Their Village, Their Fortress

Dylan Madeley

Nov 2024 · The Gift-Knight Trilogy Book 8 · Dylan Madeley

About this ebook

"A heroic death is not the goal. Survival is. Our survival, that of this community, and that of everything which matters most to us."

When a calamitous new weapon fells a fortress once considered invincible, one soldier rides home to deliver the terrible news. This journey is against orders, but he insists no village is too small to be warned of what's coming, even if he's not sure what they can do. He delivers an impassioned call to action, daring them to try. Reconnecting with his community involves reconsidering why he left it, and what he might regret having left behind; but he soon faces scrutiny when they realize something about his appeal doesn't add up.

Join the struggle of eclectic villagers as each decides their answer. Each confronts what's happening however they must, journeying through their emotions and sometimes delving into their personal histories to reconcile themselves. Each resister's specialties enrich their efforts to scrape together a victory from what's on hand. The events to follow reveal not just how they will fight, but why.

Their truth, their skills, and their efforts enable them to resist—but even if they believe, can a hastily-prepared volunteer militia of farmers defeat a battalion of trained soldiers?

Ratings and reviews

Madeley’s writing invites readers to connect deeply with the characters. Every moment, every interaction feels intentional, crafted to draw readers into the villagers’ struggle for survival. The book’s balance of action, emotional depth, and richly drawn relationships makes it a compelling read, one that lingers long after the final page is turned. Their Village, Their Fortress is a testament to the power of community, the strength found in vulnerability, and the indomitable human spirit

About the author

Dylan Madeley is a resident of Mimico on the Canadian shorts of Lake Ontario. He was the copy editor of and a frequent contributor to Auxiliary Magazine, an alternative fashion and music zine, from late 2012 until 2022. His first novel, The Gift-Knight's Quest, was released in 2015. He has appeared at The Word on the Street Festival in Toronto, Canada's largest book fair, and successfully debuted his second novel, The Crown Princess' Voyage, at the Ad Astra literary conference in 2017. He completed his trilogy with the official release of The Masked Queen's Lament in 2018. His fourth book, Alathea: Goddess and Empress, was released in the disastrous early pandemic year of 2020; his fifth and sixth, Prince Ewald the Brave and The Fate of Lenn, were both released in different halves of 2021. His seventh, The Redemption of Jarek, was released December 15, 2022.