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The Dance of the Dead
A standalone heroic fantasy by best-selling author James Maxwell, set in an entirely new world of magic and darkness.
Malgannis Vandryden was once the greatest general the world had ever known—until a tragic death condemned him to an eternity of regret in the underworld.
Generations later, Princess Coraline Vandryden’s life is torn apart by the onslaught of Graven Callow, a brutal conqueror bent on destroying everything her kingdom stands for. As Graven’s army lays waste to her homeland and brutally targets her family, soon nothing is strong enough to stand against him.
What Coraline needs is a miracle.
She grew up on stories of her ancestor Malgannis – some dark, some glorious – but now, in her moment of utmost peril, a black priest offers her a forbidden choice. If she sacrifices her own future, she can summon the damned general back to the mortal world.
Coraline must weigh her kingdom’s survival against the cost of awakening a soul marked by blood and darkness.
Some heroes are better left in legend.
Malgannis Vandryden was once the greatest general the world had ever known—until a tragic death condemned him to an eternity of regret in the underworld.
Generations later, Princess Coraline Vandryden’s life is torn apart by the onslaught of Graven Callow, a brutal conqueror bent on destroying everything her kingdom stands for. As Graven’s army lays waste to her homeland and brutally targets her family, soon nothing is strong enough to stand against him.
What Coraline needs is a miracle.
She grew up on stories of her ancestor Malgannis – some dark, some glorious – but now, in her moment of utmost peril, a black priest offers her a forbidden choice. If she sacrifices her own future, she can summon the damned general back to the mortal world.
Coraline must weigh her kingdom’s survival against the cost of awakening a soul marked by blood and darkness.
Some heroes are better left in legend.
- GenresFantasy
414 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2025
101 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
James Maxwell
16 books1,105 followersJames 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 22, 2025
Great book could not put it down
July 24, 2025
Loved this Book!
I loved this book!! It has several twists and turns that increase the intensity. PSA - It does have a lot of violence as there are countries at war.
I loved this book!! It has several twists and turns that increase the intensity. PSA - It does have a lot of violence as there are countries at war.
December 27, 2025
What an epic tale. Really enjoyed this adventure and liked the character arcs. Only took ages to read as over Christmas!
October 31, 2025
Great Read
Once you get pulled into the storyline, you can’t stop reading. Read over a weekend and enjoyed the plot twists.
Once you get pulled into the storyline, you can’t stop reading. Read over a weekend and enjoyed the plot twists.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews