Dark Gauntlet: A Stand-Alone EmberEarth Adventure

by Matthew Bunch

In the shadowy alleys of Guntaro City, where danger lurks at every corner, a handful of strangers are drawn together by fate. Each carries their own secrets and burdens—a brooding pit fighter, an orphaned thief, a luckless tavern owner, a massive black Dire Wolf, and a young sorceress. When they unexpectedly cross paths with a princess fleeing from a dark conspiracy, they must unite to guide her through the perilous streets. As the night deepens, trust is tested, alliances are forged, and the true strength of courage and friendship is revealed.

Will they reach the safety of the palace before dawn? Or will the city and the assassins that crawl the streets claim them? A tale of bravery, deception, and unexpected camaraderie awaits in Dark Gauntlet.

72 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2024

About the author

Matthew Bunch was born in a small town outside San Diego, California. The fourth of four children, Matt learned to read from an early age. Often found with his nose in a book, he’d resist when called to dinner and after hurriedly gulping the last bite, would quickly return to his books.
He spent much of his youth at the library and the local librarians knew him by name, allowing him to check-out the same number of books as adults.
He wrote his first short story when he was twelve.

Matthew’s imagination is boundless, creating multiple worlds for his friends to explore and hundreds of characters for them to meet. His interests range from Epic Fantasy to Science Fiction to the Supernatural.

The EmberEarth Chronicles is Matthew’s first full-length Epic Fantasy novel.

The Witch Named Heretic is the second book in the series.

The Boy Named Warlock is Book Three of the EmberEarth Chronicles.

Reviews

[Olivia Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Shadowy Adventure That Grabs You by the Cloak and Doesn’t Let Go

Dark Gauntlet may be short in length, but it’s absolutely packed with atmosphere, grit, and heart. Set in the twisted alleys of Guntaro City, the story pulls together a ragtag group of characters—each with their own secrets, wounds, and wildly different motivations—and throws them into a dark, pulse-quickening race against time.

I instantly vibed with the pit fighter and was weirdly protective of the orphaned thief. And don’t get me started on the Dire Wolf—that beast deserves its own spinoff. The world feels lived-in and dangerous, yet strangely hopeful, which is a hard balance to pull off in 72 pages. But Matthew Bunch makes it work.

It’s got:
✅ High-stakes action
✅ Unexpected friendships
✅ Sorcery and shadow
✅ And a princess who isn’t just decoration

If you love fast-paced fantasy with cinematic energy and a dash of found-family warmth, this one’s a hidden gem. Honestly? More people need to be talking about the EmberEarth Chronicles.

Looking forward to seeing what’s next in the series!