Here at Penguin Teen, we’re in the business of bringing you the inside scoop about books that you didn’t even know you were dying to read. Today we’re here to tell you about the cast from Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh, so you’re ~in the know~ when Book 2, Song of the Dead blesses us all this January.
Basically: we’ve got the goods, complete with beautiful illustrations and personal descriptions from the author!

In case you’re new here:

Here’s the gist: Reign of the Fallen is an LGBT fantasy series that follows a talented necromancer who must face down a deadly nemesis who has learned how to turn her magic into a weapon.

Sounds cool, right?

Odessa is one of Karthia’s master necromancers, catering to the kingdom’s ruling Dead. Whenever a noble dies, it’s Odessa’s job to raise them by retrieving their souls from a dreamy and dangerous shadow world called the Deadlands. But there is a cost to being raised–the Dead must remain shrouded, or risk transforming into zombie-like monsters known as Shades. If even a hint of flesh is exposed, the grotesque transformation will begin.

A dramatic uptick in Shade attacks raises suspicions and fears among Odessa’s necromancer community. Soon a crushing loss of one of their own reveals a disturbing conspiracy: someone is intentionally creating Shades by tearing shrouds from the Dead–and training them to attack. Odessa is faced with a terrifying question: What if her necromancer’s magic is the weapon that brings Karthia to its knees?

A lavish fantasy with a surprising and breathtaking LGBT romance at its core, Reign of the Fallen is a gutsy, unpredictable read that will grab readers by the throat and never let go.

The Characters: 

Odessa: Odessa of Grenwyr is a Master Necromancer, a job that’s more than just work to her—having been raised by the Sisters of Death in their convent, her magic is the source of her identity and pride. Nicknamed Sparrow, she’s known for being able to navigate pathways home from the Deadlands as though the living world is always calling to her.

Evander: Evander Crowther is a Master Necromancer and heir to a small fortune he’d gladly forsake if it meant finally getting to explore the wide world his father had started to map before his untimely death. But since leaving Karthia is forbidden, at least he has the ever-changing Deadlands, the spirit world, to explore when he’s restless.

Meredy: Meredy Crowther is the younger of Evander’s two sisters and the youngest Beast Master in a century. Ambitious and adventurous, she chose to forge her magical bond with a grizzly bear called Lysander.

Kasmira: Kasmira Rees is proud to be captain of the Paradise, a smuggling ship that’s mostly seaworthy. A self-taught weather worker, Kasmira often changes the fickle winds around Karthia to blow in her ship’s favor.

Simeon: Simeon of Grenwyr is a newly-appointed Master Necromancer who loves to laugh and joke with his boyfriend Danial and his best friend Jax despite the grim realities of his work. Raised by the Sisters of Death along with Odessa, he’s like a brother to her.

Jax: Jax of Lorness is a newly-appointed Master Necromancer with a penchant for thrill-seeking, risk-taking, and swordplay. He’s rarely seen out of the company of his necromancy partner, Simeon. He’d gladly show you any of his twelve tattoos.

Valoria: Valoria Juline Wylding is the eldest (living) princess in Karthia’s ruling bloodline. Rarely seen within the palace walls, she spends her days in her private tower where she reads forbidden books and invents things in secret.

Dying to know who we’ll be meeting in Song of the Dead? Check out the new character cards here!