Sword of the Fallen
Author: G.J. Ogden
Series: Hearts of Dragons, #1
Publication date: March 20th 2025
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
– From Kindle Storyteller Award Winner G J Ogden –
A dragon’s heart has the power to forge kingdoms – or shatter them.Sir Torin Cadwell, Knight-Captain of the Watch and the tyrant king’s illegitimate son, has spent his life torn between loyalty to his father and the pull of destiny. For generations, his bloodline has been cursed by a bitter feud with Kyhrax, the Flame of Zarag-Gul – the most feared dragon in Westskyr.
The city of Dun Morlaig survives only because of the Breath – a magical barrier fueled by the crystallized heart of Astreya, the Great Mother dragon. Once a benevolent guardian, Astreya was slain by Torin’s ancestor, leaving Kyhrax consumed by grief and burning for revenge.
When Astreya’s Lament – the sword that holds the Great Mother’s heart – is stolen, the Breath falters. Chaos erupts as Koblyn monsters and dragon-worshiping cultists lay siege to the city, and Kyhrax prepares to unleash his long-awaited vengeance.
Defying the king’s command, Torin allies with Ruxandra Elyr, a ranger of the Order of the Green Bow, to recover the stolen sword. But Kyhrax’s wrath will not stop at Dun Morlaig. If the Flame of Zarag-Gul is not stopped, his fury will consume all seven realms and usher in the age of dragons.
Sword of the Fallen is the gripping first book in the Hearts of Dragons epic fantasy trilogy by Kindle Storyteller Award Winner G J Ogden. Dive into this thrilling adventure today!
an excerpt
“Do you know those women?” Torin asked the landlord, who had also observed the robed figures enter.
“Alas, I do not,” the landlord admitted, shaking his bald head. “They have come in these past two nights, always dressed as they are, even when the fire is roaring hot. I tried to make conversation, but was rebuffed. I venture they may be from the north; Lonthyr, perhaps?”
Torin did not agree. The women were not dressed like horse-maidens from the snowy realm. He considered that they may have been scholars from Dyreth, perhaps representatives from one of the three Sororities, but he had met some of the wise Sibyls of the Pillars during their occasional visits to the King, and the robed figures did not fit the description. He watched them a while longer, noting that they sat at a corner table with a clear view of the open tavern. Cups of wine were brought to them, but none of them drank, even though they held the cups and sometimes drew them close to their lips, each time without
actually taking a sip. Though they tried to disguise their intent, Torin could not help but feel that they were watching him. Sometimes he would turn away on purpose, then quickly steal a glance back, catching them in the act.
Anxiously, Torin tapped the side of his tankard with his finger and tried to make sense of what he had observed. Were these accomplices of the robbers he had thwarted, sent to get retribution upon him, he wondered? It was entirely possible that he had been seen entering the Arrow and Cloak. It was also possible they were dissidents, a rising
faction who protested against the king and his poor stewardship of the realm. Yet, even this did not fit. The dissidents were simple city folk, and their protests had amounted to little more than loud grumbling at the gates of the Noble Quarter. Such demonstrations had never turned violent, and none of those taking part had looked anything like the women now watching him.
While he was thinking, a dagger suddenly rebounded off the wall and landed in Torin’s tankard, spilling its contents over the bar. This time, it was not only Torin’s tunic that was soaked but his fine woolen pants as well. He hissed in frustration and glowered at the thrower; it was a
wild miss from one of Ruxandra’s companions. The ranger held his hands up in supplication, his sheepish expression conveying his relief at skewering Torin’s ale instead of his flesh. Torin fished the dagger out of his drink, finished what little remained in his tankard, then hurled the knife solidly into the target’s bullseye from twice the distance the rangers were standing. The Greencloaks looked first to the target, then to Torin, each of their faces a different picture of astonishment. Even Ruxandra looked impressed.
Then the young Lieutenant of the Green peered past Torin, and her expression hardened like the iron tips of her arrows. She darted across the floor, coming straight for him. Torin slid off his stool and raised a guard, fearful that the ranger was determined to attack him. Instead,
Ruxandra launched into his side and dragged him to the ale-soaked floor of the tavern just as a crossbow bolt whistled past his head.
Torin climbed to his knees, keeping low, and searched for the assailant. The women in dark robes were on their feet, arms outstretched with wrist crossbows hidden up their wide sleeves. Torin grabbed his barstool by its legs and held it before him like a shield, blocking a second bolt that thudded harmlessly into the seat. Ruxandra picked up
a tankard that had been knocked to the floor and launched it at the women, striking one on the shoulder and unbalancing her shot. The dart sank into the thigh of a Greencloak at the bar, and the man howled with pain before collapsing under his own weight.
Then the robed figures ran.
Torin’s soldier’s instincts kicked in, and he set out in pursuit, yelling at those in his path to make way. He burst through the door and ran into the street, searching for the assassins. It was at that moment he realized that Ruxandra Elyr was by his side.
G J Ogden is a proud recipient of the Kindle Storyteller Award and has written over 50 books that have garnered over 15,000 5-star ratings on Amazon and Goodreads.
He is a physics graduate and a former technology journalist with a lifelong love of anything nerdy. From Firefly to Game of Thrones and everything in between, SFF is his bag. Conan! What is best in life?
On the rare occasions he’s not writing, G J Ogden is usually getting whooped in games of Warhammer 40K by his son. Unless he’s playing Adepta Sororitas, then he wins.
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