This critically acclaimed and inspired debut novel brings to life a universe of superheroes stripped of their powers and forced to confront danger in a world without heroes-save one. A tour de force debut novel from a former CIA counterterrorism officer, A Once Crowded Sky fuses bombastic, comic-book-style storytelling with modern literary fiction. Supermen stripped of their powers must wrestle danger in a world without heroes.

Billy Smith is having a rough first day of high school. The new kid at exclusive Francis Drake Prep, Billy embarrasses himself in front of fiery, beautiful Lexi Aquino. He makes an instant enemy in Kurt Novac, the school’s surly star quarterback. Then suddenly Billy, Lexi, and Kurt are mysteriously transported to an underworld teeming with goblins, strange animal hybrids, and powerful magic—the fact that they’re stuck there is probably Billy’s fault, too. With help from an unlikely goblin leader named Hop, the teens soon discover that goblins can be both fierce and friendly, with their own rich language, culture, and history—a history that foretells of a human arriving to claim the Goblin Crown and lead them to victory against the deadly, invading Hanorians. Could Billy—anxious, awkward Billy—be the mythical Goblin King? Could saving the goblin race be his destiny and the key to getting him, Lexi, and Kurt back home?

Billy Smith is having a rough first day of high school. The new kid at exclusive Francis Drake Prep, Billy embarrasses himself in front of fiery, beautiful Lexi Aquino. He makes an instant enemy in Kurt Novac, the school’s surly star quarterback. Then suddenly Billy, Lexi, and Kurt are mysteriously transported to an underworld teeming with goblins, strange animal hybrids, and powerful magic—the fact that they’re stuck there is probably Billy’s fault, too. With help from an unlikely goblin leader named Hop, the teens soon discover that goblins can be both fierce and friendly, with their own rich language, culture, and history—a history that foretells of a human arriving to claim the Goblin Crown and lead them to victory against the deadly, invading Hanorians. Could Billy—anxious, awkward Billy—be the mythical Goblin King? Could saving the goblin race be his destiny and the key to getting him, Lexi, and Kurt back home?

“If kinging were easy, everyone would do it.” With help from his friends, Billy Smith—the unlikeliest of heroes—overthrew the corrupt General Sawtooth and claimed the Goblin Crown. But his perilous journey to save the goblin race has just begun. The powerful Hanorian Army is gathered at the gates of Kiranok, threatening to invade the goblin city and wipe out everyone within. So the inhabitants of Mother Mountain must draw on their deepest strengths for the battle to come: Billy, a burgeoning leader, crafts military strategy while fending off foes from within the goblin ranks; Lexi, her magic growing, trades firepower with the mighty wizard Mig; and steadfast Hop and stalwart Kurt set off in pursuit of a mysterious Fallen Star, perhaps their only hope for defeating the enemy—but did it awaken an even darker force in the universe? Billy, Lexi, Kurt, and the goblins soon realize the true meaning of duty, death, and destiny—and that the wages of war come at a steep price.