The Palace Job

Loch has lost everything to one man. The most powerful figure in her republic framed her for a crime, had her imprisoned, and took a priceless elven manuscript from her family. Now she means to get it back, along with the family treasure kept in the same vault.

The vault lies inside Heaven's Spire, a floating fortress guarded by golems that hunt magic and by infernal sorcerers. To reach it, Loch assembles a crew: an illusionist, a unicorn, a death priestess, a talking warhammer, and a young man with a prophetic birthmark.

The job is harder than it looks. A military coup is under way, and an ancient evil prophecy has begun to unfold around the same fortress. Justicar Pyvic, a determined and honourable officer, has also been assigned to bring Loch in, so the law is on her trail as well as the guards.

This is a fantasy heist novel with a comic edge, built around a mismatched team and plans that keep running into trouble. The tone is light and quick, and the stakes are Loch's freedom and her family's property.