The Assembly of Thirteen, The First Two Companions

A cursed warrior. A sarcastic photojournalist with a new shade of blue. A prophecy that could save—or doom—the realms.

My name's June Dunbar. I was just a photojournalist in Livermore, California, not some chosen one in a high fantasy epic. Then a glowing box showed up on my kitchen table at midnight. I thought it was radioactive. Naturally. The next thing I knew, I was on an alien world with two moons, massive blue trees, and no cell service. Oh—and I'm now blue. And magical. And possibly destined to save this bizarre world from an empire ruled by zombie tax collectors who literally eat children.

Now I'm stuck here. They say I'm one of the Thirteen—legendary heroes meant to stop a cosmic catastrophe. I don't even remember agreeing to this. And to make it worse? A talking tree may or may not have swallowed me for a year.

Meanwhile, across this broken realm, Kara Ter Kushtaneo—a proud warrior of the Athany giants—is struggling with her own curse. Once judges, her people have become unwilling killers, bound to serve the tyrant Emperor Falestos. But Kara has had enough. She's defying her orders, sparing children, and risking everything to break her chains.

Fates entwine. Worlds collide. And the Assembly of Thirteen begins to awaken.

"The Assembly of Thirteen: The First Two Companions" launches an electrifying, dark fantasy saga by award-winning author Omayra Vélez. With immersive worldbuilding, unforgettable characters, and raw emotion, this adult fantasy will grip fans of The Broken Earth Trilogy, Mistborn, and The Priory of the Orange Tree.

Brace yourself for rebellion, prophecy, and powerful magic. The journey starts now.