Relict Saga Series by J.A. Skald

Look – It wasn’t supposed to go like this, alright? Humans were trouble. Life as a monster hunter had beaten that lesson into Sebastian often enough. But just because people said Relicts were heartless monsters, it didn’t actually make him one. Would’ve saved him a whole heap of hurts if it did.Not like Sebastian ever asked to become a Relict... moreLook – It wasn’t supposed to go like this, alright? Humans were trouble. Life as a monster hunter had beaten that lesson into Sebastian often enough. But just because people said Relicts were heartless monsters, it didn’t actually make him one. Would’ve saved him a whole heap of hurts if it did.Not like Sebastian ever asked to become a Relict. Monster hunters turned half-monsters themselves, always traveling town to town to earn their keep, fighting with terrors and townsfolk alike until it's time to race back for their Orders before Mistide falls.It's not a life anyone would want. Not that he'd had any choice — he was sold into it as a child to save his father's sorry skin. But now Sebastian's all grown up and making his own mistakes. Like the one that got him injured enough he's forced to rely on some stranger for help.When Ryndalon stumbles into his life, Sebastian isn't expecting much from the flighty human. He sure didn't imagine the bard could be hiding secrets that might well rival his own…-------------Inspired by Scandinavian tales like East Of The Sun / West Of The Moon , The Snow Queen , the Völsunga saga, as well as classic sword and sorcery fantasy; Relict Saga is a dark fantasy MM adventure romance series with angst, LGBTQIA+ characters, hurt/comfort, grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, and fae trickery. Get ready for steamy open-door MM romance, high-stakes monster battles, violence, swearing, trauma, secrets, angst, there was only one bed(roll), and — on occasion — guys making each other soup at a campfire.It is intended for mature audiences. less

Rule one making Deals with the fae? DON'T.Sebastian's made a few mistakes in his time. Top of the list? Not trying harder to escape from the none-too-gentle clutches of the Church of the Arc, before they went and made him a Relict.It's not like life as a monster hunter is exactly glamorous. The pay's shit, the clients are usually shittier, and the monsters themselves? Yeah — those aren't exactly a delight either.So when Ryndalon stumbled into his life, Sebastian wasn't expecting much... moreRule one making Deals with the fae? DON'T.Sebastian's made a few mistakes in his time. Top of the list? Not trying harder to escape from the none-too-gentle clutches of the Church of the Arc, before they went and made him a Relict.It's not like life as a monster hunter is exactly glamorous. The pay's shit, the clients are usually shittier, and the monsters themselves? Yeah — those aren't exactly a delight either.So when Ryndalon stumbled into his life, Sebastian wasn't expecting much. He just needed a guide, someone to help him find a healer and then he could be on his way. Simple, right? Except — it turned out there was more to the bard than he'd first realized. A lot more.For a moment there, he'd actually dared hope that somehow he'd chanced across something truly good for once in his miserable life. So of course that's when he had to go and screw things up, right?But it turns out this isn't even the first time the bard's gone and made Sebastian's life hell. Or that it's the end of Ryndalon's secrets.No one could say Sebastian wasn't warned…-------------Inspired by Scandinavian tales like East Of The Sun / West Of The Moon , The Snow Queen , the Völsunga saga, as well as classic sword and sorcery fantasy; Relict Saga is a dark fantasy MM adventure romance series with angst, LGBTQIA+ characters, hurt/comfort, grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, portal isekai, and fae trickery. Get ready for steamy open-door MM romance, high-stakes monster battles, violence, swearing, trauma, secrets, betrayal, and — on occasion — guys holding hands.It is intended for mature audiences. less

Sebastian messed up - bad .But he's not about to go let his ( erstwhile love ) friend pay for his own mistakes.Even if he has to bargain with backstabbing fae, eldritch monsters, and chasing after some Lost Prince all the way into the Fae Realm; to the very heart of the Court of Winter itself.Ryndalon better appreciate this...The trilogy concludes as Sebastian journeys into the fae realm to try and save his errant bard...Rule one making Deals with the fae? DON'T... moreSebastian messed up - bad .But he's not about to go let his ( erstwhile love ) friend pay for his own mistakes.Even if he has to bargain with backstabbing fae, eldritch monsters, and chasing after some Lost Prince all the way into the Fae Realm; to the very heart of the Court of Winter itself.Ryndalon better appreciate this...The trilogy concludes as Sebastian journeys into the fae realm to try and save his errant bard...Rule one making Deals with the fae? DON'T.-------------Inspired by Scandinavian tales like East Of The Sun / West Of The Moon , The Snow Queen , the Völsunga saga, as well as classic sword and sorcery fantasy; Relict Saga is a dark fantasy MM adventure romance series with angst, LGBTQIA+ characters, hurt/comfort, grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, portal isekai, arranged marriages, and fae trickery. Get ready for steamy open-door MM romance, high-stakes monster battles, violence, swearing, trauma, and — on occasion — guys being idiots about each other.It is intended for mature audiences. less

How can you tell a mage is lying? His mouth is moving.Destan knows they're plotting something, locked away in their lofty tower.He just can't prove it — yet .Did they have something to do with Sebastian's disappearance? Or are the mages planning something bigger; something that threatens all the unsuspecting Relicts sworn into their charge?The fate of Eldfäst rests on the secrets Destan carries, but time is running out... moreHow can you tell a mage is lying? His mouth is moving.Destan knows they're plotting something, locked away in their lofty tower.He just can't prove it — yet .Did they have something to do with Sebastian's disappearance? Or are the mages planning something bigger; something that threatens all the unsuspecting Relicts sworn into their charge?The fate of Eldfäst rests on the secrets Destan carries, but time is running out.What is this fascination that Jacek seems to have for him? Destan might have saved the bard's life, but how can he trust that the human is truly on his side?But what Destan doesn't know can hurt him; behind Jacek's happy-go-lucky antics lie far darker secrets; secrets that could rival the Relict's own. Will he prove to be Destan's salvation —Or his doom? less

The Order of the Cranes has fallen. Until Destan crossed his Path, Jacek thought his chances of finishing his training as a Relict had been sunk alongside the rest of the Crane Fleet. So what if his new mentor seems strangely overprotective? Jacek can't exactly blame him. He'd heard the stories years ago — the betrayal, the destruction of Eldfäst, the fall of the Order of the Bear. Destan allows Jacek to walk his Path alongside him; the last Bear and Crane, alone together. It could be enough... moreThe Order of the Cranes has fallen. Until Destan crossed his Path, Jacek thought his chances of finishing his training as a Relict had been sunk alongside the rest of the Crane Fleet. So what if his new mentor seems strangely overprotective? Jacek can't exactly blame him. He'd heard the stories years ago — the betrayal, the destruction of Eldfäst, the fall of the Order of the Bear. Destan allows Jacek to walk his Path alongside him; the last Bear and Crane, alone together. It could be enough. If only Jacek had made sure Destan understood exactly what the strange, human-seeming bard he'd saved had actually been asking of him… A new entry in the Relict Saga, Jacek's story is a dark fantasy MM adventure romance series with angst, fluff, coming-of-age, LGBTQIA+ characters, hurt/comfort, grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, friends-to-lovers, and slow Get ready for steamy open-door MM romance, high-stakes monster battles, violence, trauma, and — on occasion — guys defending each other's honor.It is intended for mature audiences.(Alternate cover variant available; book content is the same.) less

The Golden Year is coming. Madness. It must have been sheer madness that seized Jacek that day. For what other reason could he have betrayed his training, his people like that?He'd only meant to save Destan's life. Jacek never dreamed it would thrust him onto the front lines of a brewing civil war. As a Crane, as a Relict, he should have known the price was too high. But to a man in love? There's no price he wouldn't pay to keep his Bear safe... moreThe Golden Year is coming. Madness. It must have been sheer madness that seized Jacek that day. For what other reason could he have betrayed his training, his people like that?He'd only meant to save Destan's life. Jacek never dreamed it would thrust him onto the front lines of a brewing civil war. As a Crane, as a Relict, he should have known the price was too high. But to a man in love? There's no price he wouldn't pay to keep his Bear safe. But now — with time running out to save an old friend's son, fleeing magical assassins closing in on his trail — Jacek can't help but wonder, who's looking out for him? Destan never meant to make that prophecy. Jacek knows that. But he's quickly learning there are plenty who will stop at nothing to see it come true… With Destan's life hanging in the balance — could Eldfäst hold the answers Jacek seeks? What other secrets might he find hiding within those ancient, abandoned walls? Secrets are revealed and characters reunited, as the Spring trilogy concludes in the Relict Saga...Inspired by Scandinavian folktales and Norse sagas as well as classic sword and sorcery fantasy, Relict Saga is a dark fantasy thriller series wrapped around a steamy MM romance core. Expect heavy elements of romance, steam, monster battles, violence, swearing, trauma, secrets, loyalty, communication, and an entire forest of pining. It is intended for mature audiences. less