An Unexpected Hero by Gail Z. Martin

Jonmarc Vahanian is the son of a blacksmith and a weaver whose world is no larger than his fishing village, until raiders destroy his home and kill the people he loves. One of the raiders curses Jonmarc with his dying breath, and as Jonmarc does his best to move forward, meeting tragedy at every turn, he starts to believe that the curse is real.

Jonmarc’s story charts an adventure that takes him across kingdoms, first as part of a traveling caravan of wonders, and then as a mercenary and smuggler. Along the way, he gains the fighting skills that will make him the best warrior of his generation, ultimately placing him in the path of destiny to be the making of kings and queens. And it all begins with a tremendously unlucky day.

Soldier. Fight slave. Smuggler. Warrior. Brigand Lord. You may have encountered Jonmarc Vahanian in the Chronicles of the Necromancer but you don’t really know him until you walk in his footsteps.