The Shard: Age of Ashes

By Noah Zarisc

GUARDIAN OF ASH
For a thousand years, humanity has lived in chains.
Kieran is a slave in the Dragon's Spine, mining the ruins of a world destroyed by the Scouring-a cataclysm that turned civilization to ash and gave dragons dominion over the remnants of humanity. He knows nothing but darkness, brutality, and the slow death that claims all miners eventually.
Until he finds the Shard.
A crystallized fragment of the First Age, the Shard bonds to Kieran, filling him with visions of a lost golden age and the terrible betrayal that destroyed it. But the power is killing him, burning through his life faster than he can control it. His only hope lies in the Sky-Forge, a legendary place hidden deep in the Wastes where ancient weapons were forged.
Hunted by dragons and haunted by ghosts, Kieran flees into the Ashlands with Elira-the fierce woman who has stood beside him since childhood. Together, they must survive a journey through a land of volcanic glass, petrified forests, and the echoing memories of a war fought centuries ago.
But survival is only the beginning.
When Kieran discovers the ruins of Aethelgard, he finds more than shelter-he finds a purpose. Refugees flock to the ancient fortress, desperate for hope. With the help of the Nightwatch, a scattered band of rangers who have fought dragons for generations, Kieran begins building something impossible: an alliance of free people willing to stand against their oppressors.
As he transforms from slave to warrior to leader, Kieran must master the Shard's power, navigate the deadly politics of rebellion, and confront his deepening love for Elira-a woman as deadly as she is beautiful, hardened by trials into a blade in her own right.
And when the dragons offer peace, Kieran alone suspects the truth: it's a lie.
For three years, humanity rebuilds while dragons gather in secret. When the betrayal is revealed, the final war will demand everything-courage, cunning, and a sacrifice that will echo through the ages.
The Shard has made him more than human. Love has kept him human. Now he must choose: rule as a king, or stand as a guardian.
In a world turned to ash, one man will ignite the flame of rebellion.
THE SHARD is an epic fantasy of survival, sacrifice, and the unbreakable human spirit. Perfect for readers who love post-apocalyptic worlds, complex magic systems, slow-burn romance, and heroes forged in fire.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FVB9YG3S
• ISBN13: 9798268714784
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"