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The King Who Never Lived
The scorching desert kingdom of Khemeret has been waiting for the legendary pharaoh to return for centuries. But soon, they’ll wish he hadn’t.
Ashira can remember when Hapi was just a mindless little blob who only devoured people on command. But now it thinks it’s the legendary pharaoh Nephtet-Ka and he’s laid claim on an entire city. She started a hospital to heal the sick with her miraculous powers, but nothing she does seems to make people’s lives better. She consoles herself by promising that things will be different once she’s queen, but she finds her comrade Mwarthes enjoys the chaos a little too much.
Lucky for the city, the citizens are all supportive of the violent new regime. Every day is a riot against the oppressive foreign empire, and Mwarthes is delighted with every new horrifying idea his monster has.
As the Alvari Empire mobilizes to quell Hapi's uprising, Ashira faces the daunting task of convincing Mwarthes to relinquish his allegiance to the destructive cause. The stakes are high, and the fate of Khemeret hangs in the balance.
If Ashira fails to destroy Hapi, the desert kingdom will be consumed by the fires of war, and the rivers will flow with the blood of the innocent.
Can she thwart Hapi's apocalyptic ambitions, or will the sands of Khemeret be forever stained with the remnants of a kingdom that never had its true king?
Ashira can remember when Hapi was just a mindless little blob who only devoured people on command. But now it thinks it’s the legendary pharaoh Nephtet-Ka and he’s laid claim on an entire city. She started a hospital to heal the sick with her miraculous powers, but nothing she does seems to make people’s lives better. She consoles herself by promising that things will be different once she’s queen, but she finds her comrade Mwarthes enjoys the chaos a little too much.
Lucky for the city, the citizens are all supportive of the violent new regime. Every day is a riot against the oppressive foreign empire, and Mwarthes is delighted with every new horrifying idea his monster has.
As the Alvari Empire mobilizes to quell Hapi's uprising, Ashira faces the daunting task of convincing Mwarthes to relinquish his allegiance to the destructive cause. The stakes are high, and the fate of Khemeret hangs in the balance.
If Ashira fails to destroy Hapi, the desert kingdom will be consumed by the fires of war, and the rivers will flow with the blood of the innocent.
Can she thwart Hapi's apocalyptic ambitions, or will the sands of Khemeret be forever stained with the remnants of a kingdom that never had its true king?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 9, 2025
About the author
Rachael Dunn
25 books31 followersRachael Dunn is a fantasy writer from Illinois, USA. Her debut, Vessels, is the first book in the Dusk Eternal series, a dark fantasy inspired by ancient Egypt.
When she’s not writing, she’s yelling at her cats for licking plastic bags, playing with her dogs, peeping on some wild birds, or dressing up her bearded dragon, Gygax. She also enjoys reading about ancient civilizations and running campaigns in Dungeons & Dragons.
He doesn’t mind. Or seem to notice.
Learn more at rachaeldunn.com.
When she’s not writing, she’s yelling at her cats for licking plastic bags, playing with her dogs, peeping on some wild birds, or dressing up her bearded dragon, Gygax. She also enjoys reading about ancient civilizations and running campaigns in Dungeons & Dragons.
He doesn’t mind. Or seem to notice.
Learn more at rachaeldunn.com.
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