The Orphans of Nilad is a D&D-type epic fantasy written by author team Erich and Daniella Sanchack. In this first book in the Nosam Chronicles, we meet four travelers thrown together by circumstances and made into a family through forging trust in the face of battle and adversity. Two warriors from a far-off land wearing dragon armor, a strongman used to be seen as a weapon, not a friend, and an isolated half-elf. Searching for the Amulet of Planes to send the Nosam siblings back home, they head for Nilad, guided by an anonymous note promising a reward for their services. Nilad is a trading town that has lost both its trade and inhabitants as its trade with the dwarves dwindled. Now, the four road-weary heroes must face untold danger and complete a task that has already cost many lives. Will they succeed, or will the dangers of the mountain and the unknown presence they can all feel bring them to their knees?

The Orphans of Nilad by Erich and Daniella Sanchack follows the four main characters, slowly revealing their histories and personalities as the story unfolds. Vivid world-building brings the story alive, drawing the reader into the world of Nilad with detailed sensory descriptions, from smells to nuanced characteristics of the characters. Any D&D and sword-and-sorcery fantasy fans will feel immediately at home, as the reader is instantly placed in what feels like a continuation of a previous book. This technique cleverly creates the impression that, for the duration of the book's window, we are just looking in on a chapter of the four heroes' lives, hinting at colorful pasts that are slowly revealed as the story develops. Although this is an epic fantasy, it is written in a reader-friendly style, making it suitable for young fantasy readers who want a more mature story without mature content. This goal-oriented story delivers a mission and its fallout. This is a well-thought-out, well-written story, and a pleasure to read.

The Orphans of Nilad: The Nosam Chronicles (Book 1) by Erich and Daniella Sanchack follows Kaida and EoC Nosam, siblings driven from their homeland after their family is slaughtered. They are joined on their travels by Dinger, a no-nonsense fighter, and Kekron, a guarded half-elf mage. The group ends up following a letter that leads them to Nilad, a struggling mining town, with the promise of information about the Amulet of Planes, a relic that might help them get back home. The road there reveals a world in decline, with abandoned trade routes, broken structures, and little sign of authority. Before they even arrive, they are attacked at night by coordinated creatures that do not behave like normal beasts. Once in Nilad, they find a place on edge. People are disappearing, trade has collapsed, and no one trusts outsiders. The group is expected to help, but no one actually understands what they are really dealing with.

The Orphans of Nilad by Erich and Daniella Sanchack is an epic fantasy that builds through travel, dangerous encounters, and group dynamics. The pacing is slower at the beginning, especially during the journey, but it sharpens once the attacks begin and Nilad comes into focus. Each character has a clear role in the wider conflict. EoC is controlled and efficient, Kaida is strategic, Dinger relies on strength, and Kekron's magic is useful but unpredictable. Nilad stands out a lot as a setting. It is written as a place that is already past breaking point. The inhabitants are very guarded, and even the miners openly talk about people going missing, which adds to the uneasy feeling in the background. The mystery of the letter and the Amulet of Planes keeps building without too many details being revealed yet. It reads like the beginning of something larger, with enough lingering questions to carry you into the next installment of this epic fantasy series.