Seven years ago, reeling from a curse in the wake of battle, Gael sought sanctuary and found it in a most perilous place. The citadel of a troll warlord - haunt of the desperate and violent - proves a harsh refuge for a civilized mage. But Gael wields power enough to create an oasis of order amidst the chaos. Now master of the metals that flow to the citadel's weapon forges, Gael rules his tally room unchallenged, until he discovers a theft within its vaults. Gael loves the quiet certainty of black ink tally marks on smooth parchment, but his search for the thief leads to a maze of unexpected answers, putting his hard-won sanctuary - and his life - at risk. Set in the Bronze Age of J.M. Ney-Grimm's North-lands, The Tally Master brings mystery and secrets to epic fantasy in a suspenseful tale of betrayal and redemption. Excerpt from The Tally Master The tally chamber was his retreat and sanctum, perfumed by the flat odor of ink threaded with a warm hint of game from the parchments. But now . . . ? Now an ingot of tin had gone missing. Eighty-two ingots rested in their coffers in the tin vault. There should have been eighty-three. There remained a chance the discrepancy could be innocent. Perhaps he'd mistakenly inked one tally too many in the morning, when he released the tin ingots to the blade smithy, the armor smithy, and the privy smithy. Perhaps - in the evening - he'd omitted one tally, when he locked away the new-minted ingots from the smelters into their guarding vaults. It could still be innocence. But Gael didn't think so. There was evil intent at work in this missing ingot of rare tin.

A dark secret lurks in the citadel at the heart of a bustling city-state. Can a pair of renegades unearth the truth before more innocents disappear forever? Gael, a cursed mage, hunts redemption with Keir, a healer who helps all who cross her path. Gael loves her loyalty to her calling—and to him—but knows that mere friendship must suffice. Together, the two seek a cure for the affliction that not only erodes their bodies and minds, but keeps them apart. The magical lodestone that holds their salvation lies hidden in the Glorious Citadel where the sovereign dwells. Posing as physician and physician’s aide, hired to preside over entertainments hosted by the sovereign, they find their quest for healing entangled with corrupt and deadly undercurrents spiraling among the courtiers and servitors of the palatial stronghold. The trail of clues—a would-be assassin startled from the shadows, twin handmaidens stealing from the library by night, and heavily-armed warriors called reavers smuggling kidnapped victims into the citadel precincts after sundown—leads toward the ancient artifact they need, but also to the risk of a horrific death. Both Gael and Keir must learn honesty about who they love, who they hate, and who merits their championship, or lose not only each other but life itself. Sovereign Night is the suspenseful second novel in the Gael & Keir fantasy mystery series. If you like vivid characters, high-stakes secrets, and immersive world-building, then you’ll love J.M. Ney-Grimm’s riveting adventure tale. Buy Sovereign Night to discover the real treasure at the labyrinth’s heart today!