Kingdom of Ghosts

He's a gambler, womanizer, opportunist, and inebriate... and the kingdom's only chance. Greymond, the Scattered Kingdom has been without a king for hundreds of years, a place ruled by squabbling barons and dukes. Occasionally, rumors arise: a king of the old blood has returned to claim his throne. These days, such claims are met with groans and eye-rolls. Pretenders abound... and are generally ignored. But scheming powers are plotting, machinations that have been in the works for years, and this time... Enter Merrik Niles. A thief hired by dangerous people to steal a map, he instead keeps it for himself, hoping to follow it to some mysterious prize. The treasure turns out to be an ancient artifact connected to Greymond's last king, and when Merrik touches it, he triggers long-dormant magic. Now, three ghosts have taken up permanent residence inside his mind: A cunning, smart-mouthed jester. A master swordsman. And a powerful wizard. At first, Merrik believes he's going mad, but at times, these troublesome ghosts lend him their powers... for good or for bad.

The adventures of Merrick Niles continue in Book Two in the epic Kingdom of Ghosts series by Victor Gischler.

Two kings. One throne. Three ghosts. Merrik Niles has his hands full. Wallowing in grief and self-pity, Merrik Niles finds himself at the bottom of a bottle of brandy, straining the patience of anyone who might care about him. Shamed into shaping up, Merrik decides his bystanding days are over. He's going to rejoin the war effort against the cruel hunchback currently vying for the throne of Greymond. That's easier said than done. Along the way, Merrik must rescue himself and his companions from shipwreck, form an alliance with a sorceress who previously tried to murder him, infiltrate a city under siege, and concoct an unlikely plan to bring the war to a quick conclusion... all while trying to keep himself and his friends alive. The enemy will stop at nothing to kill him... if his friends don't do the job first. There is one problem. Even if Merrik and his friends should prove victorious, there is a bigger threat looming, one that threatens existence itself. The key lies with the ghosts inside him, but which ghost wants to help him save the world? And which wants to betray him?