Five of Ash is a dark, action-packed fantasy debut where a broken young man is dragged back into the world that broke him. Ten years ago, Aros's powers erupted in a single, catastrophic flare. Two people died. A force known as the Dark Wind tore him from his home realm of Arteyva and tossed him into exile on Earth. He never understood why it happened. Until the Dark Wind called him back. Aros is forced into the Ash Trials, the brutal proving ground where hopefuls compete for a single, coveted title: Ash Lord. To become one is to be sworn to protect the seven realms, a promise made by burning one's soul into the Ashen Pit. As he's thrown into the Trials alongside rivals, allies, and enemies he can't yet tell apart, cracks are forming beneath the surface of the realms - kingdoms edging toward war, magic itself beginning to shift - but no one knows why, not even the Ashen Pit. To survive the Trials, uncover what's truly threatening the realms, and understand why the Dark Wind chose him of all people, Aros will have to face the one thing he's spent a decade running from: himself. Emotionally raw and fast-paced, with relentless action, immersive world-building, and romance woven through it all, Five of Ash is the start of an addictive new fantasy series for readers who love characters worth rooting for, high-stakes trials, immersive magic systems, and heroes forged in fire.