Growing up in The Warren — gnomish slums in a big, human, city — Garryn Silversong has one goal. He wants to become a powerful wizard and use that power to rescue himself, his mother and his best friend from the dream-destroying poverty they are forced to exist in.
Armed with only a harp, a stolen book about arcane theory, and single-minded determination, Garryn claws his way up from obscurity, becoming a household name.
But when unimaginable tragedy comes to The Warren, Garryn discovers there are things that fame and money can not buy. Will he find a way to protect those who are most important to him or he will spiral down into oblivion, taking them with him?
“I loved how the characters’ struggles were both deeply personal and rooted in oppressive systems beyond their control, making their trials and triumphs that much more heartbreaking and satisfying. The narrative framing was excellent and the world felt very vivid — real enough to hit me where it hurts but fantastical enough to let me assess it on its own without preconceptions. The flawed but lovable characters kept me hooked, and the twists were surprising and so fitting.”