"Fantasy fans will take a dive dive in this lavishly detailed story." -Kirkus

Despite the success of their first adventure, Thurmond and his companions, Sarah, Roscoe, and Torgul, are out of money and about to be expelled from their new home at Grimsgard. The only solution-a raid on Castle Sathas, the home of an infamous witch-cult.

To get there, they must undertake a long and perilous overland journey through a wilderness rife with ruthless bandits, voracious wolf packs, and greedy robber-knights. Along the way, their every step is shadowed by an unseen nemesis bent on their destruction.

Beset by treacherous landscapes and deadly enemies, it seems their quest is doomed to fail. And even if they win through, will they survive the ancient evil waiting in Castle Sathas?

Throat-gripping and unpredictable, Castle of the Red Contessa takes the reader on a heroic quest of rousing medieval adventure.

About the Author
MacKenzie, Robert John: - Robert John MacKenzie is an experienced educator with an abiding enthusiasm for medieval history and literature. He has traveled extensively throughout Europe, exploring museums, castles, and battlefields. After living for years in Asia and Europe, he now resides in northern California.

"A promising series opener that's a fantasy page-turner and compelling coming-of-age tale." -Kirkus

Thurmond, an unlikely hero, may be young and poor, but he dreams of fighting with the famed Brotherhood of Underworld Adventurers, an elite group of warriors that slay monstrous creatures for the promise of gold. When his lack of skill leads the Brotherhood to reject him, Thurmond sets out undeterred to gain experience in the grungy, medieval streets of Gorgonholm.

There, he steals a map leading to a legendary goblin treasure and recruits other outcasts to accompany him on his quest: Sarah, a young witch; Roscoe, an ex-Adventurer; and Torgul the dwarf. As they set off on their perilous journey, two groups of rival treasure-seekers plan to steal the riches, putting Thurmond and his companions in grave danger. When they arrive at the end of the map, they realize that they've been followed and, worse, the goblin treasure is hidden in a labyrinth guarded by vicious creatures. Suddenly, the quest is more complicated and dangerous than the crew could have ever imagined.

Filled with fascinating historical details and a few supernatural surprises, this action-packed debut novel will have you on the edge of your seat as Thurmond and his band of misfits try to escape a rotting goblin den and make it back home with their lives intact.