The Six Kingdoms (book)

A side-story to the Realm of Raeltir series, taking place roughly five years prior to the start of Eye of the Tyrant. The Six Kingdoms are large castle-cities of element-bending warriors, whom spend the entirety of their lives training and warring against their neighbouring kingdoms, in preparation for the next God Wars. The story follows two main characters, Lady Kayko, a princess and next in line to the throne of the Earth Kingdom, as well as Princess Ain II, the next in line to the throne of the Fire Kingdom. Lady Kayko is a rebelious youth who wants nothing to do with the monarchy and constantly gets into trouble, often dragging her temporary bodyguard and lifelong companion Bastion with her. Princess Ain, on the other hand, has to learn what it is like to inherit the throne, and learn to face the great ammount of hate and sexism which is targetted at her.

Of course, though it is a coming of age story for the two protagonists, their paths are often intertwined with the main plot that runs throughout the course of the book. Ten years prior to the story, the Dark Kingdom started churning out the Manic, spawn of the Shadow Tyrant himself. Many believe this is signalling the start of the Second God Wars, and so the Six Kingdoms begin to create in secret their Champions in preparation for the next great war.