Stalkers. Slavers. Wraiths. Pirates.Dangers threaten a new band of friends at every turn.Fighting back with both magic and steel is their only option for survival.But gaining their freedom means finding the heart of this terrifying evil - and destroying it once and for all.Jakob Kestrel seeks to free the Highlands. To succeed, he must defeat both man and monster, Stalkers, Wraiths, and slavers all seeking to kill him.Talia strives to eliminate the pirates haunting the Sea of Mist. But before she can do that a more lethal hazard threatens, and only Davin can save her.With battles raging all around them, Bryen and Aislinn begin to realize that they need to go to Shadow's Reach, suspecting that the heart of the darkness seeking to smother New Caledonia lurks there. First, though, they need to help Jakob and ensure that the rebellion doesn't come to an end before it even begins.They all understand that if they want to attain their freedom from those who seek to subjugate them, it will require a reckoning in blood.Their fates bound together, learn what it holds in store for them in this fourth book of the new epic sword-and-sorcery fantasy by bestselling author Peter Wacht.The Tales of the Territories are part of the universe of The Realms of the Talent and the Curse. If you want to find out more about this world, read the preceding series:The Sylvan Chronicles (9-book series)The Tales of Caledonia (7-book series) When I was a kid growing up in New York, I used to haunt the science fiction and fantasy bookstore in Yonkers, searching for the epic fantasy stories that I loved to read. When I exhausted all of my options, I started writing my own stories, never realizing that one day I would publish them. Now I am an Amazon best-selling author and write full time. I can't think of a better way to make a living, doing something that's truly enjoyable and hopefully of value and interest to all of you, my fellow readers of fantasy literature.A fan of mythology and history, I incorporate aspects of both into my books. My writing appeals to adults, young adults, and kids starting in middle school. Readers describe me as a masterful storyteller of good versus evil, with great characters and plot twists. My thanks to all of you for the kind words.I like to focus on the reluctant hero, men and women not seeking glory, but rather helping others and taking on the evil plaguing the world that I've created in The Realms of the Talent and the Curse.I do most of my writing with my dog Loki either by my side or curled up behind me, oftentimes with a soccer game playing on the TV muted in the background. And when I'm not writing, stories are constantly churning in my head. When I'm out for a walk, I tend to outline or craft scenes, taking notes on my phone.If you're interested in my writing, visit

Mode of access: World Wide Web