Destiny demands sacrifice. Riots and panic have gripped the Crux... The arrival of the Vychians triggered a cascade of terror for weeks. Thousands are missing or dead, but life goes on. Fei finds herself alone like so many others, thrust into her mother's position when a surprise visit illuminates possibilities the likes of which she had ever dreamed. As the chaos in the streets subsides, Damien and the other Pentarchs seek to grasp their new life with an army at their gates, one which seeks to rule. But a boon soon arrives: Thena, the Northern Pentarch, has returned from her long period of mourning with her fellow Dwarves in Highhearth... Off and away in the churning waters of the Verdant Sea, the crew of the Vauras give thanks to the Ancients for the approaching sails of a passing ship. Yet Sea Rat and the others soon deem the horrors of Hakaan preferable to the scourging of their would-be saviors, for not all ships that sail the seas make berth in friendly ports. Though the whips of their new masters raise fear and welts, those who were found on the flotsam keep an eye upon the waves, wary of what lurks below... Far to the south, Tesador has begun the long road to destiny, learning to be the man he must become if he is to rebirth the Empire of Kai'loth. But he cannot do it alone. Those who came with him to Firefall aid Tesador not just in his lessons of history and governance, but in the trials of love, loss, and life itself, for one of their own must leave the company and return west to Tol'thuran if they are to aid in the Patient's long preparations for the eventual war with the Crux... Praise for the The Culling of Souls "[A] Heartfelt epic fantasy alive with hard lessons and political intrigue...the second entry in Nelson's Annals of Tessian (after Children of the Dying Hearth) stands proudly in the most humane tradition of epic fantasy...Nelson favors immersion in character and their everyday challenges; readers who enjoy thoughtful exploration of life in a fantasy city, with political scheming, shopkeeper intrigue, and simmering tensions will find this smartly realized..." -BookLife Reviews Praise for the Annals of Tessian "An immersive fantasy epic...[Nelson] expertly sets the stage for future stories and reveals just enough about each character to pique the interest of readers who enjoy intricate narratives and immersive worldbuilding-and the heroic quest at the novel's heart proves an inviting way to transport readers through an abundance of extraordinary settings. This elaborate meld of fable and fantasy entertains and surprises." - BookLife Reviews A complex and occasionally grotesque series opener with elements that will be familiar to genre fans. - Kirkus Reviews Pondering history, myth, and fantasy from an early age, Martin grew up in Southern Oregon wondering what lay outside the sleepy Pacific Northwest. Readings of haunted lighthouses and native legends quickly turned to readings of the Kalevala and Prose Edda​​​​​​​. He took his interests to school where he graduated from University of Portland with a BA in History with a focus on Pagan and Christian interactions in Late Antiquity, then to Fordham University where he earned an MA in History with a focus on royal saints in High Medieval Scandinavia. He now resides with his growing family back where it all began in Southern Oregon.