Chest of Souls Series by Michelle Erickson

In the tatted lace of legend, there were Five Creators:The Tree: Ammon of Rozan-SteadingThe Pillar: Jaydren of Stones FistThe Keeper: Soline the Water-witchThe Weaver: Revaya the would-be QueenThe Blaze: Vael, the BetrayerAmmon of Rozan-Steading exists to bring change. While serving as a Guard at the Fortress, he met the other four Creators and hopes to free them.Jaydren of Stones Fist was forced to kill his family.He has plans to escape, but can’t do it alone... moreIn the tatted lace of legend, there were Five Creators:The Tree: Ammon of Rozan-SteadingThe Pillar: Jaydren of Stones FistThe Keeper: Soline the Water-witchThe Weaver: Revaya the would-be QueenThe Blaze: Vael, the BetrayerAmmon of Rozan-Steading exists to bring change. While serving as a Guard at the Fortress, he met the other four Creators and hopes to free them.Jaydren of Stones Fist was forced to kill his family.He has plans to escape, but can’t do it alone.Soline doesn't remember where she came from.When she was three, her world was colored by pain that never ended. Her goal: return to the sea, no matter the cost.Revaya was told she would be Queen someday, but only after a journey she’d never take by herself.Vael was carried to the Fortress by harpies, monstrous winged creatures that abduct those with ‘talent'. He plans to burn whatever stands in his way.These Five are already legends.Inside them, their power is rising. less

After millennia’s of being taught to hate, can the Five most powerful Macshara in the world find a way to reach the free land without killing each other?Soline is the most feared of the Five. The Sea Witch has her own agenda and mercy has never been part of the equation.Jaydren is as stubborn as the mountains he can move. He doesn’t know how to give up. Not even on Soline. Vael’s flames are unstable... moreAfter millennia’s of being taught to hate, can the Five most powerful Macshara in the world find a way to reach the free land without killing each other?Soline is the most feared of the Five. The Sea Witch has her own agenda and mercy has never been part of the equation.Jaydren is as stubborn as the mountains he can move. He doesn’t know how to give up. Not even on Soline. Vael’s flames are unstable. He’s unwanted, but that doesn’t stop him from making plans to become the most powerful of the Five. Ammon’s gut tells him that Vael will be the death of them. He just wishes he could convince Veya before it’s too late.Revaya has a secret that may get her killed, but there’s no way to keep it to herself, not on board a ship. Sooner or later, it will get out. Who knew being free would be so hard? less

When the mother star exploded, only one that witnessed the miracle, knew it was the sign waited for. The Five spoken of in ancient writ were coming! There was hope! The Five have been ruling for twenty millennia. Jaydren the Just always finds the truth. Those he finds guilty could testify of that - if they could speak. Ammon, Lord of the Forest, is trying desperately to save his half-human family. He’s running out of time. Revaya, Lady of Ogdones, wants peace at any cost... moreWhen the mother star exploded, only one that witnessed the miracle, knew it was the sign waited for. The Five spoken of in ancient writ were coming! There was hope! The Five have been ruling for twenty millennia. Jaydren the Just always finds the truth. Those he finds guilty could testify of that - if they could speak. Ammon, Lord of the Forest, is trying desperately to save his half-human family. He’s running out of time. Revaya, Lady of Ogdones, wants peace at any cost. The harpy part of her doesn’t. She isn’t sure who will win the argument. Soline spreads curses, death, and destruction on a whim. Family is no exception. Vael thinks he is a God. The voices in his head say it’s true. Mayhem has promised him Veya would rule at his side. Forever. Ruling the fabled free land is tougher than it looks. No matter how much time you have, it will never be enough. less

When do you tell children they are destined to bring down the wickedest city in the world?That they've been hunted their entire lives by the very evil they must destroy? And when they finally meet that evil, they may not win? You don't.Brenna is safe because she’s oblivious to everything but Talon. She doesn't know that her mother is Hi-Sha of Eyes, or that her father was an assassin and he’s supposed to be dead. She doesn't even know her pet is the Queen of all Shee’s... moreWhen do you tell children they are destined to bring down the wickedest city in the world?That they've been hunted their entire lives by the very evil they must destroy? And when they finally meet that evil, they may not win? You don't.Brenna is safe because she’s oblivious to everything but Talon. She doesn't know that her mother is Hi-Sha of Eyes, or that her father was an assassin and he’s supposed to be dead. She doesn't even know her pet is the Queen of all Shee’s. Talon felt safe until he met Brenna. Once he is ordered to protect her, he's had to fight monsters he never knew existed, run away from an assassin, and escape a forest full of carnivores. His father burned down their cottage and left him with people he just met and he isn't sure who to trust. In the meantime the Chest of Souls waits to be powered and neither child can guess the price. less

Brenna assumed everyone could modify an entire species, raise the dead, and speak with Deity because she’s done all of those things and more. Yet, even with all her power she can’t make Talon love her. Talon has questions no one will answer. Like why he has to keep moving, what his father does for a living, and what really happened to his mother. The answers he does receive aren’t comforting... moreBrenna assumed everyone could modify an entire species, raise the dead, and speak with Deity because she’s done all of those things and more. Yet, even with all her power she can’t make Talon love her. Talon has questions no one will answer. Like why he has to keep moving, what his father does for a living, and what really happened to his mother. The answers he does receive aren’t comforting. Odd things have started to happen – the ship he is on sinks, a woman from legend rises from the sea, and he has to keep a secret he never wanted to know. Everywhere he goes, danger tracks him, from the Ammon Islands to the far western shore of Utak. Through it all he can feel where Brenna is and her most powerful emotions, but isn’t sure what it means… less

Brenna yearns for Talon’s love, but knows he sees her as a child. She’s determined to change that before her parents keep their word to take her away where Talon will never find her. She is unaware the evil that has been searching for her has found her and if it can’t take her, it will take those she loves. Talon has read the Book of Benamii and is beginning to understand that if Brenna dies, all hope of freedom perishes with her... moreBrenna yearns for Talon’s love, but knows he sees her as a child. She’s determined to change that before her parents keep their word to take her away where Talon will never find her. She is unaware the evil that has been searching for her has found her and if it can’t take her, it will take those she loves. Talon has read the Book of Benamii and is beginning to understand that if Brenna dies, all hope of freedom perishes with her. He is determined to stand between her and what is coming, no matter the price. less

Brenna is on the other side of time to be trained. It is a place she cannot reach or see Talon and others are there including her mysterious teacher - a woman known only as the Forest Wife. This woman is beautiful, strange, as hard as Tasut, and as intelligent as Brenna’s mother. That combination doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room. Somehow, the Forest Wife knows Brenna will do whatever she has to do, pay whatever price must be paid, to save Talon and that guarantees her obedience – for now... moreBrenna is on the other side of time to be trained. It is a place she cannot reach or see Talon and others are there including her mysterious teacher - a woman known only as the Forest Wife. This woman is beautiful, strange, as hard as Tasut, and as intelligent as Brenna’s mother. That combination doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room. Somehow, the Forest Wife knows Brenna will do whatever she has to do, pay whatever price must be paid, to save Talon and that guarantees her obedience – for now. Talon is in Sogo – courtesy of his father’s great fist. He is to be sold at auction and join those destined for the Barracks. He doesn’t understand why. He can’t see how he can protect Brenna from Sogo. His plan at the moment is to survive the training and the odds are stacked against him: 300-1 less

Talon was born of a woman without a heart and a man without a soul into a world without a conscience. Now he has to fix it. Too bad he’s in the Sogoian Barracks, where hope of escape is trapped in the jaws of the hounds, the horns of the stone bulls, and the look in his father’s eyes. The Book of Benamii claims there is a traitor among his men. He’s determined to find out who it is and save as many of his men as he can while they all train for the blood sport known as Cubes... moreTalon was born of a woman without a heart and a man without a soul into a world without a conscience. Now he has to fix it. Too bad he’s in the Sogoian Barracks, where hope of escape is trapped in the jaws of the hounds, the horns of the stone bulls, and the look in his father’s eyes. The Book of Benamii claims there is a traitor among his men. He’s determined to find out who it is and save as many of his men as he can while they all train for the blood sport known as Cubes. Safe on the other side of time, Brenna is learning things she never wanted to know about the past, present, and future. The past concerns the fact the Five Creators are not myths and they left a deadly surprise beneath the Phoenix. The present concerns what the Forest Wife does to those who disobey, and the future has no guarantees. less

Talon and his men have been training for seven years, but there is one competition they can’t train for. Stone Dreams is an invitation-only nightmare Nez will arrange with one goal in mind: death of all competitors. There’s a good chance the traitor will make his move because Stone Dreams takes place at night and ‘accidents’ happen in the dark.Brenna now understands what it’s going to take to power the Chest of Souls... moreTalon and his men have been training for seven years, but there is one competition they can’t train for. Stone Dreams is an invitation-only nightmare Nez will arrange with one goal in mind: death of all competitors. There’s a good chance the traitor will make his move because Stone Dreams takes place at night and ‘accidents’ happen in the dark.Brenna now understands what it’s going to take to power the Chest of Souls. There’s only one choice she can make that will save Talon and bring about the fall of Sogo. She’d rather repeat all the traps the Ancients made by herself than tell Talon what will make the constellation Three Sisters fall and what his part in powering the Chest will be. less

Stone hearts can still cry...After powering the Chest of Souls, Brenna's severed from her ability to love, and that isn't all that's missing. She's made her choice and it isn't Talon. Her new plan is to save as many lives as she can before Sogo falls. Logic rules her days and remorse rules her nights.Talon survived Day of Air and must survive the coming days of Water, Fire, and Earth - ending with the travesty of the blood-sport called Cubes... moreStone hearts can still cry...After powering the Chest of Souls, Brenna's severed from her ability to love, and that isn't all that's missing. She's made her choice and it isn't Talon. Her new plan is to save as many lives as she can before Sogo falls. Logic rules her days and remorse rules her nights.Talon survived Day of Air and must survive the coming days of Water, Fire, and Earth - ending with the travesty of the blood-sport called Cubes. He thought his greatest test was when the Chest of Souls was powered, but the greatest challenge lies ahead.He must find a way to heal the division between Brenna and himself, and if he can't, he has to ask himself if he loves her enough to do what must be done, no matter what? less

Brenna’s not herself. In Sogo, she’s discovered what she’s capable of – the streets are littered with living proof. All that keeps her sane is when she can meet Talon in dreams and that becomes impossible when Nez infects her with a Suque. Brenna comes to realize the Suque wants Talon more than it wants Nez and will do anything it can to have him... moreBrenna’s not herself. In Sogo, she’s discovered what she’s capable of – the streets are littered with living proof. All that keeps her sane is when she can meet Talon in dreams and that becomes impossible when Nez infects her with a Suque. Brenna comes to realize the Suque wants Talon more than it wants Nez and will do anything it can to have him. Talon’s getting bad news on all sides – the Ammonites refuse allegiance until the storm of prophecy rages, he’s uncovered old secrets that make him question Brenna’s loyalty, and the traitor is one step ahead, leaving Talon and his army to face certain death. In spite of outward appearances, Talon is sure that somewhere inside Brenna is the woman who loves him – the woman he will risk everything and everyone to free. less

The Final Battle for the souls of men has come.Brenna is isolated. Courtesy of Nez, the ruler of Sogo, she now has a Temis Belt to accompany the Suque he infected her with.As a result, she is possessed and no longer has access to her power. Meeting Talon in dreams is no longer safe because the Suque has made plans to betray Nez and rule Sogo - at Talon's side.Until the city falls, she'll have to rely on wit and will to deal with the Suque, the Temis Belt, Nez, and his army of Nightshades... moreThe Final Battle for the souls of men has come.Brenna is isolated. Courtesy of Nez, the ruler of Sogo, she now has a Temis Belt to accompany the Suque he infected her with.As a result, she is possessed and no longer has access to her power. Meeting Talon in dreams is no longer safe because the Suque has made plans to betray Nez and rule Sogo - at Talon's side.Until the city falls, she'll have to rely on wit and will to deal with the Suque, the Temis Belt, Nez, and his army of Nightshades. She fears she's no match for all that has combined against her.Talon is out of time.Brenna claims she loves him but she remains in Sogo with Nez - by choice. He doesn't agree with her reasoning.Each time he comes close to gaining her freedom, something or someone stands in his way.He's done all that's been asked of him and more. If she doesn't come to him, he will go to her. His choice will end in death or finally having a life with Brenna, who may or may not choose him. It's a chance he's willing to take. less