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§Author· 1 book
Nicholas Eames
Mercenary bands perform dangerous monster-hunting gigs with the celebrity status and arena-filling hype of touring rock stars in the world of The Band series. Canadian author Nicholas Eames introduced this high-concept fantasy setting in his 2017 debut novel, Kings of the Wyld, which follows a group of retired mercenaries reuniting for one last dangerous mission.
Career & Background
Nicholas Eames was born and raised in Wingham, Ontario, Canada. He studied theatre arts in college before shifting his creative focus toward writing epic fantasy novels. After completing his debut manuscript, he published Kings of the Wyld with Orbit in February 2017.
Now based in Victoria, British Columbia, Eames has continued expanding his writing projects. In addition to his fantasy novels, he co-wrote the oversized comic book one-shot BARBARIC: Wrong Kind of Righteous with Michael Moreci for Vault Comics.
Writing Style & Themes
Eames's fiction combines classic fantasy tropes with rock-and-roll culture, treating mercenary groups as famous bands touring through monster-infested territories. His prose balances fast-paced action, humor, and heart, using camaraderie and witty dialogue to ground the high-concept worldbuilding.
A recurring theme across his work is the contrast between youthful glory and the realities of aging. His stories explore friendship, fatherhood, nostalgia, and the enduring bonds formed among old allies drawn back into battle long after their prime.
Major Works
- Kings of the Wyld — Published by Orbit in 2017, this debut novel follows Clay Cooper and his former bandmates in Saga as they come out of retirement to rescue a companion's daughter besieged by the Heartwyld Horde. The book received the 2018 David Gemmell Morningstar Award and the 2017 r/Fantasy Stabby Award for Best Debut Novel.
- Bloody Rose — The second novel set in the world of The Band shifts focus to a new generation of mercenaries, exploring the burdens of fame, legacy, and ambition through the journey of a legendary warrior's daughter and her mercenary crew.
§All Books
Kings of the Wyld
Nicholas Eames, 2017
523 ratings