Tarou

The Fall

Dana Fredsti, David Fitzgerald

$80.95 $68.79

Audio

Forthcoming
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English

Blackstone Publishing
31 January 2026

Fantasy

From the authors of the Time Shards series, Tarou: The Fall is an epic fantasy of an empire on the edge.

Swords, Wands, Cups, and Coins. Emperor and Empress, High Priestess and Hierophant. Light and Dark. Life and Death. The evocative symbolism and arcana bound up within the cards of the tarot have fascinated seekers for centuries. Now Tarou: The Fall imagines the reality that inspired the mystical--the real fantasy world of which all our rich tarot imagery is but a shadow.

The magnificent empire of Tarou is a panoply of dreams and wonder, the envy of the world. Its ships rule the seas and air, its magics and science bring forth new learning, and its tutelary gods smile upon all the many peoples and cultures of its shining lands. But even now, at the peak of its glory, the highest religious leaders of Tarou secretly dream of even greater power--enough to wrest the empire from its rightful rulers.

Alia is a warrior without equal, but even a captain as great as she must bow to the demands of duty. With her arranged marriage only weeks away, she, her betrothed, and their escort undertake the journey to the empire's capital--but unexpected hazards lie in wait.

Magpie is a petty thief and con artist, hoping to score big during the Imperial Festival--though his timing could not be worse.

However, none of them are prepared when a forbidden magical experiment goes wrong, unleashing an apocalypse that engulfs the city. Before their paths converge, they all must face a cataclysm unlike any the world has ever seen ...

By: Dana Fredsti, David Fitzgerald
Imprint: Blackstone Publishing
Edition: Unabridged edition
ISBN: 9798212563680
Publication Date: 31 January 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Audio
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Dana Fredsti is a producer, director, writer, actor, and former Hollywood stunt performer. David Fitzgerald is an award-winning fiction and nonfiction author and editor. Together they are the authors of the Time Shards trilogy. They live in Northern California in a Victorian mansion with ten cats and a dog, and enjoy sword fighting and LARPing. David Fitzgerald is an award-winning fiction and nonfiction author and editor. His works include Nailed, The Complete Heretic's Guide to Western Religion, Under the Kilt, and Demon Lovers (coedited with Dana Fredsti). Shiromi Arserio is an author, stage actor, voice talent, and audiobook narrator from London. She holds a BA in theater from Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance. In addition to narrating dozens of audiobooks, her voice can be heard in documentaries, e-learning projects, and video games. Prior to venturing into audiobook narration, she worked as a freelance writer for publications such as Renaissance Magazine and Northwest Magazine.

Reviews for Tarou: The Fall

""Sometimes a novel reminds me why I love to read epic fantasy. That's the case with the beautifully wrought Tarou: The Fall by Dana Fredsti and David Fitzgerald. It's Dungeons and Dragons. It's sword and sorcery. It's as dark as it is bright. For me, it harkens to the best of Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories--but with a sensibility and mystique all its own. Don't miss this debut of a wonderful new series!"" -- ""James Rollins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dragon of Black Glass""