The First Binding

'A work of extraordinary depth; people are going to be unpicking the secrets of Tremaine for years to come' Richard Swan, Sunday Times bestselling author All legends are born of truths. And just as much lies. These are mine. Judge me for what you will. But you will hear my story first. I buried the village of Ampur under a mountain of ice and snow. Then I killed their god. I've stolen old magics and been cursed for it. I started a war with those that walked before mankind and lost the princess I loved, and wanted to save. I've called lightning and bound fire. I am legend. And I am a monster. My name is Ari. And this is the story of how I let loose the first evil. Thus begins the tale of a storyteller and a singer on the run and hoping to find obscurity in a tavern bar. But the sins of their past aren't forgotten, and neither are their enemies. Their old lives are catching up swiftly and it could cost them the entire world. No one can escape their pasts and all stories must have an ending. Readers love The First Binding: 'The world is extremely rich in its myth and history . . . I loved this book . . . it's only a matter of time until Virdi and the Tales of Tremaine will be remembered for many years to come' Novel Notions 'Once you lose yourself in this South Asian-inspired fantasy world, there's no turning back. The First Binding is a grand, mesmerizing story' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Lyrical, lovely, and beautifully South Asian' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'The First Binding is magnificent, it marks itself out because of the way the author has utilized South Asian culture and Hindu mythology to make this epic fantasy story more than a bit unique. R.R. Virdi [has written] a story for readers such as myself & thousands of South Asian fantasy readers' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ '[There is something the] author infused into his story with that's completely him: South Asian mythology and culture were clearly the foundation of the world Virdi imagined, while ticking all the boxes of a classical epic fantasy' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'It's beautiful, like poetry. I love the stories within stories and genesis myths shown throughout it. My family is East African in origin ancestrally, and there are themes in here even though this is mostly Asian that feel so similar and like I'm reading bits of my own culture, and that is beautiful to see' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

“Epic fantasy at its finest—an homage to storytelling and legend, richly told and endlessly engaging.”—Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter Don’t miss the first novel in this stunning Silk Road-inspired epic fantasy series from R.R. Virdi—a saga of legends, lies, and the secretive storyteller who’s spun them all. All legends are born of truths. And just as much lies. These are mine. Judge me for what you will. But you will hear my story first. I buried the village of Ampur under a mountain of ice and snow. Then I killed their god. I've stolen old magics and been cursed for it. I started a war with those that walked before mankind and lost the princess I loved, and wanted to save. I've called lightning and bound fire. I am legend. And I am a monster. My name is Ari. And this is the story of how I let loose the first evil. “Rich world-building, plenty of action, and devious twists abound. Very highly recommended!” —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of V-Wars and Kagen the Damned At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE Proclaimed as “truly spellbinding,” a “great fable” that “functions as transporting romance” by the Guardian, the runaway #1 international bestseller "A rich, gothic entertainment that explores what books have trapped inside them and reminds us of the power of storytelling. Spellbinding.” — TRACY CHEVALIER Imagine you could erase grief. Imagine you could remove pain. Imagine you could hide the darkest, most horrifying secret. Forever. Young Emmett Farmer is working in the fields when a strange letter arrives summoning him away from his family. He is to begin an apprenticeship as a Bookbinder—a vocation that arouses fear, superstition, and prejudice amongst their small community, but one neither he nor his parents can afford to refuse. For as long as he can recall, Emmett has been drawn to books, even though they are strictly forbidden. Bookbinding is a sacred calling, Seredith informs her new apprentice, and he is a binder born. Under the old woman’s watchful eye, Emmett learns to hand-craft the elegant leather-bound volumes. Within each one they will capture something unique and extraordinary: a memory. If there’s something you want to forget, a binder can help. If there’s something you need to erase, they can assist. Within the pages of the books they create, secrets are concealed and the past is locked away. In a vault under his mentor’s workshop rows upon rows of books are meticulously stored. But while Seredith is an artisan, there are others of their kind, avaricious and amoral tradesman who use their talents for dark ends—and just as Emmett begins to settle into his new circumstances, he makes an astonishing discovery: one of the books has his name on it. Soon, everything he thought he understood about his life will be dramatically rewritten. An unforgettable novel of enchantment, mystery, memory, and forbidden love, The Binding is a beautiful homage to the allure and life-changing power of books—and a reminder to us all that knowledge can be its own kind of magic.

Download a FREE sneak peek today! All legends are borne of truths. And just as much lies. These are mine. Judge me for what you will. But you will hear my story first. I buried the village of Ampur under a mountain of ice and snow. Then I killed their god. I've stolen old magics and been cursed for it. I started a war with those that walked before mankind and lost the princess I loved, and wanted to save. I've called lightning and bound fire. I am legend. And I am a monster. My name is Ari. And this is the story of how I let loose the first evil. Thus begins the tale of a storyteller and a singer on the run and hoping to find obscurity in a tavern bar. But the sins of their past aren't forgotten, and neither are their enemies. Their old lives are catching up swiftly and it could cost them the entire world. No one can escape their pasts and all stories must have an ending. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Princess Aironell is destined to rule over the kingdom of Bachusa and bring about continued peace, yet there are forces who conspire to bring about the end of her rule, even before it begins. For her safety, she is taken away until she comes of age, while Bachusa undergoes turmoil, and deep rooted scheming unfolds in the wake of her mysterious disappearance. Alzerion, the commander of the army, has spent his whole life in service to the King and Queen, but can it be that he is not as trustworthy and loyal as he appears? These two will stop at nothing to fight for what they want, even if it defies destiny.

Winter Mulcahy is a wizard physician who has found herself holding the political reins of a city falling apart around her ears. She is exhausted, in over her head, and has turned to stimulants just to get by. Two sidhe lords come into her life telling her that a faerie prince has been kidnapped and they need her help to get him back.

A thousand years of servitude left Leela more than a little jaded. Betrayal by the man she loved only begins her lessons on the wickedness of humanity. Her hope for freedom for herself and her fellow Djinn from the stones that bind them has dimmed to a barely-there glimmer.But it hasn't yet been extinguished. When the young, handsome, and idealistic Jered inadvertently becomes her new master, Leela wonders if his tenderness and concern may be real. And despite her years of suffering, her heart begins to open to him.As she inches closer to trusting Jered, the past and the enemies that come with it, resurface, threatening the small spark of happiness in Leela's long life.After a millennium of pain what--and who--is Leela willing to sacrifice for freedom?

The first book in a series of dark tales and high adventure in the Eberron™ campaign setting. The Binding Stone features the brandnew races that were created specifically for the Eberron campaign setting. It’s also the first Eberron novel to takes its readers on an exploration of many uncharted territories in the setting. AUTHOR BIO: DON BASSINGTHWAITE is currently an editor for Black Gate Magazine and a contributor to the award-winning Bending the Landscape anthologies. His most recent work with Wizards of the Coast, Inc. was Yellow Silk, a Forgotten Realms® novel.