The saga continues in WRATH AND RUIN, where destinies collide and empires tremble, leading to a breathtaking climax that will change the world forever.
As Bethany steps into her role as house diviner to the powerful Conways, long-buried secrets resurface, threatening not only her new life but the fragile balance of power. She will have to choose—between her growing bond with Xander and her desire to keep her two lives separate, while the backdrop of war thrusts her into the spotlight and a realm of battles and mortal danger.
With Queen Zhuana losing patience at the border, Julian is running out of time to cement his position as his enemies try to bring him down. He will be forced to think the unthinkable, even at the cost of hurting the people he loves most.
And Kendrick Conway, hero of days long gone, is no longer able to avoid being dragged into the perilous world he fears, where alliances are shattered and betrayal leads to ruin.
James Maxwell is a British-Australian best-selling author of epic fantasy novels, with millions of copies sold in multiple languages worldwide. With over a dozen acclaimed novels, including Enchantress, Golden Age, and A Girl From Nowhere, he is celebrated for his richly imagined worlds and epic, interwoven plots. His books have received multiple award nominations, including the World Fantasy Award, the Aurealis Awards, and three Arthur C. Clarke Award nominations, as well as garnering tens of thousands of reviews on Amazon.
Born in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, and raised in Brisbane, Australia, James attended Brisbane’s Anglican Church Grammar School and the University of Queensland, where he studied a diverse mix of arts and sciences.
Since becoming a full-time author in 2012, he has made his home on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, where his writing is accompanied by the rumbling sound of the sea and the antics of his capricious white cat.
Blood and Empire, published in March 2025, begins James Maxwell’s latest gripping series, The Gateway Saga.
An absolute page turner! If I thought Book 1 was a slow start, Book2 is a rocket ride. But not just gripping, it is well written, the characters are 3 dimensional and the plot is excellent. I am really looking forward to Book 3.
I want more. These are the complex characters, the arcs, the systems that I’ve missed in novels for dozens of reads. What a story! Everyone is a hero in their story and it’s a masterful telling of the tale. I feel bad for other books that I gave 5 stars to because they don’t deserve it as much as this series.
I wasn't expecting this 2nd book to be 90% war, death, betrayal and lots of other yuck. The book needed editing to remove repetitive thoughts and phrases and grammar errors.