The Unexpected Vanguard: A Hopepunk Epic Fantasy trilogy for fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora and Six of Crows. A found family of unremarkables uses grift and heist tactics to outwit a superior foe in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse.
The Siremirian Conundrum is a serialized novel. If you’re new here, go back and read Book 1 - The Glimmerstone Enigma, first!
[View the Table of Contents for The Siremirian Conundrum]
[PREVIOUS CHAPTER - The Glimmerstone Enigma Chapter 36]
Same Crew, Bigger Problems
“While a pauper can trust the man guarding his fortunes, a prince mistakenly believes the same.” — Teffel’s Sixth Rule of Modern Thievery
After brazenly grifting a mysterious relic from under the nose of a shadowy adversary, a group of unremarkables learns the hard way that if you take the big dog’s bone, you’d best be prepared for the teeth.
Originally seeking vengeance and a payday, they inadvertently acquired an artifact capable of disrupting the very laws of magic—and the global balance of power. Now, an ancient evil is coming to take it back.
There are no gods, armies, or chosen ones to stand against her. Venn’s future lies squarely in the hands of a quirky group of moderately talented misfit adventurers who excel at breaking balls, creating nicknames, and taking care of their own.
To keep the relic from her grasp and survive the fallout, they’ll need to outrun an interplanar killer, outmaneuver a cabal, and outwit a soul-consuming genius—all while trying to unravel the conundrum of her immortality.
Armed with little more than a stubborn belief in each other, a dollop of delusional optimism, and just enough ignorance to think they have a puncher’s chance, the crew is putting their faith in gritty ingenuity and the wisdom of an old rogue.
For their sake, and Venn’s future, Teffel better be right!
For fans of the high-stakes chemistry of Six of Crows, the sharp wit of The Lies of Locke Lamora, and tactical, D&D-inspired party dynamics.
Gravel Rolls Downhill
Don’t look now, but our unremarkable crew of “timely gravel” inadvertently jammed the gears of a powerful enemy machine. Our story continues on Venn’s eastern continent.
Short on time and allies, the group heads west, trading the rugged Glimmerstone peaks for the wheat fields and rolling foothills of eastern Siremiria.
The port city of Irdri, on the banks of the majestic Kyathlinneas River, thrives on maritime mercantilism. The only community of size for hundreds of miles, and a long way from the League’s already meager governance, it’s also the perfect choice for all manner of business better kept out of sight. Local legends and mysteries further complicate the landscape and the group’s ability to get to the bottom of The Siremirian Conundrum.
The Heart of the Vanguard
Singing Bird - A feline rogue and master grifter, whose creative mind and sharp swords get the group into, and usually out of, trouble.
Whydah (WI-duh) - Bird’s surprisingly stable halfling bard apprentice, the conscience and peace-keeper of the team, calls it like it is, except when it comes to her own love life.
Iskvold (EESK-veld) - A former librarian drow monk turned brawler with a growing thirst for vengeance and an ever-shortening fuse, always ready to lead with her fists.
Tsuta (SOO-ta) - An obsessive-compulsive high-elven monk and cleric. The crew’s deep thinker, long-talker, and master of nicknames.
Lunish (LOO-nish) - A druidic gnome reluctantly embracing her new job and skills, suffers from imposter syndrome, but doesn’t suffer fools, keeps everyone humble and grounded.
Glynfir (GLIN-feer) - The half-elven wizard with jaw-dropping skills and decision-making, never met a wager he didn’t like or a plan he didn’t improvise.
Segwyn (SEG-win) - An entitled elven ranger with daddy issues and the team’s most practical operator that prefers his chaos at arm’s length, along with his family.
Still not heroes, or champions, just hopeful, dysfunctional misfits that don’t take themselves too seriously, since they have nothing left to lose.
[Dive into Chapter 1]
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Writing The Unexpected Vanguard Trilogy began as an experiment while I was between jobs, and has turned into a labor of love and many late nights. My goal is to keep the entire series free to read in serial format.
However, if you would rather not wait for the weekly serial releases, prefer a complete EPUB or PDF version of my novels for your e-reader, or want to show your support with a donation, [Purchase full files of The Glimmerstone Enigma and The Siremirian Conundrum at Buy Me a Coffee].
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