The Duke's Decision

Avery is the new Duke of York, a single man in possession of a good fortune and unnatural powers. No, he is not a wizard. Wizardry is perfectly natural, after all, some of it quite commonplace - necromancy has such practical industrial applications, though the old Duke of York wasn't a particularly big fan of the necroindustrial revolution that has swept the empire ruling the isle of Great Britain. York itself is a somewhat backwards duchy, abundant in land and people, but its economic development was severely delayed by the old Silver Duke, who had little tolerance for wizards and little interest in issuing peasant-hunting licenses to promote regular harvests of the duchy’s human resources. Will Avery betray his ancestor's memory? Can an underdeveloped York stand its ground against its neighbors? And, as a single man in possession of a good fortune, will he marry? These are all matters of grave political importance that could shake the foundations of life in the largest duchy of England at a time when the empire itself is in a delicate state. Conventional wisdom dictates that Avery should turn to conventional wizardry to solve his duchy's problems and conventional marriage to solve his political problems. Click here to start reading! Book 1 finished posting on Royal Road on Valentine's Day 2025. A novelette "interlude" is in progress on Patreon. A full sequel is expected eventually. Current front cover art was generated by Degeneracy, with the similar Volume 3 header cover generated by Walshbear. Launch cover was created by A. A. Medina.