BOOK ONE: WINTER MAGE
Winter is here.
And in a world choked by ice and snow, a peninsula is all that remains to the clans who seek to rule this narrow strip of land while battling a relentless, flesh-hungry foe that swarms against them.
Prince Linnard Skylark is destined to rule Sky Clan, yet his path to the throne is not clear, and he must face treachery and turmoil before he can take his rightful place. Protected and harbouring a secret that might spell the end for his clan, he must grow to manhood and stand against an evil that threatens to overwhelm them all.
Divided, the clans will fall, and a greater darkness will rise.
Legacy of Obsidian | Winter Mage I
Nerine Dorman is a South African author and editor of science fiction and fantasy. Her fantasy novel The Company of Birds appeared with Mirari Press in 2025. Her novel Sing down the Stars won Gold for the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2019 and The Percy Fitzpatrick Award for Children's and Youth Literature in 2021.
Catriona Ross is a writer from Cape Town. Author of The Which Word (Mirari Press, 2026) and a growing list of other fiction and nonfiction titles, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Master of Arts in Creative Writing. When not writing, she can be found dancing tango, walking in forests and plotting ways to raise human consciousness.
Book Two: Dawn of the Empress
📝 by Nerine Dorman and Catriona Ross
Genre : Coming-of-age Fantasy ⚔️👑❄️
Set in a harsh, icy world, where survival is never guaranteed and tensions between the clans remain fragile - they face a terrifying common enemy...
At the centre of the story is Prince Linnard of the Sky Clan, and we first meet him when he is just seven years old. We follow him through the years as he grows, faces challenges, and navigates some very difficult periods of his life. Watching that growth unfold was one of my favourite parts of the book.
Unlike many fantasy stories where the early chapters can feel overwhelming with information, this one felt more like a friend telling you their life story.
Prince Linnard is the sole heir to the Sky Clan Throne… but he carries a dangerous secret. One that could put his clan, his throne, and the fragile balance between the clans at risk.
Born differently, his secret must remain hidden at all costs. Because of this, his parents keep him sheltered and fiercely protected, leading to a very lonely upbringing. The more sheltered he becomes, the more his rebellious side begins to surface, and I feel like that’s where we see some of his most significant growth as a character.
I loved the little life lessons and anecdotes Linnard shares, and how he tries to apply them when he finds himself facing difficult situations. They added a thoughtful layer to the story.
Watching Prince Linnard grow, make mistakes, and learn from them made this feel incredibly personal and immersive. By the time the story truly picked up, I was completely invested.
The chapters are long, but once you realise that the time jumps between them can be as much as five - six years, it makes perfect sense and actually works really well for the story.
Around pg 200, there’s a noticeable shift… While I took my time with the first part of the book, the rest had me in a chokehold 😩
I truly loved and enjoyed this book. The writing was exquisite and the journey of Prince Linnard was both compelling and emotional to follow. I cannot wait to dive into the second book.
So I just finished this banger of a book. Highly addictive.
I am a sucker for coming of age stories and this was epic.
The pacing and prose were superb and while it could be quite trope-y at times, there was enough uniqueness to it prevent me from losing interest. I also have a few other minor nitpicks, but at the same time, I just couldn't stop reading it. Linnard is genuinely a fantastic protagonist.
I am fully invested in this series now. I am so glad I got book two along with it.