With a pocket full of gold and the Demon of Elderstay behind him, Genome the Gnome is ready to face his inner demon…literally. Al, the demon currently attached to his core, is still determined to take over Gerome and then the world. To stop him, Gerome gathers his funds and plans to head to the healing isle known as Maracanda. Unfortunately, a deadly plague called red foot has other ideas. With all the docks in Grandfall closed, Gerome’s next best option is a nearby town known for being a lawless place. Enter a senile, elderly man, with nothing but an axe and a loincloth. Broderick, the loincloth- wearing barbarian, offers to be Gerome’s bodyguard for a low price. Sure, he can’t remember where he came from or what he’s hiding from, and he keeps pulling Gerome into new and expensive circumstances, but you get what you pay for, right? Gerome knows there’s more to Broderick than the old man can remember, based on unwanted visions and strange encounters. From bizarre inns to con artist pirates to wyverns and a killer swarm known as the Black Brood, Gerome and his new bodyguard have to fight the dark evil around them for any hope of keeping Al at bay.
For fans of Dungeons & Dragons, and shows like Critical Role or Dimension 20, I. Ribbon’s work is like coming home. While this is the second book in the New Dark Saga, those returning to the series or picking it up for the first time will find themselves easily able to navigate the world created by Ribbon. The work is accessible, funny, and enjoyable. The Way to Maracanda is fantasy mixed with creative world building that never seems overwhelming or pedantic. As a reader, it’s easy to picture yourself listening to this book at a tavern in a fantasy realm. Gerome is genuinely funny with his observations, with a delicious ribbon of sarcasm and defeatism that I take to the way my cats take to catnip.
The Way to Maracanda is available December 1, 2025.
