The Beast of Maug Maurai Series by Roberto Calas

Grae Barragns is no hero. He knows there isn’t a man alive who can fulfill the promise of such a word. But when a caravan transporting a noble family is savaged in the haunted forest of Maug Maurai, Grae is ordered to be a hero. And a villain. It's quite a handful for an officer whose last assignment was capturing runaway orchard pigs. Such is the fate of a commoner among the high-born officer corps of the King's army.Until now... moreGrae Barragns is no hero. He knows there isn’t a man alive who can fulfill the promise of such a word. But when a caravan transporting a noble family is savaged in the haunted forest of Maug Maurai, Grae is ordered to be a hero. And a villain. It's quite a handful for an officer whose last assignment was capturing runaway orchard pigs. Such is the fate of a commoner among the high-born officer corps of the King's army.Until now.Grae is ordered to lead a small squad into the forest to kill the legendary Beast of Maug Maurai. It's a suicide mission, but if he succeeds he will reap glory, a noble title, lands, and, most importantly, respect. All he has to do is slay the most dangerous creature in the kingdom with the squad of misfits and criminals that he’s been assigned. A female archer that Grae presses into service makes things even more difficult. Her kindness and odd philosophies begin to chip away at his deepest conviction.Before he sets out Grae receives one last ugly detail. A secret secondary assignment that makes it clear to him why he was chosen to lead the squad. It’s the first order Grae has ever considered disobeying, an order that will force him to choose between his loyalty and his morality. And he’s certain that the wrong choice will plunge the kingdom into civil war.The Culling is the first of a three-part novel. less

In the second book of the series, Grae Barragns, an officer in the Laraytian Standards, leads a squad of misfits into the forest of Maug Maurai to slay the marauding Beast within. His soldiers fight with one another and the civilians on the squad refuse to follow military decorum, but Grae's greatest struggle is with himself. The secret secondary assignment he was given shreds his conscience, and the beautiful archer that joined his squad keeps him unfocused... moreIn the second book of the series, Grae Barragns, an officer in the Laraytian Standards, leads a squad of misfits into the forest of Maug Maurai to slay the marauding Beast within. His soldiers fight with one another and the civilians on the squad refuse to follow military decorum, but Grae's greatest struggle is with himself. The secret secondary assignment he was given shreds his conscience, and the beautiful archer that joined his squad keeps him unfocused. As the squad of Standards marches ever deeper into the lethal forest, the hero Black Murrogar struggles to lead a group of lords and ladies out. The contentious Sir Wyann continues to challenge his every decision and the nobles all but lose their will to live. But Murrogar's greatest threat is a creature from his worst nightmares; a creature that stalks the group, killing them one by one and reveling in their terror. Home is a only a dozen miles away for Murrogar, but to reach it he must get past the Beast of Maug Maurai. less

Stars and Graves is the stunning conclusion to The Beast of Maug Maurai. Grae Barragns presses deeper into the the forest, intent on accomplishing both of his missions, no matter the cost. His squad thins around him, and even his closest friends question the reckless push to find the Cobblethries and challenge the Beast. And while Grae marches on, Black Murrogar clings to the last shreds of hope and fights with every breath to carry on his mission... moreStars and Graves is the stunning conclusion to The Beast of Maug Maurai. Grae Barragns presses deeper into the the forest, intent on accomplishing both of his missions, no matter the cost. His squad thins around him, and even his closest friends question the reckless push to find the Cobblethries and challenge the Beast. And while Grae marches on, Black Murrogar clings to the last shreds of hope and fights with every breath to carry on his mission. The last volume of The Beast of Maug Maurai is a steady crescendo of action, humor, romance and mystery. less