Books by David Gerspach

In The Fifth Age, the people of Verdan stood up to their creators and avoided the destruction of their world. Whisper rejoins the lives of Verdan?s heroes five years later. The world is at peace, but it is a peace built upon a foundation of lies. The biggest lie involves magic and why the world has seen no new wizards in the past five years. Celecia and Dakoran are about to assume the throne of Izmir. For the sake of their children, they believe it is imperative that the lie be exposed and the people of Verdan be given a choice. Many world leaders do not agree and will resort to any means necessary to maintain control, even if it means plunging the world back into war. Whisper in the Universe expands the story of Verdan. Old characters and new are drawn into a tale that explores the politics of just how fragile peace can be. And where does Verdan fit into the narrative of the universe? The truth may involve a journey to a place more familiar than you think.

Blood and Magic continues the adventures of Celecia and Dakoran in Verdan's future. While they attempt to find a way back home, they must also deal with the growing threat from North Maroa and resurgence of an ancient enemy, the vampires. The demonic creatures from Jamut's realm are once again led by the demon who inhabits the body of Celecia's former sister, Tathiel. And with the growing presence of magic, these mystically fueled creatures will no longer be contained. In North Maroa, Wendy leads a band of rebels seeking to depose the president who came from Verdan's past. Mriccon travels to Parthea to learn the state of the religion he founded. And while the world reels from unfolding events, a forced reunion causes enemies to reveal past secrets and work together if they are to survive. Their efforts result in a better understanding of each other and of themselves. All of this leads to a cataclysmic confrontation and sets the stage for The Fifth Age.

Eight books and over two thousand years ago the story of Verdan began with The Fourth Age. The promise of peace continues to prove elusive and once again the world calls upon Celecia and Dakoran to safeguard their future. Mriccon has returned from a realm of the gods with the realization that the world is about to enter The Fifth Age. There's only one problem...The Fifth Age is not supposed to exist. Terek's dreams are shattered and all he has left are schemes of vengeance and a plan that may yet doom all life on Verdan. Once again, the Rising Circle surfaces with a plan so subversive that it is both reviled and embraced by those in power. The Fifth Age will take the reader from a prison in Emdon to the palace in Seahaven to the swamps of Kyrotha and to no less than three godly realms. The heroes of the world will suffer losses along the way, but will move forward with grim determination toward a cataclysmic conclusion that will help shape not only the future of Verdan, but of the entire universe.

This book picks up five years after Council's End. The world has settled into an uneasy peace and is still dealing with the results of previous battles. Celecia is abducted under mysterious circumstances, and Dakoran leads a party determined to find and rescue his wife even if that journey takes him to the pits of the Netherworld. Celecia, the most powerful wizard in Verdan, wakes up to find herself in a strange yet familiar world. But here she can barely sense the mystic energy field, the source of her power. Determined to return to Dakoran, she has a chance encounter with newfound friends and comes to discover that the world she now inhabits is two thousand years in the future. Dakoran will find a path to Celecia, but before the two can be reunited, he will need to contend with a past and present evil and lead a new band of heroes who fight for freedom. He will also learn the true nature of a powerful artifact bequeathed to the king of Izmira, one that may hold other secrets regarding Verdan's fate.

Over the course of the first four volumes Verdan has overcome war, massive destruction from the heavens and the rebirth of ancient powers that threaten the fragile peace promised by the Fourth Age. While the Verdan Council attempts to protect the world, a struggle in Izmira occupies many of the kingdom's heroes. Meanwhile, Celecia and Dakoran agree to help the dwarves reclaim Sharalla. If successful, Celecia plans to continue her journey in an attempt to learn how to control her growing mystic ability. And while the humans, elves and dragons seek to make sense of this new world, they unwittingly anger many of the gods. Othan presents an ultimatum. Asac unleashes a curse. Jamut and Kezar seek vengeance. While Mermis remains quiet, it is left to Enya, the goddess not heard from in ages to provide vital information and clues for what is yet to come. In Against All Gods heroes and villains will need to overcome obstacles, both mortal and divine.

Council's End brings to closure the middle arc in the Verdan Chronicles. This epic fantasy adventure picks up moments after the chilling conclusion to Against All Gods. Tragedy has struck Verdan's heroes, and the ramifications will be felt throughout the remainder of the series. Izmira is in turmoil, and once again, the owner of the kingdom's crown is in question. Council's End will close an important chapter in Verdan's history. It is much more than just an epic struggle between good and evil, as those lines are often blurred by the weaknesses inherent within mortals. Those that turn to the gods for answers may not like what they find. In the end, readers will come to fully realize that victory does not come without a cost. And not even the prospect of peace can prepare them for what comes next.

The war in Verdan is over. The death of Terek at Mount Bardoom has brought the world together and made the various races realize they can no longer live in isolation. But the peace promised by The Fourth Age is one they will still need to earn. In the frozen wastelands to the north there are those who seek to cheat death. If successful, they plan to reshape the world. Standing in their way is the same wizard whose death was recently celebrated, but now may be needed to protect those he once fought. In Izmir, a mysterious theft at Mount Bardoom sends the Lady Y'Shanarra on a quest and a collision course with those same schemes and ambitions. Trevor, finally reunited with his long lost son, seeks to return to Parthea. But first, he is reunited with friends and becomes entangled in a goblin revolution. And if recent revelations are true, it is goblin history which may yet provide clues to Verdan's future.

In The Fourth Age heroes from across Verdan were summoned to oppose Terek, a wizard bent on world domination. In Dark Passages those heroes led by the Lady Y'Shanarra and the brave crusader, Trevor, braved the ancient evils of Kyrotha and the unknown horrors of the Khanian caves to reach Izmir, the base of Terek's new world order. Sacrifices were made, but those that survived have finally reached their destination.In Heroes of Bardoom, those that oppose Terek find a country at odds with itself and less than fully committed to their leader's vision. Yet Terek's power and reach have brought most of the human civilization under his control. A surprise from Terek's past and a bargain struck of necessity have likewise placed the dragons in Terek's debt. Now, it appears that only the elves stand between the wizard and total control of Verdan. And so Terek has summoned the elven kings and queens to Bardoom for a council that will determine all their fates.

Dark Passages picks up moments after the cataclysmic conclusion to The Fourth Age. Despite Arakon's best efforts Valuria is left with a five mile crater and the surrounding lands are plunged into darkness. Armies have been destroyed and a kingdom left in ruins. In Kyrotha, the Lady Y'Shanarra calls upon an old alliance to navigate the ancient city of Teitan and do battle against the vampires. Balgor still wants revenge on Arakon and seeks to do so through Celecia. If any of the heroes survive, the shadows and Terek's mercenaries await. In Parthea, Trevor leads another group of heroes into the goblin caves that lie within the Khanian Mountains. No one could prepare them for the dangers they will face; yet help comes from an unlikely and unexpected source. Raven is embraced by the group, but will she save or betray them?

A powerful wizard named Terek believes it is his destiny to rule the land. To fulfill that destiny he raises an army and subjugates a dragon to his will. He will let nothing stand in his way. Legendary heroes, who are neither alive, nor dead, gather champions from across the land to oppose the wizard and safeguard freedom. A knight, sent on a quest by a desparate king, nears his goal of finding Terek's brother, Arakon. It is believed that only Arakon has the power to challenge his brother. But in order to reach him, he will need to travel through Darkwood, a forest guarded by undead creatures and elves aligned with Terek. Another group of heroes is led by a crusader with a tragic past and an illusionist fighting to save her marriage. They need to travel the barbaric hills of Taiga and the plains of Parthea, not realizing that Terek has already endeared himself to the Partheans under the guise of a prophet sent by their god.