Torn apart by war and abandoned by the gods, only one hope remains to save humanity. But the savior isn’t human at all.
Trapped by his Maker’s command to protect a mysterious box, Adem is forced to kill anyone who tries to steal it. When a young boy chances upon Adem’s temple, he resists temptation, intriguing the golem. As the boy and his sister convince Adem to leave the refuge of his temple, the group lands in a web of trouble.
Now Adem will do whatever necessary to keep his new young charges safe, even if it means risking all to get rid of the box. Their saving grace comes in the form of an angel who offers to set Adem free of the box’s magic by granting his greatest desire—making him human.
But first, Adem must bring back the angel’s long-dead human love from the Underworld. In doing so, he will risk breaking the barrier between the realms, a cataclysm that could launch the Third Realm War. To set things right, he may be forced to give up the only thing he’s ever truly wanted…a chance at a soul of his own.
Royal Palm Literary Award for Book of the Year and First Place for Fantasy
If you like Jeff Wheeler, Andrzej Sapkowski, Lindsay Buroker, D.K. Holmberg, or Sara C. Roethle, you’ll love this epic fantasy adventure complete with a golem!
“Wenstrom’s debut is the catalyst for a planned series of fantasy war tales, kicked off with this thoroughly expanded retelling of the Orpheus myth...the clever use of weathered fantasy tropes and occasionally lovely turns of phrase will propel readers into book two.” – Publisher’s Weekly
What reviewers are saying:
★★★★★ “Twisting and turning, MUD won’t let itself be defined or outsmarted...I’m hopelessly addicted.”
★★★★★ “There's something primal in MUD. It's a reverent, mythical story of supernatural beings who justify desperate measures in their quest to feel complete.”
★★★★★ “I LOVED this book and will encourage my kids to read it, also. I know they will love it just as much.”
★★★★★ “Competently written, nicely paced, and intelligently plotted.”
★★★★★ “An unlikely hero, a golem. A perilous journey…Spellbinding story.”
E. J. WENSTROM is a fantasy and science fiction author. A D.C. girl at heart, she currently lives in Florida with her husband and their miniature pinscher. Her first novel, MUD, is being published by City Owl Press. When she’s not writing fiction, E. J. drinks coffee, goes running, and has long conversations with her dog. Ray Bradbury is her hero. Keep tabs on E.J.s writing and other antics at ejwenstrom.com.