The Bell Tolling by Amena Jamali

The Blood-soaked Sorcerer tyrannizes the land of Icilia with every form of cruelty imaginable, dyeing his armor red in the blood of innocents. Crushed to pieces under such savagery, the people of Icilia abandon hope and forget the gifts of civilization that had once been their dearest blessings. Amid this darkness comes light in the form of Lucian, the divinely-appointed hero of Icilia and the Leader of the Quest of Freedom. Educated in all of the ancient arts, Lucian has the virtue and power necessary to cleanse evil from the land. But not alone—answering the call of his sacred destiny, Lucian gathers together his four divinely-chosen companions and embarks on a journey to free his world. He is determined to restore the forgotten laws, heal the tormented, and unite the land behind his banner. Yet his companions seem too shattered to save anyone, while his people might be too blind to see the light. And above all he must confront the question: Are there some evils even the Divine cannot conquer? Amena Jamali embarks on her literary career with a haunting new adult fantasy tale of found family, strong heroines, and gentle heroes that ponders the meaning of freedom amid a clash of absolute good and absolute evil. Fans of The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Eragon will savor this story of light springing forth from dark places.

Adult • Fantasy/Epic and High • Diversity Representation/Mental Health/Own Voices • Fantasy/Sword and Sorcery • Diversity Representation/Neurodiversity/Own Voices • Diversity Representation/BIPOC/Own Voices

Content Warning: Please remember that this series contains multiple references to mental health issues, including suicide, and to traumatic topics such as massacres, sexual violence, slavery, trafficking (including of children), bullying (from adults and children toward a child), and the deaths of children. Though the prose is never explicit and does not qualify as mature, the references may still be triggering for some readers. Please see amenajamali.com/trigger-warnings for additional details.