The Heroic Legends Series - Conan: The Treasures of Tortage

The Heroic Legends Series

by Robbie MacNiven

A wanted man, Conan has found refuge aboard a pirate ship. However, his reputation precedes him, and he is soon recognized and apprehended. Upon capture, Conan reveals that he is not the only crew member on the run. The cabin boy is actually Princess Elyka of Nemedia, who ran away seeking adventure.

They are both imprisoned. Elyka will be returned to her father, for a price. Conan faces a darker fate. Elyka is confused and angry at this turn of events and Conan refuses to elaborate. He may have a larger plan, but can Elyka trust him? He may be her only option.

Genres: Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery

37 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2026

About the author

Robbie MacNiven is a Scottish author and historian. His published fiction includes over twenty novels in genres ranging from sci-fi and fantasy to historical fiction, written for publishers such as Black Library, Titan, Rebellion and Aconyte Books. He has also written novellas, short stories, audio dramas, comic scripts and graphic novels, has worked on narrative and character dialogue for multiple digital games (SMITE: Blitz, Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground, Raid: Shadow Legends), and has written colour text and branching narratives for multiple RPG and game rulebooks, including the award-winning Undaunted series by Osprey Games. In 2022 his X-Men novel "First Team" won a Scribe Award for tie-in fiction.

On the non-fiction front, Robbie specialises in Early Modern military history, particularly focusing on the 18th century. He has a PhD in American Revolutionary War massacres from the University of Edinburgh - where he won the Compton Prize for American History - and an MLitt in War Studies from the University of Glasgow. Along with numerous articles for military history magazines, he has written eight books on 18th century conflicts including the American Revolution and the Seven Years War, seven for Osprey Publishing and one for Helion Books. He has also written the scripts for over a dozen episodes of the hit YouTube educational channel Extra History.

Outside of work and writing, his passions include historical re-enacting, gaming, and football.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was much better than I thought it would be. Conan was written pretty well and the story kept me engaged. It was also told from the perspective of a princess disguised as a pirate cabin boy. That added an interesting twist, but pulled off quite well. Nice.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Howard's Conan. I thought this was going to be a stinker at first. Picked up when it had to. Could be better and glad no worse.

[Ben A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice change of perspective from the usual Conan story and I’m dying to know more, so fingers crossed we get a sequel.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

It isn’t Howard but the writing is strong and the characterization of Conan is absolutely on point. A really nice change of pace from some of the more generic pastiche.

[Dane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conan as a deadly force

The 1st person narrative style helped to emphasize just how deadly and powerful Conan is. I enjoyed seeing the Cimmerian carve and bash through the eyes of another character. Their reflections and reactions to his frantic, explosive strength in arms helped to make him stand out head and shoulders above anyone else. The only issue I saw was that Nemedia had a presence on the western ocean, which I thought was a bit off considering the geography. Shem would have been a better choice considering its location and a possible connection that could have been used to give Conan some sort of a deeper connection with others. Other than that, it’s fun swashbuckling story that showcases Conan’s prowess and power.

[Henry Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Very Entertaining Conan Story From a Different Perspective

This tale is told in first person by a new character who shares an adventure with Conan. The overall prose is very well done, the action crisp and clean, and MacNiven captures the voice of Conan well.

I am really loving this new series of short stories published by Titan. I hope they continue for a long time.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done.

It's great having a Conan tale narrated by an observer and their impressions of the Barbarian. I hope we get more tales. Check it out.