Tale of Tales by Nikola Stefan

Tale of Tales is a high fantasy saga, a dark epic fantasy of sword and sorcery, invoking many old Eastern European folklore mythical creatures (vampires and werevolves, witches and demigods, but also three kin of dragons and more mystical beings like ala, dusk imps, or demon wolves – the last two of which feature on the first book’s cover).

“Above this hellish pack and the rider at the forefront, flurried a ghastly sight – a cloud of dark, endlessly bustling bodies and wings, a swarm of creatures that, through their almost infinite number, produced that great din which had first reached the ears…”

Book one, A Strange Bunch, begins with Senka, a spirited girl who one day returns from the woods with her dog to see her entire world in flames. As all she knows crumbles before her eyes, she is blinded by her house’s guardian snake and forced to flee, pursued by what seems like darkness itself. Pulled unwittingly into a tumult of mysterious forces wrestling over the very fate of the world, she ventures to find her own path and purpose. On her desperate journey, she encounters remarkable characters, one after another gathering around her in a series of seeming accidents. Forging unlikely friendships, they scramble to survive and grasp the rapidly unfolding events.

Fast-paced and action-packed, this progression fantasy adventure includes main characters of various ages. The book series is written mainly for adults but it is, in a good way of “The Lord of the Rings,” suitable for all ages.

Source: Tale of Tales, Book I: A Strange Bunch