Bastion was supposed to mean safety. It was supposed to mean a break from fighting for their lives and a chance to talk to someone who might actually know what's going on. Access to their gold and some beer would have been nice, too.
They got none of those things. When Tina and James arrive in the capital, they find a city on fire in more ways than one. Players and non-players hunt each other in the streets, while the king who controls the city's all-powerful artifact cowers from the chaos in his castle. Desperate to warn somebody about the Once King's coming invasion, James wants to try to talk to the king anyway, while Tina just wants to meet the royal portal keepers who might be able to send them home.
It shouldn't be hard to get an army of the world's best-geared players through one city, but when they discover that the captain of the Royal Knights has been massacring low-level players in revenge disguised as justice, James and Tina will have to decide what is more important: the lives of their fellow gamers, or the stability of this world's last great city. Both choices deserve a champion, but with the Once King's armies closing in, taking the wrong side may doom everyone to an eternity as slaves to the Ghostfire.
FFO's paperback and hardback are both a 6x9 trade size with a buttery-feeling matte cover. Available for order now from most places that sell physical books, including:
Or request it from your local bookstore! Just give them the ISBN for the format you want, and they should be able to hook you up!
ISBN: 9780578568331 (paperback)
ISBN: 9781952367069 (hardcover)
Want to be the first to know when I put out something new? Join my newsletter! It's free and you get exclusive, front-of-the-line access to cover reveals, new series, and free reads like the Heartstrikers' short story Mother of the Year! I will always respect your privacy and never sell your information. It's just good vibes and good books, so sign up and join the fun!
I'm primarily active on Bluesky but I post updates to all of the following:
Copyright © 2025 by Rachel Aaron - All Rights Reserved.