A NOVEL BY JESHUA HICKS
The First Ogre King, Book 1
A spy-assassin posing as a broken father. A daughter with violence in her blood. Will their secrets destroy everything they love?
THE STORY
A World Built on Secrets & Lies
Every step Arimaru takes on his crippled leg is a reminder of his lies. In the Amingji dynasty’s bustling trade hub, he plays the role of a broken father and family man. But his true burden isn’t his injury—it’s the weight of being one of the dynasty’s spy-assassins, a secret that’s slowly poisoning his soul. When the world’s first firearms disappear, Arimaru’s two worlds violently collide, forcing him to face the price of his lifetime of deception and death dealing.
Meanwhile, Tzairi drowns under the crushing weight of the Imperial Exam. Her teacher demands perfection—flawless brushstrokes, perfect recitation, absolute dedication to scholarly balance. But her father’s training calls to her like a fever dream. How can she follow the scholar-official’s path of wisdom when violence and cunning sing in her blood? Does she even want to?
Set on the unforgiving jungle frontier of a Song-Dynasty-inspired empire—Daoist wisdom, Buddhist peace, and Confucian duty clash in the shadows of Mount Haifung. This isn’t just about saving the dynasty; it’s about a father and daughter fighting with secrets that threaten to destroy everything they love.
AVAILABLE SOON
Leave the Comfort and Security of the Caves For the Harsh Unforgiving Jungle
Step into a world of hidden blades, stolen weapons, and a clan caught in the throes of its own conflicting loyalties.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeshua Hicks
Jeshua writes fantasy that explores the spaces where history, philosophy, and human conflict collide. Drawn to morally complex characters and cultures shaped by competing ideals, he crafts stories about the bonds that endure—and the secrets that can destroy them.
He binge-read Dune over college break and knew he had to become a novelist. He has lived all across North America and on a yacht in the South Pacific. He spent several years researching the culture and history of Song Dynasty China and South America for his debut novel, The First Ogre King, Book 1. You’ll meet his cat Meeko when you get the first few chapters for free.