Embers Bloom Beneath a Phoenix Sky (#2) [Preorder - 11/17/26]

Who would you become if you abandoned the weight of what you should be?

In Queenstown, New Zealand, Nell spends her time working at her bustling café, tending the woodstove and reading. If it weren’t for the night terrors and her tendency to check the shadows, no one would believe she’s anything but a regular, happy barista.

Until tonight.

After Nell locks up the café, two strangers—seemingly human, yet peculiar for this world—arrive unannounced. These newcomers don’t press their faces to the glass and beg to be let in—no. They’re already inside. He’s already inside, and he’s still holding all the fervour that Nell carved out in her attempt at a normal life.

Darragh.

But something about him is different—he’s slender and gaunt—and before Nell can uncover what’s wrong, Darragh hastily departs. In his wake, Nell realizes she maybe isn’t as happy as she thought. While Nell is distracted, weighing what she should do against what she wants to do, a necromancer drags her back to Darragh’s world, where she’s hunted by an army of frothing corpses. Suddenly reunited with Darragh once more, Nell is reminded of the thrill his world has to offer. But when the opportunity arises, will Nell flee back to her normal life in the bustling café? Or will she risk everything and fight?