Below the world they know, an entire civilisation has never heard the word "freedom."A crack splits the ancient stone in Hollowfield, glowing with heat and the smell of something older than fire. When it opens, a stairway of dark basalt descends into a realm of lava rivers, crimson forests, and towering fortress cities built from nether brick and quartz.The Warden children descend into the Nether and discover the worst thing they have ever seen: not violence, not cruelty, but thousands of people living in perfect order who do not know what they have lost. Born into control, raised in obedience, they have no word for choice, no memory of what it means to argue or laugh or decide for yourself.When they meet Kael, a young guide who has never experienced freedom, the children face a question that haunts them: how do you free someone who does not know they are not free?The Nether is the third book in The Warden Chronicles. The world expands. The stakes deepen. And one soul's awakening becomes the most powerful story the Wardens have ever witnessed.A vast new realm of fire, ancient cities, and terrible beauty. A civilisation under generational control, explored with depth and compassion. The introduction of Kael, a character readers will never forget. Themes of awakening, empathy, and the stubborn survival of the human spirit. Sam Marwood grew up on a dairy farm near Dingee in Central Victoria, Australia. After his parents sold the farm, he spent twelve years in environmental policy for the Victorian Government before co-founding Cultivate Farms with Tim and Tegan Hicks. Cultivate Farms is Australia's leading farm matching platform, connecting aspiring farmers with retiring farmers and investors to create real pathways to ownership. The platform has facilitated farm transitions across the country, proving you don't need to inherit or be wealthy to own a farm. Sam lives in regional Victoria with his family, working every day to build the future of Australian agriculture.
