Brand of the Bloodheir

By: Jaime Castle, C.J. Aaron

Narrated by: Daniel Wisniewski

Loyalty has a price. Betrayal demands a reckoning.

Risens is the King’s Rightmaker, the silent justice of Halthome, whose word is law and whose blade ensures absolute obedience. Operating in a kingdom built on the raw power of Brands, Risens, despite his deadly skill, is an anomaly: a Brandless assassin whose only loyalty is to the Crown.

His orders are simple: None must survive.

A routine execution of a treacherous noble, Duke Karieas, goes horribly wrong when a singular act of mercy compromises his identity to the city guard. Now hunted by his former colleagues, Risens is forced to question his allegiance to a "false king.”

Drawn by an unseen force, Risens is pulled into the forbidden Raven’s Court, a place of forgotten power. There, he receives the first of the Forbidden Brands, granting him access to The Roost and its grueling trials.

To survive the conspiracies and assassins arrayed against him, Risens must master his power through "Struggle, pain, and adaptation.”

Stripped of allegiance and empowered by an ominous, commanding voice, Risens must navigate deadly political conspiracies and master his new destiny. The King wants him dead, but the Raven has other plans.

Don't miss the start of this action-packed Progression Fantasy series by Jaime Castle, best-selling author of Jeff the GM and Black Badge, together with CJ Aaron, best-selling author of Catalyst.

It's perfect for fans of Darkblade Assassin, UnderVerse, and The Grand Game!

©2026 AETHON (P)2026 Aethon Audio

not your typical LitRPG... in all the right ways.

At this point, I've listened to my fair share of LitRPG and while enjoyable... can be very repetitive and similar. This take on the genre has been an enjoyable and refreshing twist. With the creativity paired with an enjoyable and engaging story.... its must listen!

some bad ass action

this highly action pack adventure really sucks you into the story as we follow our MC as he trys and figures where his loyalty should be while older things help him change his destiny. can't wait for the follow up

Perfect narration!

Great pwrformnce from the reader. The book is a great fit for him. Looking forward to seeing what happens with Risens in book 2

Excellent beginning!

Really interesting premise that I enjoyed! There was a good balance of action and world-building that only master authors can achieve. Combine that with great characters, and this is one of my new favorite progressive fantasies!

Dark but hopeful progression fantasy!

First of all, this book was solid. Great writing. Great story. Great progression. Another great was the choice of narrator. Wisniewski is absolutely perfect. Reminiscent of the great RC Bray, Daniel’s deep, brooding tone was perfect for Risens the King’s Rightmaker!