The Spoken Books Uprising
6 primary works
Book 1
"Reading Books can get you killed."
In the land of Oration, magic is cast by reading aloud words of power from Spoken Books. Only a select few, the Speakers, are born with the ability to do so. But after a disaster nearly destroyed Oration, society grew to fear the Speakers' power and they were hunted and enslaved, never taught to read. Now they live in oppression, unable to use their magic unless a spell is first read aloud to them.
Each year, young men and women from Oration's ruling Libraries compete in the Acktus Trials, a journey that takes them through the wilds of Oration to the ruined city of Tome. Once Oration's capital, it is now abandoned, though the Great Library at its center still holds a wealth of Spoken Books. As Speakers are no longer taught to read, they also cannot write, so new Spoken Books have not been created in hundreds of years. The discovery of a new Book is a coveted prize for any young noble.
Baztian is a slave to one of Oration's poorer Libraries. When he is selected to accompany his master on the Actkus Trials, he thinks his life is over. The wilds are treacherous, his master incompetent, and their fellow competitors set on winning, whatever the means. But Baz also has a secret—one that could get him killed, but one that also makes him the most valuable of assets during the Trials. Baz can read, and after he saves his master from certain death, he strikes a deal—his secret kept safe in exchange for aiding his master in completing the Trials. But can Baz really help a young man who thinks of him as property? And even if he can, there is much he doesn't know, like the evil that lies in wait beneath the ruins of Tome.
Book 2
“What do you mean, he knows our secret?”
Having survived the Acktus Trials and kept his secret safe—for now—Baz has returned to Erstwhile. But his rest is short lived when an unwelcome guest visits Torchsire Library, bearing news of a revolt amongst the Speakers in Fortune, Oration's wealthiest city. A special session of Oration's Congress has been called and Baz's master is selected to travel to Fortune and represent Erstwhile. Of course, Baz must go with him.
Suddenly, Baz has an opportunity to fulfill his promise to the Keepers of Tome—search Fortune for the prophecy that promises to free the Speakers of Oration from slavery. But circumstances quickly turn dangerous when Baz and his companions are attacked on route to Fortune. Baz finds himself at the center of a rebellion he’s unsure he wants to join, but is equally unsure he can escape. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, Baz discovers that the most powerful man in Fortune not only holds a secret that could destroy all of Oration, but also knows Baz's own.
Surrounded by enemies and friends he doesn't trust, can Baz survive, find the prophecy, and become the leader of an uprising?
Book 3
“How do you plan to get past the city walls?” Baz asked.
“Easy," she replied. "We’ll fly.”
Baz has found the fabled Declaimer’s Transcendence, the prophecy that promises to lead Oration’s slaves to freedom. But Baz and his companions are battered and on the run, danger at every turn and no aid in sight.
Worse still, no one believes Baz when he says he knows where to find the prophesied savior. In an ironic twist of fate, Baz finds his closest ally is none other than his one-time master, a member of the ruling class against whom the rebels are fighting.
When Baz returns to where his adventure—or is it a nightmare?—began, his path finally becomes clear. But even then, there are forces working to betray him, both external and in Baz’s own head. Once more, he must face the dark terror beneath the ruined city of Tome, while simultaneously battling the trauma he suffered in the dungeons of Leamina Library. And that’s all before the dragons show up.
Book 4
“Get your coat, Rox. You’re going home.”
Monsignor Scrivener. Dragon Rider. Orator. The titles bestowed on Baz sound as ridiculous to him as he suspects they do to everyone around him. But Tessa appointed him leader of the uprising, and Baz intends to keep those entrusted to him safe. Except, that’s proving exceedingly difficult. Erstwhile’s army has discovered a new weapon that renders spells useless; Baz’s sole advantage over Erstwhile’s much larger force, his one remaining dragon, is badly hurt; and Baz’s troops are exhausted. They’ll be overrun for sure before they reach safe haven at Tome. But there is one chance: escape into the Icy Heights and head for the frozen city of Enigma.
Meanwhile, Deliritous is coming to grips with his choice to return to his place at the top of society, opposing the rebels Baz is leading. When his aunt reveals a stunning secret, Del finally thinks he knows where his life is headed. But in the upper echelons of Oration, schemes run rampant as a fire in a Library of old books, and Del’s never been one for scheming.
As betrayal strikes both Baz and Del, their paths will once more cross. But they’ll both discover that war has a way of dividing loyalties that once seemed unquestionable. Will Baz find a way to save his rebellion from a premature demise? Will Deliritous finally decide who he truly wants to be? Find out in Declaimer’s Stand, Part IV of The Spoken Books Uprising!
Book 5
Book 6
