Trolls kill. Violence is as much a part of them as their arms, legs, and tusks. Everyone knows the troll Hunger, from drunk elves to righteous humans to greedy dwarves. Even the trolls of Blackwood Swamp embrace their Hunger, save the secondborn of the Bulderbags, Grump, who thinks of nothing of Hunger and everything of his goat and the sunny lands beyond their borders. Grump never feeds his Hunger. He would rather feed his goat even if doing so brings shame to his proud family. As his murderous brother sets a brutal plan in motion, fate plucks Grump from his solitary life and plunges him into the middle of wizards, wars, and an old woman’s garden. Thrown into strange lands with even stranger people, Grump finds himself caretaker of a curious infant and companion to a goblin who promises Grump a wizard’s wish if he’ll carry the infant across the world to his mysterious master. Reluctantly, Grump agrees. But when a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is, and this deal could destroy the world.

A shadow fell over Amber Blackwood’s life the day her brother died, and only on the night he returned did she think it could be lifted. Unfortunately for Amber, Toby’s mysterious reappearance doesn’t give her the peace she sought. It does gift her with a curse, bestowing powers on Amber no mortal should ever have. But like all curses, this one carries a heavy price, and soon Amber realizes the power she has may cost her dearly. Chased from the mortal world by a madman in a mask and suit, Amber discovers a land beyond life, an immortal city called Afterlife so vast and ancient it spans eternity. Three factions vie for power in the sprawling metropolis, each one with their sights set on the mortal girl and the powerful curse she bears, while Amber just wants to find her brother and learn why he brought this curse only to abandon his sister to it. She has no friends in Afterlife and nowhere to run, and despite the dubious help of an infuriatingly charming rebel named Dino Cardona, her survival is anything but guaranteed. Amber’s enemies will do anything and kill anyone to harness her power, and if she can’t find her brother before the curse awakens, she could be the spark that will make both worlds burn. Incredible magic, heart-pounding action, and strange and exotic characters make this urban fantasy series a must-read for any fan of supernatural and coming of age novels.**