Den of Thieves

A thief must steal a crown to join a guild, but it comes at a catastrophic cost in this epic high fantasy trilogy debut. Born and raised in the squalid depths of the Free City of Ness, Malden became a thief by necessity. Now he must pay a fortune to join the criminal operation of Cutbill, lord of the underworld—and one does not refuse the master . . . and live. The coronet of the Burgrave would fulfill Malden's obligations, though it is guarded by hungry demons that would tear the soul from any interloper. But the desperate endeavor leads to a more terrible destiny, as Malden, an outlaw knight, and an ensorcelled lady must face the most terrifying evil in the land. Praise for Den of Thieves "Takes off like a startled cat and never stops. Chandler's characters are well-defined and have complex motives. His magic is wild and ingenious, his plot as intricate as can of worms . . . Welcome to the underworld! And woven into it all, never weakening the story, winds threads of subtle humor. This is a book I would be happy to have written." —Dave Duncan