holiest of Cities cuts like a blade. Betrayal this vast and visceral makes for an enthralling read.”
— MA Knight, author of FEVERCHAIN (maknight.substack.com)
“In Holiest of Cities, Schecter took the bloody promise of Shieldbreaker and turned it inwards. He uses his rare talent for character and perspective to hem you into a claustrophobic world where there's always a sword at your back and any moment your friends might become your enemies. It's fast as a sword fight, punchy like a knife in the guts, and evidence that the 'sophomore slump' isn't universal. He outdid himself with this one.”
— Alex Shifman, author of THE PALE and co-founder of Substack's 'Chapter One Club' (alexshifman.substack.com)
“"...Left me whispering 'holy f***'..."”
— Ian Barr, author of CARNAGE! LOVE AND LUST IN THE WASTELAND
More books by Thomas Clark Schecter
THE SHIELDBREAKER, Book One: The Last of the Etela
(ISBN 9798898138349)
THE POHYOR ARE HERE.
In the aftermath of the collapse of the ancient empires of Rune and Imandris, untold thousands of warriors on horseback have come from the north to forge a new empire in the Disputed Lands. They’ve offered everyone they meet the choice to submit or die. And the Etela’s gods forbid them to surrender to a foreign enemy. One by one, the tribes of the Etela have fought the new power and been destroyed. Now, only the Hodrir remain.
Kareva has been preparing to become the chieftain of the Hodrir since his older brother was executed for rebelling against their father six years ago. He is young, unknown, untested, and—unbeknownst to anyone else—haunted by the bloody, vengeful specter of his brother.
As the enemy approaches, Kareva will have to reckon with his own demons, and with the shadows of his brother’s failed rebellion, in order to give his people and their way of life any hope of survival.