Series Info
Locations:
Kingdom of Erishum Trilogy
CompleteIn the kingdom of Erishum, where ancient walls are all that stand between civilization and the deadly Dying Wilds, a mudlark named Nyssa discovers a mysterious object that drags her from the slums into a dangerous web of corrupt priests, political intrigue, and the king's deadly enforcers. When her childhood friend Vallen—a former shrike—is condemned as a sacrifice to the monstrous creatures beyond the walls, their fates become intertwined, and the secrets they uncover could shatter the kingdom's very foundations. A sweeping cozy fantasy trilogy about friendship, sacrifice, and defiance against insurmountable odds.
World Building
The Kingdom of Erishum is an ancient land walled off from the Dying Wilds—a deadly expanse of monstrous creatures and creeping danger that presses ever closer. Within those walls, society is sharply divided: the Enumerii priests wield religious authority, the king's shrikes enforce his will through violence, and at the bottom, mudlarks scavenge the riverbanks and gutter rats scrape by in the slums. Magic and old powers stir beneath the surface, corruption festers at the kingdom's core, and the line between safety and certain death is as thin as the city's protective walls.
Kingdom of Erishum Trilogy
In a dying kingdom, the lowest may rise the highest—if they survive.
Series Overview
The Kingdom of Erishum is an ancient land protected by massive walls from the deadly Dying Wilds beyond. But inside those walls, corruption festers at the kingdom’s core, the Enumerii priests tighten their grip, and King Jorek rules through fear and his brutal enforcers—the shrikes. Into this world comes Nyssa, a mudlark scavenging the riverbanks with nothing to her name, whose discovery of a mysterious object will drag her from the gutter into a web of political intrigue, dangerous secrets, and a fight for survival she never asked for.
This cozy fantasy trilogy follows Nyssa’s journey from the slums of Erishum to the heart of the kingdom’s darkest secrets—and beyond the walls into the Dying Wilds themselves. Along the way, her bond with Vallen, a childhood friend and former shrike condemned as a sacrifice to the monstrous hyvas, will be tested as they uncover a truth that could shatter the kingdom’s very foundations.
The World of Erishum
The Kingdom of Erishum exists behind ancient walls that hold back the Dying Wilds—a deadly expanse where monstrous creatures called hyvas roam and danger presses ever closer. No one goes beyond the walls willingly. Those who do are sacrifices, not explorers.
Inside, society is brutally divided. The Enumerii priests control religious authority and wield enormous influence. The king’s shrikes enforce order through violence. Merchants and craftsmen keep the economy turning. And at the bottom, the mudlarks and gutter rats—the scavengers and survivors—scrape by in the margins, invisible to those above.
But when the kingdom needs saving, it won’t be the priests or the king who answer the call. It’ll be the ones they threw away.
The Trilogy
Book 1: The Mudlark (2023)
The Beginning
She was born in mud and raised in shadows. Now she must rise.
A mudlark is the lowest of the low—someone who scavenges the riverbanks for anything of value, surviving on scraps and the leavings of others. Our heroine has known nothing else. But when she discovers something in the mud that should not exist, she’s thrust into a world of ancient magic and deadly politics.
Suddenly, powerful people are very interested in the girl from the riverbank. And in the Kingdom of Erishum, that kind of attention is rarely good.
Featuring: Dark fantasy, unlikely heroine, dangerous discoveries
Book 2: The Gutter Shrike (2023)
The Transformation
From shrike to sacrifice—condemned, not defeated.
Vallen was once one of the king’s shrikes, an enforcer who survived in the shadows of Erishum’s brutal hierarchy. Now he stands accused of treason, condemned alongside four others to be sacrificed to the monstrous hyvas that roam the Dying Wilds. His only lifeline: a shadowy map and a religious amulet slipped to him by Nyssa, his childhood friend.
Against terrible odds, Vallen escapes the sacrificial mound—but not before uncovering a secret so dangerous it could shatter the very foundations of Erishum. A secret guarded by King Jorek and Grand Enumerox Berossus themselves.
Now he must go back. Back through the walls, back into the kingdom’s corruption, to save Nyssa from a fate neither of them saw coming. And when escape is the only option left, their path leads straight through the perilous heart of the Dying Wilds—where hyvas, treacherous landscapes, and startling revelations await at every turn.
Featuring: Character evolution, political intrigue, rising stakes
Book 3: The Dying Wilds (2024)
The Reckoning
The Dying Wilds are no longer something to flee—they’re the battlefield.
Vallen and Nyssa venture back beyond the walls on a desperate mission: save five Tributes from the sacrificial mound before the hyvas claim them. Armed with magical wellspring water and sheltered within a fortified campsite, they face the lethal wilds head-on to rescue the innocent.
But freeing the captives is only the beginning. When they discover the ruin Erishum has become since their escape, retreat to Puzur is no longer an option. King Jorek’s tyranny has gone unchecked, and there is no one left to stop him—except two former gutter rats who were never supposed to survive this long.
In the trilogy’s gripping climax, Nyssa and Vallen must do what once seemed unthinkable: rise from the margins to confront the king himself. Saving their people will demand every ounce of courage and sacrifice they have left—if the Dying Wilds don’t consume them first.
Featuring: Epic conclusion, ultimate sacrifices, bittersweet triumph
What Makes This Series Special
From Nothing to Everything
This is the story of a woman who starts with nothing—no name, no power, no hope—and becomes the most important person in the kingdom. Her journey isn’t about birthright or destiny; it’s about determination, cunning, and refusing to die.
Slow Burn Romance
True to Gwen DeMarco’s style, the romance is a slow burn — Vallen, brave and steadfast, has loved Nyssa for longer than he’d ever admit, seeing past her mud-stained exterior to the strength within long before she saw it herself.
Dark Fantasy with Heart
The Kingdom of Erishum is a harsh world, but the series never loses its heart. Found family, unexpected alliances, and moments of hope shine through the darkness.
Complete Trilogy
All three books are available now, offering a complete story with a satisfying conclusion. No waiting required.
The Setting: A Kingdom in Decay
Location: The Kingdom of Erishum—a once-great realm now facing extinction Atmosphere: Dark fantasy with moments of humor and unexpected hope Society: Rigidly stratified from nobles to mudlarks The Dying Wilds: The deadly expanse beyond Erishum’s ancient walls, home to monstrous creatures called hyvas and treacherous landscapes. Magic: Ancient and costly, tied to the land itself
Recurring Themes
- Survival: What we’re willing to do to stay alive
- Class and Power: Who gets to rule and who gets left behind
- Corruption: Both magical and political, and how they feed each other
- Transformation: Becoming more than your circumstances allow
- Found Family: The bonds forged in struggle
Reading Experience
The Kingdom of Erishum trilogy offers:
- Epic Fantasy Scope: A fully realized world with its own history, magic, and politics
- Character-Driven Story: Our heroine’s growth anchors the sweeping narrative
- Slow-Burn Romance: Love developed through trust and shared struggle
- Dark but Hopeful: The world may be corrupt, but the characters never give up
- Complete Story: Beginning, middle, and end—all available now
Perfect for Readers Who Love
- Dark fantasy with underdog heroines
- Slow-burn romance with brave love interests
- Stories about rising from nothing
- Complete trilogy with satisfying ending
- Found family in harsh worlds
Completed Series
The Kingdom of Erishum trilogy is now complete! All three books are available for immediate reading. Begin your journey into a dying kingdom where the least likely hero might be the only hope.
In Erishum, the walls keep the monsters out — and the secrets in. A mudlark is about to crack both wide open.
Reading Order
Books in This Series
The complete collection
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