Such was the dilemma of Achilles. After being framed for treason by his younger brother, Henry Zhang finds himself in a similar position. He’s been disgraced and branded a fugitive exile from the Heaven and Earth Society, a secret Magicians’ Circle based out of China. With no life left to return to, only one thing guides his path forward.

The lost tomb of Alexander the Great is on the verge of being rediscovered. And to Henry, the idea of forever humiliating his old Circle sounds like a stellar way to make them think twice the next time they want to antagonize him. Only thing being, he’s on his own, facing down every Magicians’ Circle from England to China. Organized, funded, and brimming with manpower. In order to fight his way to the top of this competition, Henry is going to have team up with three other exiles just as untrustworthy as any of his competitors.

Marion Gutenberg, a woman on the run from a dark past and from those who covet her unique ability to heal others.

Analise Abt, whose altruistic motives are a thin veneer for her obsession.

Yianni Fotelis, a man in bondage to forces beyond his comprehension, eager to free himself from duress.

But for the sake of the lost tomb and his own honor, he’ll have to put his trust in these people if any of them have a sliver of a chance of finding the tomb and the apocalyptic secrets buried with it.

Pitched as Uncharted meets Percy Jackson, Iskandar’s Game is a high-octane, action-packed urban fantasy adventure full of historical mysteries and magic systems based in real world folklore, while maintaining deep character work.

Available NOW in Ebook and Paperback

Cover Concept

Stitched together some images and drew over them (preferable to AI generation imo) to assemble a proof for what the cover could look like. Opting for an Indiana Jones style of collage-cover.

Henry Zhang Concept Art

Concept art for by far the most self-insert-y character I’ve ever made. I’ll defend myself by promising that Henry is not that great a person and is routinely punished for bad choices. That said, it becomes way easier to make concept art when you can model for your own drawings.

Weiying Concept Art

Concept for Henry’s younger brother, Weiying.

Alternate Cover Concept

A different color with the background and graphic palettes swapped created as an example for my cover artists.

Marion Concept Art

Concept art for Marion Gutenberg, a German-Romanian Magician with ties to a mysterious village in the Black Forest, all of whom have the very rare ability to heal people.

Tiandihui Seal

The seal used by the Tiandihui (Heaven and Earth Society), the Magicians’ Circle of China. The actual Tiandihui were underground rebel groups created to try and depose the Manchurian Qing dynasty, restoring the natively ruled Ming. Over time, they developed into secret societies and eventually criminal gangs, known today as Chinese Triads. The Tiger and Dragon in conflict with one another has several meanings in Chinese culture, but here the dragon represents the Chinese state. In opposition to it, the tiger represents rebellion against the state. The characters on the left say “Destroy the Qing, Restore the Ming” and the characters on the right say “The Heaven and Earth Society”.