All he wanted was a fresh start, a chance to leave the war behind. But you can't run from what's inside you. Ian Troy sacrificed everything for peace. After centuries of conflict, the realms of Mirra’kelan are united, and his magic is no longer needed. Free to choose his own path, Ian sets sail on a journey of exploration with his friend and ally, Jarryd Kane.Months on the open sea, far from the shores of home, they arrive at an isolated chain of rocky islands shrouded in mystery—the Wandering Isles. Their inhabitants, rumored to produce spirits of an exceptional quality, have gone unseen for many years. Assuming the lands abandoned, Ian is unaware of what awaits them: a race of insidious beings unlike any he has encountered before. Coerced into a nefarious trade by the elusive islanders, reality blurs, as Ian and Jarryd become unwitting subjects in a series of mind-bending trials. Past and future fears, resurrected and melded into their own private hells, force them to face an inescapable enemy—the darkest recesses of their own minds. The only way off the isles is to complete the trade, but will their sanity survive the process? *The Soulbound Journeys Series takes place after The Crown of Stones Trilogy. While Book 1, The Wandering Isles, is crafted to be read as a continuing adventure or an introduction to The Crown of Stones Universe, it does draw from characters and events in all three books. Read the trilogy first if you prefer to avoid spoilers! "As with The Crown of Stones, The Wandering Isles is expertly written. I was sucked into the story within the first paragraph and felt like I was living in the book with the characters." ⁓ Naomi Valkyrie, Author Explore the darker side of magic in this sword & sorcery adventure set within The Crown of Stones universe. This novella (which can be read as a continuation of the trilogy or an introduction) dips into the realm of a psychological thriller, taking you deep into the minds two men linked by an ancient spell and haunted by their past. C.L. Schneider is an award-winning author of immersive fantasy fiction, including The Crown of Stones Trilogy and the Nite Fire Series. Born in a small Kansas town, she resides in New York's scenic Hudson Valley with her husband and two sons. To learn more about C.L. Schneider, and the worlds she creates, visit clschneiderauthor.com where you can read reviews and excerpts, subscribe to her newsletter, and join her Street Team. An active part of the indie author online community, you can often find her on social media, chatting about the daily ups and downs of a writer's life.