A young mage - the last of her class, and a refugee in the land of her enemies. A disgraced warrior - fighting to prove his honor to a king who branded his father a traitor. A devious thief - pressed into service, and willing to do anything to escape the hangman's noose. As monstrous hordes of Trell carve bloody swathes across the southern nation of Ollaj, northern Kardalan quietly revels in their neighbor's downfall. Until the Trell appear at the Kardelian border. Now Erik Hødegaal, a shunned nobleman bearing his father's sins, must forge an unlikely alliance with an inexperienced Ollajen apprentice who hides a secret calling she feels ill-prepared to fulfill. Together with a ragtag band of old soldiers, outcasts, and traditional enemies, they will face an enemy who raise the very dead to serve them. In a world where old grudges run deep and new horrors emerge, this group must learn to trust each other—or else bear witness to the complete destruction of their homelands. *** For fans of John Gwynne, Anthony Ryan, Robert Jordan, and Jennifer Fallon. Last Among Equals received an Honorable Mention in the Next Best Read Writing Contest 2025 !