Kingdom Ascent

Kingdom Ascent is the first book of the Tempest of Bravoure series.

## Blurb

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A failed prophecy. A conquered kingdom and a Resistance fighting against the odds. Will the return of a runaway mage change the fate of Bravoure? Can our heroes unite or will secrets tear everything apart?

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> *We live brave. We die free.*
>
>

Darkness has fallen upon the golden kingdom of Bravoure. Once the beacon of an alliance uniting four races, Bravoure is now under the oppression of an elven prince from beneath the surface. Not even the prophecy, the one that foretold his demise in the holy fires of the Dragonborn, was able to stop him.

Ahna, a runaway mage, rises above the decades of grief and returns to the fight, joining the united soldiers of the Resistance. Despite her origins, she is accepted by these brave heroes who will never let their differences stand in the way of freedom.

She and the rebels embark on a covert mission to save the kingdom, but the past and the secrets she keeps will soon come knocking, and Ahna will face her demons as she faces the false king.

## Synopisis

Dark elf and deserter Ahna is convinced by her protegee to join the Resistance. Consumed by guilt, Ahna believes the rebels won’t accept her. When she tells the Resistance Council in confidence that she used to be one of Bravoure’s great magi, they welcome her among the rebels. However, Cedric, the captain of the spies, has hostile reservations about Ahna.

Ahna is sent on a covert mission with Cedric and a rebel squadron to destroy Lord Sharr’s weapon shipments. They return successful, but Ahna’s magic is revealed. Despite this, Ahna and the rebels grow closer together, even Ahna and Cedric.

Cedric reveals to Ahna that he has sold his soul to dark forces, and to get it back, he needs to kill Lord Sharr. Ahna comes up with an intricate plan for Cedric to kill Lord Sharr and save his soul and the Resistance in the process.

Ahna faces Lord Sharr in Bravoure City, who reveals that the Dragonborn from the old prophecy still lives. Sharr captures Ahna and Cedric fails to kill him. After rescuing her, Cedric discovers that Ahna is Lord Sharr's long lost sister, and that the Dragonborn, Thamias, is the third sibling of the Sharr family. The two are able to escape the castle and alert the Resistance of the impending battle.

The Resistance unite against Sharr’s army. They evacuate the base and retreat to Fort Gal, but the Resistance leader dies on the battlefield.

At Fort Gal, a new prophecy is revealed: Cedric is the second Dragonborn. The ritual of naming goes wrong. Cedric loses his soul for good and transforms into an undead dragon.

The rebels start the final battle. Lord Sharr releases Thamias, who attacks in dragon form. When all hopes seem lost, Thamias is stopped by the undead dragon. Thamias is overpowered by Cedric’s force, and the undead dragon annihilates the rest of Sharr's army. The defeated Lord Sharr refuses to be captured and kills himself in front of his sister’s eyes.

The Resistance is victorious. Ahna is reunited with her brother Thamias. Cedric chooses to vanish. The city of Bravoure is freed and a new leader is appointed to restore peace and rebuild the kingdom.

In the end, Thamias reveals to Ahna that her fellow mages whom she thought were dead may not all be. Ahna, shocked by the news, embarks on a new quest to find the lost magi.

## Featured Art

Gates of OrgnaPeak of GalGurdalThe Cursed BowFort GalTemple of the Four WindsFinal Fight
## Praises for Kingdom Ascent

* "Unleashing deep, rich storylines, enjoyable character interactions, and compelling surprises upon her readers, D'Angelis is a storytelling force to watch out for." — Michael DeAngelo, *Tellest* author
* "If you love your fantasy along the lines of Dragon Prince or Dragon Age, definitely come battle for freedom in Kingdom Ascent!" — Diabolic Shrimp
* "Ahna is a bit of a complex character, but that's what I like about her. And her growth throughout the story, made me feel so deeply for her. Such a fantastic story." — J.A. Books
* "The resistance movement we as the reader join is build on equality and is group that bands together irregardless of ones origins, religion, gender or race. The diversity is certainly noticeable but not forced. It's noticeable because queer characters aren't presented as sinful and their queerness isn't used to advance the plot, they just are. Just as female warriors are just regular occurrence throughout the book and not the exception that proves the rule." — Goodreads
* " Fantasies, when well done, have a certain beauty all their own. D'Angelis has mastered exactly that in a story filled with adventure, peril, and self-discovery. A thrilling adventure that is brimming with imaginative characters. This is a fast paced novel that fits well within the epic fantasy genre. Highly recommended to fans of military fantasy." — Literary Titan
* "Great book. Really likeable characters that I cared about. The story keeps wrong footing you. Definitely worth reading. Can't wait for the next one." — Avalon Retail
* "A story about acceptance in an exquisitely crafted world." — NetGalley

## See Also

* Bravoure
* Tempest of Bravoure