ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The hungry battle-birds were filled
In Skye with blood of fowemen killed.
And many an island girl’s wail
Was heard as through the isles we sail.

—The Saga of King Magnus Barelegs

THIS BOOK IS FOR MY WIFE, THE IRREPLACEABLE Simone Thompson. I could not do any of this without you. You are everything to me and I love you with all my heart.

I’d also like to thank my family—Mom, Dad, Clay, Presley, and John—and all my amazing friends for their endless support on this project.

Thank you to my incredible editor, Connie Hsu, and her assistant, Leslie Shumate, for keeping me on track, advocating for the book, preparing awesome-sounding pitches, and getting me pumped up to write this thing. And to my middle-reliever editor, Deirdre Jones, who came on in the ninth inning to earn the save, and who backed me up on the fact that you actually do crank a Super Soaker. You guys are great!

Thanks to my hardworking agents, Farley Chase of Chase Literary and Sean Daily of Hotchkiss, who bust a move so I get to write stuff like this. I am living in a fantasy world thanks to you.

And last, but not least, thanks to all the fans and readers of this series. Yes, that means you. I never cease to be amazed by the incredible support I get from all of you.