Ashes and Kingdoms summary: Within the long decaying empire, in the northern borders where the public order has been crumbling, beasts of darkness threaten the livelihood of the people. Phineas, a young boy who works as a miller, is forced to leave with his family, away from the windmill, to take refuge in a town ruled by the brigands who were once the army. This is the story of a boy who goes on a journey with the support of his family and his friends to find a quiet place they can call home.