The action and intrigue continue in this fantasy adventure, in which a young man has stepped beyond the role of an NPC . . . to become a living legend IRL. In the game world of The Gates of TirNiki, Earl Hail Jeoran has just been killed. Luckily, his very nature as a native player character and avatar of a god makes this a minor detail. All he has to do is reboot himself and he’s back in action. But that doesn’t mean he’s immortal—and someone is about to put that fact to the test. Although Hail would be perfectly happy remaining an earl/adventurer, he’s been drawn into a lethal contest for the throne of Yuikon. Meanwhile, an enigmatic enemy is systematically assassinating other members of the royal line. Additionally, Hail must finally visit the lands left to him by his murdered grandfather and try to transform the bankrupt North Shire from a bandit-plagued, corrupt failure into a possession worth having, a task that may prove just as dangerous as navigating and surviving court politics. Aided by loyal allies both in and outside the game world, beset by adversaries that never quit, and learning more and more about the incredible power he might wield, Hail is certain of only one thing: whether or not he wants to be king, someone’s looking to claim the crown—and his head with it . . .