The Waking Fire

Across the territories of the Ironship Trading Syndicate, drake blood is the most prized commodity there is. It is taken from dragons that are captured or hunted, then distilled into elixirs that give a rare few, the Blood-blessed, extraordinary powers. The known drake lines are weakening, and if they die out, the Syndicate faces war with the neighboring Corvantine Empire.

Claydon Torcreek is Blood-blessed, but he would rather run small crimes in the slums of Carvenport than work for the Syndicate as a spy or assassin. Then rumors spread of a legendary breed of drake, far stronger than any in the Syndicate's hands. Clay is pulled into a hunt for it that crosses continents.

He travels with Lizanne, a ruthless Syndicate agent, and Corrick Hilemore, a naval officer in the Ironship fleet. Their aims and loyalties are unlikely to sit easily together.

This is epic fantasy with a steampunk flavor, mixing naval adventure, espionage and dragons. The story follows several characters and ranges widely across the world, with a brisk, action-led pace. It is the first book in the Draconis Memoria trilogy.