A reluctant old wizard. A chinchilla(ish) sidekick. A busboy with the voice of an angel and the fingers of a pickpocket. Of course they'll save the world! If only they could figure out what to fight, and where...

A life-affirming and humorous fantasy debut, perfect for fans of TJ Klune, Travis Baldree, and Terry Pratchett.

When the Chosen One rejects your call, you might need to choose...another one.

After years of drudgery, Athragast the wizard is ready to retire. But the world needs saving in under two weeks, and when the Prince rejects Athie's big "destiny" speech, he isn't left with many options. A thieving busboy, a cigar-eating rodent that goes peep, and some troubled sellswords might be the best he can scrounge up on a budget.

Then Athie's furry familiar steals the wrong warlock's cigar, and things get a whole lot worse. A brooding villain flings the Runes of Destiny across the land, and Athie must get them back in time to figure out where the world-ending battle is taking place. The crew must séance with druids, party with goblins, and charm rhyming sages right out of their couplets. Along the way, Athie might just learn what it means to be a hero-at any age.

This whimsical, witty hug of a book is calling all lovers of fantasy, found family, crackling fires, and cozy socks. Stand up and face your destiny. Think of the children! Be a hero, or at least, be hero-adjacent.

Publication

US: Astra Publishing (DAW Books)