Rob is on his way home from vacation when his plane goes down over the ocean biome. He eventually reaches shore, but where is he? And what new dangers lie ahead? His attempts at survival barely keep him alive until he allies with Frida, the sole inhabitant of a lonely stretch of beach. Rob learns enough from Frida to survive, but he misses life on his family’s horse ranch. Determined to find his way home, he sets off to cross the Extreme Hills—and steps into the middle of an ongoing war. The evil Dr. Dirt has enchanted battalions of skeletons to invade every biome and hold every boundary in an attempt to rule the Overworld.

Now peace-loving Rob and stealthy Frida must put together their own army and save humanity if Rob is ever to see his home and family again. Using his skills in taming and training horses, Rob forms a cavalry and recruits the friends he makes along the way. Turner and Stormie are naturally brave and quick-witted. Jools and Kim need encouragement but have a way with animals and can unravel even the toughest problems. Unfortunately, Dr. Dirt has a surprise for the ragtag unit; he’s mounted his skeleton soldiers on zombie horses, and the combination spells terror for Rob and company.

Will they survive an all-out war for the Overworld? And what lies in store for them after the final zombie cavalry charge? This new young adult series is perfect for Minecrafters who want a real adventure story filled with great characters and intense battle scenes. Follow Rob, his trusty horse Saber, and the members of Battalion Zero over massive and deadly terrain in this first book in the Defenders of the Overworld series.

Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers—picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. In particular, this adventure series is created especially for readers who love the fight of good vs. evil, magical academies like Hogwarts in the Harry Potter saga, and games like Minecraft, Terraria, and Pokemon GO. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Nancy Osa is a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a graduate of Reed College who now writes for clients around the globe. Her book Cuba 15 earned the Delacorte Press Prize for First Young Adult Novel and was recognized for excellence by the American Library Association and Booklist. Nancy resides in Portland, Oregon.