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Jed Herne
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Fires of the Dead: An Epic Fantasy Novella Kindle Edition

by Jed Herne (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 out of 5 stars 99 ratings

A thieving sorcerer makes one last grasp for glory.

Wisp is old. Too old for a thief, too old for a sorcerer, and too old to heal all the scars he’s torn in the world. He needs to retire, and he needs it soon.

Rumours have spread that a sorcerer’s skull is hidden in a desolate, haunted forest. And people will pay big money if that rumour turns into truth.

Wisp leads a misfit thieving crew into the forest, hoping to win the riches he so badly deserves. But when rivals descend upon the forest and nightmares come to life, he’ll need all his old tricks to survive – and some new ones, too.

Wisp might be long in the tooth, but he can still bite. Or at least that’s what he hopes …


Read today to experience a story readers describe as “unputdownable!”

#1 bestseller in Fantasy Adventure Fiction

#1 bestseller in Myth & Legend Fantasy eBooks

#1 bestseller in Sword & Sorcery Fantasy eBooks


Praise for Fires of the Dead:

★★★★★ “A common misconception about fantasy novels is that they are all epic, thousand page long tomes. [...] Fires of the Dead proves that you don’t need to write reams of narrative to fit all the components of a classic fantasy novel into one tale.” – Reviews Feed

★★★★★ “A gripping, fun, twisted tale of a band of misfit thieves as they adventure through charred forest to retrieve a valuable, magical item with a mega payload. [...] Be prepared to smash this book out in one reading; you'll be left wondering what's next at every damn turn.” – Mitch Bruce

★★★★★ “I loved every second of it. I didn't want to put it down. After I finished, Fires of the Dead left me wanting to continue reading about this world. Highly recommend this book for someone who loves a quick read full of action and suspense.” – Dannielle Leotta

★★★★★ I could not put this book down! I wanted to keep on reading and not sleep, and ended up the next day being a very moody person with a good story on the brain. I am so glad I read this and will be keeping an eye on books by this author.” – Sarah Coleman

★★★★★ “A great fantasy novella, a real page turner (it gave me goosebumps), I highly recommend it.” – Caitlin Shaw

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  1. Print length
    96 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    September 20, 2019
  5. File size
    356 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A common misconception about fantasy novels is that they are all epic, thousand page long tomes. [...] Fires of the Dead proves that you don't need to write reams of narrative to fit all the components of a classic fantasy novel into one tale." - Reviews Feed
*
"The perfect read for someone looking to be quickly immersed in a magic system unlike anything else." - Synopses by Sarge
*
"I honestly did not put this one down til I finished." - From Cover to Cover
*
"Snap this up fast for a lunch break read!" - Married to Books

About the Author

Jed Herne is a fantasy and sci-fi author from Perth, Western Australia. His short stories have been published in The Arcanist, Scarlet Leaf Review, Flintlock, and more. Fires of the Dead is his debut fantasy novella.Outside of writing, he hosts The Novel Analyst Podcast and The Jed Herne Audio Experience. He also has a YouTube channel filled with hours of writing advice. (New episodes every weekday). 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07WDBLW9Y
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Undergrove Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 20, 2019
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 356 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 99 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Jed Herne

Jed Herne

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Jed Herne is a fantasy author from Perth, Western Australia. His books include Fires of the Dead, Across the Broken Stars, The Thunder Heist, and Kingdom of Dragons. He also wrote Siege of Treboulain – an interactive epic fantasy novel, published by Choice of Games. His YouTube channel (where he talks about the craft fantasy writing) has over 9 million views and 110,000+ subscribers.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
99 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the novella fast-paced and engaging, with one review noting how well the story weaves through the narrative. The book features a unique magic system that customers appreciate.

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7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and fast-paced, with one customer noting how well the story weaves through the narrative.

"...The magic system was so unique, yet easily explained. I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading another of his books." Read more

"This was an enjoyable read. This is a short book (obviously, it's a novella), but is a good horror read...." Read more

"...A fun, fantasy story about a group of thieves." Read more

"...the Dead is a fantastic fantasy novella with compelling characters, great prose, and an intriguing and clever magic system that left me wanting more...." Read more

4 customers mention "Magic system"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the unique magic system in the book.

"...The magic system was so unique, yet easily explained. I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading another of his books." Read more

"...The standout element is the magic system, which weaves through the story very well...." Read more

"...with compelling characters, great prose, and an intriguing and clever magic system that left me wanting more. Can’t recommend this book enough!" Read more

"...Such a cool, unique magic system. I would really enjoy reading more books set in this world! Fast paced and a quick read." Read more

Great read! So interesting how the book is written.
5 out of 5 stars
Great read! So interesting how the book is written.
What an amazing book to read! After starting to read I didn't want to stop! I am impressed at how the end of each chapter just makes you want to read the next, and next! For someone who struggles to find the time to sit down to read, I found this book to be perfect to just flick through the pages just before bed. Congrats to the author, for making a quite enjoyable story.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • kimberly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent short read.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I couldn't put it down. Read it from beginning to end in three hours. It was literally the best and shortest fantasy novel I've read. The magic system was so unique, yet easily explained. I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading another of his books.
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  • David M Blackman
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, doesn't set the world on fire
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This was an enjoyable read. This is a short book (obviously, it's a novella), but is a good horror read. It doesn't make me want to binge Jed Herne, but is enough to make me interested in seeing how he has developed his craft since writing this.

    The standout element is the magic system, which weaves through the story very well. It is introduced with a solid scene and plays a part in the ending set piece.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars a fun tale
    Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It isn’t groundbreaking nor is it surprising, but it is good for what it is. A fun, fantasy story about a group of thieves.
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  • Megan (hellobookbird)
    3.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for those wanting a face-paced, quick read with magic.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2019
    "Crouching was murder on the knees."

    Wisp is a pyromancer: a magician who draws energy from fires to make his own flames. He’s also a criminal, one job away from retirement. And it can’t come bloody soon enough.

    Leading his misfit crew, Wisp ventures into a charred and barren forest to find a relic that could change the realm forever. But they aren’t the only ones on the hunt, and the forest isn’t as barren as it seems…

    I'm not usually a fan of shorts, as I never feel there is enough time to sufficiently get a feel for the world building or characters, but this one was surprisingly engaging enough. The pyromancy and ancient flames were an intriguing concept...paired with rivaling gangs and things could get super interesting for future iterations.

    The novella is broken into four POV: Wisp, Black Eye, Marogan, and Fleetfoot. While I found this distracting, it did nothing to interrupt the non-stop action of their mission and did allow for a more personal feel of the team. (However, Breeze + Fleetfoot? Come on.)

    Regardless, Wisp was probably my favorite since he was a grump and his various aches and pains were humorously littered throughout the narrative.

    Recommended for those wanting a face-paced, quick read with magic.

    Thank you to Book Sirens for providing an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Francis E. Clark
    4.0 out of 5 stars Loved the Science of the Magic!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2024
    First off, I listened to the audio version rather than reading the book. I played the first couple of chapters multiple times before settling down to listen to it all the way through due to being distracted by this or that. Once I settled down, I was hooked and continue to listen to the end. The characters in the story are all interesting. Wisp, Marogan, Blackeye, Breeze and Fleetfoot. I remember thinking at the start why we didn't get more on Marogan, but understood once the story started unfolding and we start getting other perspectives. I enjoyed the story, I loved Breeze! The jury is still out on Fleetfoot as I was not convinced on his story arc, but that might say more about me than the author. I really enjoyed learning about the magic system in this world and how it works!
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  • Anthony LePore
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Short Read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Fires of the Dead is a fantastic fantasy novella with compelling characters, great prose, and an intriguing and clever magic system that left me wanting more. Can’t recommend this book enough!
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  • Allison J. Springer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fires of the Dead, flames of the living
    Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2019
    I received this book as an ARC and am giving it my honest, voluntary review.

    This was a quick read and a good introduction to anything that might follow. The synopsis I read sounds like a D&D campaign: a group of adventurers with varied skills trying to complete a quest. It didn't play out like a game campaign. I was definitely reading a story.

    The group of five are led by a pyromancer named Wisp. Wisp is in his early 50's, which is quite a lifespan for someone such as he; a pyromancer and a criminal for hire. The remainder of his group are people much younger. There is another pyromancer, a 'thief', a large man of great fighting ability and a navigator. They have been hired by a local noble man of considerable power to retrieve an artifact which will bestow even more power.

    The group must navigate through a forest which succumbed to a great burning several years earlier. The fire not only destroyed the forest, but also the castle/stronghold of another noble man. That noble's entire family perished in the flames. Wisp and his companions are seeking an item that should be found in the ruins of the castle.

    Along the way, they encounter another group which is definitely seeking the same item. They must figure out a way to eliminate the competition and then move forward to the castle. At this point, telling more of the plot would reveal spoilers.

    The tale was well written. The characters could have been better fleshed out, but the author revealed enough to whet the appetite for more. The obstacles to completing the quest were believable and kept me interested in seeing how the story would resolve. There are twists along the way. I certainly hope this is a prequel to a larger tale.
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  • Tyler auatin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a short book being 181 pages but a amazing book from start to finish. I cant wait to read more books from Jed I am a new fan of him now
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Rob Di Giovanni
    4.0 out of 5 stars A fantasy debut dripping with sweat and fire
    Reviewed in Australia on November 11, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Fires of the Dead is the debut novella Perth, Western Australia writer Jed Herne. It's a heist book wrapped in a sweaty fantasy world of fire and death where a rag-tag group of thieves, miscreants, thugs and liars try to pull off an almost impossible task for a Baron in a far-off city. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character and as you progress through the novella, hearing more about the world and the people in it, the diverging motives of each character become clear. So much attention was poured into the first character's narrative that I was almost disoriented by the sudden perspective-shift when I reached chapter two, but I quickly discovered that all of the characters are given this kind of loving limelight, at least for a little while.

    My only critique is that I wish the narration was told in first-person for each character rather than in third. I feel like that small adjustment would have deepened my connection to each character and really allowed me to sympathise with these morally-questionable people. All in all though, Fires of the Dead is a terrific fantasy debut that takes bold risks and delivers a thoroughly enjoyable romp through a strange world of magic and thievery. Jed also hosts an excellent podcast on writing which I highly recommend!

    Fires of the Dead is a super quick read (I actually read the whole thing while up all night because I slurped down a mega-strong coffee at 11 p.m.) and there's enough meat on its bones to finish it in one session. If you're looking for a fantasy read that's quick and digestible or if you want to support Australian artists, give Fires of the Dead a read.
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  • Kindle Customer
    2.0 out of 5 stars A book that tries too hard
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    There are some interesting concepts in this book (the magic system to name but one) but they never get the opportunity to be fully explored or explained. Most of the time I felt things were ruined by strange pros and grammatical errors, as well as cheesy and often forced dialogues and character relations. Also, the use of 'em' instead of 'them' by the narrative voice is unforgivable!

    I have read Herne's 'Thunder Heist' which was a lot better than this, even if it had some flaws of its own.
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