Sanctum: Sands of Setesh

C.S. Kading · Tony Fuentes

Aug 2020 · SandDancer Publications

About this ebook

"There is no choosing between lesser evils. Both must fall to the sword."

When they left Avalon, it was in search of adventure.

Now Reynard is dead, and Ser Isolde is trapped in a strange land with no way home. Duty and honour drive her to complete Reynard’s quest beneath the sands. But Setesh is nothing like her mystical realm of Avalon, and Ser Isolde will have to befriend another if she is to survive. Isolde just never expected it to be an orc.

Pledged to the service of the Radiant Lord, Orc Priest Tulok is assigned the duty of aiding this foreign knight see her quest to its bitter end. For there are more dangers in these sands than scorpions and blistering heat. Not only will the unlikely pair have to overcome the fierce wilds of Setesh and their own differences, but the dangerous Divine of the world of Sanctum still walk the lands, and they have taken a vested interest in the knight and her orc companion.

Welcome to Sanctum.

Winner of the Literary Titan Gold Award, Sanctum: Sands of Setesh is the beginning of a powerful new fantasy series perfect for fans of adventure and epic quests. Enter a world filled with myths and nightmares, humans and orcs, dwarf and fae, where cultures clash and apocalypse looms.

Ratings and reviews

Isolde duAvalonne, Knight Wanderer, wakes up in the most strange of circumstances. Flashes of her childhood cross her mind as she begins to regain consciousness and take stock of her surroundings. She hears more than she can see and tries with all her might to take it all in. When she finally has her wits about her once more, she is introduced to Father Tulok, and the questions begin. Isolde is a Wanderer and was on a mission when she was discovered. Still apprehensive about her surroundings, she begins to tell the tale--a tale that begins with the Undead. Sanctum: Sands of Setesh, by C.S. Kading and Tony Fuentes, is a uniquely spun fantasy that rivals any I have read in all of 2020. So accustomed to the typical fantasy with mythical beings and dialogue fraught with rich and, at times, over-the-top terminology, Kading and Fuentes’s work was a real breath of fresh air. It was simply refreshing to read exchanges between characters that contained more modern phrasing and interactions that felt more in tune with the 21st century. It’s a combination I wasn’t expecting but one for which I was thankful once I began delving into Isolde’s world. Life has its humor, and I think fiction writing should always incorporate lighthearted moments and periodic banter between characters. Kading and Fuentes fit the bill with Sanctum: Sands of Setesh. The quips and jabs made throughout the book make the fantasy world more relatable and much more appealing. They have done with this book what so many other authors fail to do in fantasies--they bring the characters full circle. I quickly became invested in the story unfolding before me. Isolde’s journey is one readers can easily follow, and they will find themselves caught up in the imagery that laces each chapter. I love that this quest is one more about the characters and less about violence and bloodshed. Fantasies can be predictable in that way, but the authors far surpass any of the usual measures of the fantasy genre and have created their own brand. Sanctum: Sands of Setesh will give fans of the fantasy genre a new way of looking at their favorite genre. Cover to cover, this lengthy novel contains everything needed to hook readers, transport them to another world, and keep them coming back for more.

About the author

She is a poet, playwright, and a storyteller, whose love for writing began in 3rd grade when she won a district writing contest. Her love for fantastical forces motivates her to create stories of heroes, villains, gods and monsters that often have a foundation in Old World mythology and legends.

Whether it is taking up a child's toy and creating a world around it, or giving the epic history of a cocktail that he made up five minutes ago, Tony's imagination borders on the fantastic and sometimes the inane. A storyteller, gamer, and part-time occultist - he gives the weird and wondrous things a place in our world for all to enjoy.