Fotheringale

The first novel in Kim Ravensmith's 9-book series, "Fotheringale," introduces readers to a world of historical fantasy set in the 14th century, where a group of Indo-European explorers has founded a new land in the Far East. After a brutal thirty-year war decimates the male population, the nation falls under the control of a corrupt Ruling Council that enforces a system of oppression, requiring young women to endure forced labor on northern farms starting at age sixteen.The story follows Faren Kellis, the young heir to a vast fortune who rejects his father's legacy of gambling and swordplay to pursue a higher purpose. Under the guidance of his mother, Lyla, and her formidable business manager, Damon Ken, Faren establishes a training academy. While the academy is publicly seen as a training ground for young men, Faren secretly recruits and trains women known as the "Wildhearts" in the art of the sword. This debut installment captures the early sparks of a revolution as these young warriors prepare to dismantle a system of servitude and fight for the security and freedom of their homeland.