Queen Persephone

About the Book Queen Persephone is the tenth novel in the series, The Chronicles of Mattias, and concludes his journey in search of what the gods want from him. Will this task, once completed, finally mean that Mattias can retire to one of his lodges and enjoy life with his wives, children and grandchildren? Or is there more that the gods will demand of him? The novel opens up with Mattias and his army perched at the opening of the corridor between his new conquest of Partha and a new kingdom located in a long valley called Tarshan. He is there to meet with the queen and her royals as he continues his task of freeing Lesti and Bjerne slaves, this time in a new place with new characters, some of whom want to help him and some who want to destroy him. These royals are very odd, and Mattias soon suspects evil and foul play from a source but not what that source is. The gods are intervening now more than ever, and the goddess Hel, goddess of the underworld, has taken a liking to Mattias who seemed very taken with the Lady, who is both difficult and arrogant beyond all measure. He enters the kingdom, expels the royals, and discovers hard truths not only about this small kingdom, but all of the kingdoms of the Tarshan Valley. He soon sets about understanding his new conquest as well as the structure of the Krais that crisscross and checkerboard the entire two thousand mile length of the wide valley, sandwiched in between two vast mountain ranges. Mattias' family arrives and with it old disputes about who decides and what is decided. After conquest and the submissions of many new lands, Mattias sets out again by himself, only a few true believers with him as he takes new territory and frees more and more Lesti and Bjerne. They stumble upon a new kingdom, a vast and beautiful kingdom, that regularly engages in slaving and not just the Lesti. Mattias meets and becomes friends with new creatures who are freed by Mattias; ancient steeds and shapeshifters are discovered, along with thousands of trapped souls and life essences brought back to the land of the living. Mattias seeks out Seth and Xerxes, always one step ahead. Aurelius is returned to his sister and father, and ends his association with the Queen of Asan. Fire Jade has been sold in direct contravention of Mattias' orders; it seems Seth and Xerxes have acquired quantities and are selling it in the Tarshan Valley and beyond. Mattias stays in his new kingdom for two years then goes off on the final leg of his decades long journey. He solves the riddles of the Key, and makes his peace with the gods. Or does he. Will his journey end, or is there more he is tasked with. His origins are finally revealed, and his people identified. Where will this new history take him next? Has he discovered whom the gods fear? Perhaps, or perhaps Mattias never understood the makeup of the heavens, and the beings who watch the mortals from above.