The Reign of the Departed
Errol Greyson hadn’t intended to commit suicide. Or so he told himself. But waking up after his “cry for help” in the body of a wood-and-metal construct magically animated by Aster ― the strange girl from school ― was not a result he could have imagined.
Aster’s wild explanations of a quest to find the water of health that would cure her father seemed as unreal as her description of Errol’s own half-dead existence, his consciousness stuck in an enchanted automaton while his real body was in a coma from which it might never wake. And of course, they would need to recruit a girl ― a virgin, no less ― who had been dead for thirty years, to lead them through something called the Pale, beyond which a bunch of magical kingdoms existed. Plus, the threat that Aster could turn him off like a light switch, sending him into a hellish oblivion, was a convincing incentive to cooperate.
It all seemed quite mad: Either Aster was nuts, or Errol was hallucinating. But if it meant a new chance at life, he reckoned it was worth playing along.
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Greg Keyes
Greg Keyes doesn’t just write fantasy—he builds mythologies that feel like they’ve existed for centuries. His worlds are intricate, his characters fierce with purpose, and his stories hum with the tension between ancient forces and deeply human choices. Whether he’s delving into dynastic battles in The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone or breathing new life into beloved universes like Star Wars or The Elder Scrolls, Keyes brings a scholar’s mind and a storyteller’s soul to every page.
The High and Faraway
The High and Faraway consists of three books — considered a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
