Random House Worlds is expanding the world of Dungeons & Dragons with a brand new novel featuring a new band of adventurers set to debut in early 2024.
D&D fans, along with fantasy lovers have more to look forward to this upcoming March, as Random House has announced The Fallbacks: Bound for Ruin by Jaleigh Johnson. The new novel takes place in the familiar world of Dungeons & Dragons, but features an all new cast of characters to should make it easier than ever for newcomers to enjoy it as well.
Johnson’s tie-in novel to the recent D&D film, Road to Neverwinter, was an absolute blast. It managed to weave together solid character work with great world-building, while retaining all the fun. So yeah, I’m pretty excited to see what she has cooked up for The Fallbacks which is set to arrive on March 5th.
Officially licensed by Wizards of the Coast, THE FALLBACKS: BOUND FOR RUIN introduces a new Dungeons & Dragons adventuring party, The Fallbacks, whose encounters with classic Forgotten Realms locations, villains, and monsters will be chronicled across multiple publishing initiatives. Someday, The Fallbacks might be Faerûn’s finest adventuring party. Right now, they’re the backup plan.
Designed by the Dungeons & Dragons team, these five adventurers and their monstrous mascot honor the game’s founding classes while putting a contemporary spin on fantasy archetypes. They’re the perfect party for newcomers looking to explore the Dungeons & Dragons universe and for fans seeking new escapades in a beloved setting.
“We’re so excited for fans to discover these compelling and innovative characters,” enthused Paul Morrissey, Publishing Lead at Wizards of the Coast. “With THE FALLBACKS: BOUND FOR RUIN, Jaleigh Johnson wrote a blockbuster novel that serves as a brilliant introduction to The Fallbacks, and a fantastic on-ramp to the world of Dungeons & Dragons.”
Meet the newest Dungeons & Dragons party in the first epic adventure of The Fallbacks.
To become renowned adventurers, this party needs to survive their first job.
Tessalynde is an ambitious young rogue who dreams of leading Faerûn’s foremost adventuring party. While the crew she’s gathered isn’t the stuff of legend yet, she’s confident her guidance can get them there.
The team: Anson, a fighter too stubborn to stay down, even when the odds are stacked against him. Cazrin, a self-taught wizard determined to test her theoretical mettle against the real world. Baldric, a cleric who refuses to tie himself to a single deity when he can trade favors with them all. Lark, a bard with as many secrets as songs. And, of course, Uggie, a monstrous pet otyugh who loves giving hugs and eating trash.
Their first job: recovering a mysterious spellbook from a lost temple for a hefty payout. Tess hopes this assignment can turn her group of fledgling freelancers into a true team. But when their client is killed, their coin and his murderer both vanish, leaving the party to take the fall.
Stuck with a sentient, bloodthirsty grimoire and pursued by mercenaries and the undead, this is hardly the mission Tess envisioned. Her crew must save the day, get the gold, and clear the party’s name—which they haven’t even agreed upon yet! With the threats against them mounting, a single mistake will see this party over before it even begins.
Can this band of mismatched misfits stay together in the face of danger? Or are they bound for ruin?
D&D The Fallbacks: Bound for Ruin hits bookshelves on March 5, 2024.
