The Floating Castle: A Dark, Epic Fantasy Novel (The Dragon Gate Series Book 1) (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781968749002)

"Holmes' fantasy novel churns with warring empires and palace intrigue." -Kirkus Reviews

"5 stars, no notes." -Millie Abecassis, author of A Legacy of Blood and Bone and Daughters of the Blue Moon

"Who doesn't love a story about powerful women making questionable decisions? ...I loved every page. It's a captivating story... Can't wait for book 2!" -Leah Hedrick, author of Runoff: Poetry of Changing Places

From the author of Space, Collisions (Ghost City Press, 2018) comes The Floating Castle, an adult dark fantasy with the formidable dragons of The Priory of the Orange Tree (Bloomsbury, 2019) and the pernicious family feuds of The Women's War (Random House Worlds, 2019).

In a world where demons control the supply of magic and dragons are both feared and sentient, three women combine forces to oppose an evil prince and escape his floating castle.

To secure her position as the emperor's favorite daughter, Princess Fu Liling sails across a monster-infested sea to marry and subdue Elias of House Zartisval, crown prince of a rival kingdom. When she meets Elias, however, he unexpectedly refuses to marry her. At risk of being cut off from the imperial family, Liling tries to force the wedding, only to discover that Elias is a murderer and she is his disposable hostage. Liling resolves to expose this betrayal to her father and plots an escape, relying on a reluctant guard and a rebel witch to aid in her flight.

Elias, who'd rather see them all dead than free, gives chase.

The ensuing battle may cause the Floating Castle to literally fall, and Liling must decide: surrender and die to keep the peace or dishonor her father in exchange for her own life and liberty.

The repercussions of her choice will ripple across a continent.