A Cold and Mortal Spring

The Wishkiller Saga, Book 1

By: G. Scott Huggins

Narrated by: Stu Summers

What price would you pay to save your nation and your loved ones?

While on patrol in the grasslands far from the halls of power, Captain Aethal Paaling discovers evidence that an ancient terror has reached the rich soil of his home. The Lotus, a prolific growth whose addictive leaves devour their victims from within, turning their hosts into horrible, terrifyingly violent mockeries of humanity. Created at the dawn of history by the twisted power of a godly relic called the Well, the return of the Lotus may be a harbinger of even more horrors to come.

Carrying the fatal news to the capital, Aethal discovers that even in the face of death itself, the Lords will fight to keep their secrets and their power. With only the guidance of his legendary Greater Rifle and the aid of the Pheonix Lancers, the soldier must find his way through the halls of a forgotten holy order and into deep dens of crime seeking answers.

It is a race against time, because the Lotus may have already taken root among those he loves...and fighting it may cost him everything, including his soul.

©2024 Cannon Publishing (P)2025 Cannon Publishing

Critic reviews

"I really, really like this book. A lot. If you want heroes, honor, dastardly villains, and an existential threat to all human life, all wrapped up in battles, bloodshed, assassinations, treason, and men and women prepared to die for honor, you will too." ~ David Weber, author of the best selling Honor Harrington series.

Innovative and New!

Definitely worth a read!
For a fantasy reader, this book was very refreshing and unique in its world. The characters are believable and the stakes feel real. At times, the pacing felt slow and it felt like most of the read is taken up by complex political schemes that were sometime difficult to follow, but by the end of the book I found myself feeling the proper build up for a lot more action to come in the sequel. I think the Saga as a whole, once complete, will provided much needed resolution to the tension that book one built up!
The narration felt a bit fast spoken, but slowing down the speed by 5% did the trick. Otherwise character voices and emotions were very well potreyed!

Strong backstory

This is only my second foray into flintlock fantasy and I really like the aesthetic. Huggings goes beyond that and built a really fascinating world with a backstory that affects the plot even centuries after the fact. Great blend of horror and action and noble intrigue.

I couldn't for the life of me spell any of the characters' names, I'll have to get the print book for that. Content warning for profanity (an F-bomb, other PG-13 language) and some grotesquery. Really well-done book.

good book

I liked both the book and the narration a lot
I will admit the British pronunciation of aluminum was fun. I can say the American pronunciation.

a different fantasy world with gunpowder and magic of a sort.
it's the end of the world. maybe.

Unique and very intriguing!

Great story, full of action and intrigue, and set in an age not often used for fantasy- actually I’ve NEVER encountered a “flinlock” fantasy before. Can’t wait for Book 2