"The demons are coming, and every path north leads to death.
As the last border villages fall silent one by one, James Holden races against time through monster-infested wilderness. Somewhere in the dark woods, survivors hold the key to reaching the battleground where humanity will make a final stand. But with each passing hour, hope dims faster than the setting sun.
The system warns him of a devil's bargain: James holds a forbidden power that could turn the tide. An ancient tool of devastation, banned for the destruction unleashed by past wielders. Holden has seen good men corrupted by lesser temptations, watched allies fall to powers they thought they could control.
Yet as shadows lengthen across the realm, can he afford to cling to his humanity? When the fate of thousands hangs in the balance, perhaps damnation is a price worth paying.
But if his gamble fails, it won't be just his soul on the executioner's block.
The road to hell is paved with desperate choices.
His enemies faced the Judge. They cowered before the Jury. Now, they'll meet the Executioner."
"A damaged soul. A madman plotting in the shadows. The city won't stand for long.
With the armies of undead slowly encircling Greendown, James Holden doesn't have much time to get behind its walls before the witches and vampires of the northern mountains finish closing in. He'll have to get his lich-cursed apprentice and the rest of their party through hundreds of miles of ghoul-infested forest before it's too late to save the city.
Burning through the limits a mortal should have is catching up to James, and unless he can find a way to repair the damage, his magic is as deadly to him as it is to his enemies. In a world where only the strongest get to make the rules, he can't afford to be left behind. He'll need to find a way to keep pace with those he's training, even as the planet's most powerful warriors hunt for his head at the behest of the gods.
It's time for the Judge to do something different. James Holden might have to pass Judgment by Jury."
"A divine quest to deliver justice. One year to accomplish his mission. After nineteen planets, there's something different about this one.
James Holden has reached the maximum level there is for a human. That's perfect, because he's the only one of his kind: a wandering warrior, without control of his destination, tossed between universes by gods who've failed to tell him why. James is the lone Judge on a new world in need of someone to balance the scales. He isn't afraid to do so with extreme prejudice. As the Chief Justice, he has to right the wrongs the innocent can't fix themselves.
As James quickly discovers, the roots of corruption run deep. Guilds choose to protect themselves rather than the people. Monsters roam the wilderness unchecked. Judgment is usually a decision between right and wrong, but nothing is ever that simple. This time, being the strongest human won't be enough to punish the guilty. James might have to recruit some new blood, even if he prefers to work alone.
On his twentieth world, he is going to win, no matter the cost. James will have to find a way to break past the limits of the system if he's going to have a chance at making a difference."
