"A gritty and dark Western-focused fantasy that focuses on professional tomb raiders who treat dungeon crawling like a serious trade."—JH, Amazon Review

"This first installment launches the series with confidence, delivering rich world-building and high emotional stakes from the start. The expedition at the heart of the story feels layered and meaningful, with every reward balanced by genuine consequences."—M., Amazon Review

A young man enters an Expedition Guild, looking to sign on with Jeffer's company. The young man goes by 'Gift' because of his talent with a sword, but he has a lot to learn about survival that will surpass his mere skill with a blade.

Out on the frontiers of the old kingdoms, undisturbed lairs, mines, and strongholds of ages past offer the men of such companies a chance of making a Claim and earning their lot. They also offer traps that can maim a man for life, dark denizens who fight jealously to guard ancient treasures and curses that can stain one's soul to the end of their days. But perhaps the most dangerous part of joining an expedition is the company brought to such a vocation–murderers, thieves and mutineers, men with nothing to lose but the pursuit of their pasts.

And out in the world around Gift, a storm brews in the hands of the great chieftain Storm Crow and his half-breed warbands, and to the north, the terrifying power of the Viles is held back only by the millions of fallen from the Age of Renown.