Available in Paperback and E-book
A dark fantasy readers call profound, devastating, and unforgettable.
A young man signs his own death warrant when he joins a failing militia. An abused teenage girl begins to crave the very things she hates. A drowned orphan has come back to life and will be the death of everyone he meets.
Hælend's Ballad is a brutal epic that wrestles with faith, suffering, and hope. Heroes are villains. The persecuted are oppressors. And when the world begins to die, the darkness of their own hearts betrays them.
“I’ve been developing quite an interest in epic fantasies of late . . . but none has ever challenged, and eventually satisfied the very core of my values and faith . . . as this one has.” —Elle Espiritu, Reedsy Discovery
“Expertly written with really gorgeous prose and some of the most authentic dialogue I've come across in a while in the genre . . . Very highly recommended.” —Asher Syed, Readers' Favorite
“A spiraling story of bloody histories . . . fantasy fans will not be disappointed with this masterfully imagined realm.” —Self-Publishing Review
“A powerful inspection of moral, ethical, and spiritual paths . . . Hælend's Ballad [is] a compelling force to contend with.” —D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“A triumphant debut . . . morbidly gripping and enriched by darkness, intrigue, and poignant emotions.” —The Prairies Book Review
“A captivating story . . . mature audiences will be engrossed in this epic fantasy novel.” —Literary Titan
“Complex and highly-developed dark fantasy . . . full of heroism, tragedy, love, loss, intrigue and fantastic battle scenes.” —Tenkara Smart, author of She Named Me Wolf
“High fantasy told at a dark level . . . Conrey's prose is atmospheric and gorgeous . . . full of adventure and twists . . . but most of all, great depth of character is exposed.” —Amanda Adam, author of Merewif
“Beautiful . . . I didn't realize how much this would grip me and wrench me from the inside.” —Seth, Goodreads Review
“Reminds you of a Greek tragedy, full of great characters and dramatic scenes . . . this needs to be more hyped!” —Cristiana, NetGalley Review
“Ian Conrey has masterfully written a work of art. . . . rivals all other traditional stories in which there are clear ‘good’ guys and ‘bad’ guys.” —Stormy, Goodreads Review
“It was everything I want in a fantasy book . . . I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this!” —Esmeralda, NetGalley Review
