Warden Tree Press

Independent Publisher

of Uncommon Books

Our mission is to inspire and engage our readers by publishing thought-provoking books seldom seen in traditional publishing today.

Proudly Indie

Warden Tree Press is an independent publisher focused primarily on ancient historical fiction, horsemanship, agrarian life, folklore & mythology, and restoration reprints.

A detailed black-and-white sketch of a large, ornate tree with five people standing beneath it. The scene appears to be historical, with the people dressed in old-fashioned clothing, and one person appears to be sitting on a large stone in the center of the scene.

“Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth.”

― Herman Hesse

Browse Our Selection of Books

Fiction

  • Of Wind and Wolves Book cover; Scythian animal style figures, Pazyryk carpet

    Of Wind and Wolves

    THE STEPPE SAGA BOOK I

    By J. M. Elliott

    Available worldwide at these stores

    *** 2026 IPPY Winner for Historical Fiction ***

    Anaiti is a hamazan, trained in riding and archery, but untested in war. When her father seeks alliance with the Skythian king, she consents to an arranged marriage—but no hamazan may wed without first taking an enemy’s scalp. Riding with the warband offers her both promise and peril. Fiercely protective of her freedom yet desperate to prove her worth, refusing to kill could win her liberty . . . or lose her all she loves.

    BlueInk Review Notable Book | Kirkus GET IT Pick | Foreword Clarion Review Five-Star Recipient | US Review of Books Recommended | IndieReader Approved (4.9/5)

  • The cover of a book titled 'The Gits of Heaven' by J. M. Elliott, labeled as volume two of The Steppe Saga. The background has a textured, weathered appearance, and there is a silhouette of a bird perched on the letter 'T' in the title.

    The Gifts of Heaven

    THE STEPPE SAGA BOOK II

    By J. M. Elliott

    Publication Date: April 13, 2027

    Available for preorder now

    Born to ride and fight, Anaiti is silenced after a royal marriage ends in murder. With a new king determined to erase the steppe’s seers, rituals, and warrior women, she’s thrust into a storm of politics and prophecy—and must choose whether to be a survivor, a symbol, or a sword.

  • Book cover titled "The Steppe Saga: Volume Three" by J.M. Elliott, featuring an illustration of a bow and a bird silhouette.

    Peaceweaver

    THE STEPPE SAGA BOOK III

    By J. M. Elliott

    Forthcoming. . . .

    Anaiti once knew what she wanted. Now, as rival powers vie for control of Skythia, her journey across the steppe challenges everything she believes about her past and the life she longed to reclaim. With war approaching, she must discover not where she belongs, but who she wants to be.

Praise for Of Wind and Wolves

A historical novel of extraordinary complexity set against a harsh background of tribal warfare, love, and survival.

—Foreword Clarion Reviews (Five Stars)

A deft, hypnotic tale that fuses poetry, mythology and the hard realities of life on the ancient steppe. Elliott’s powerful characters shine brightly in the well-drawn, well-researched historical context.

—BlueInk Review (Starred Review)

Gritty, entertaining, and intriguing. . . . OUR VERDICT: GET IT!

—Kirkus Review (Recommended Review)

Elliott has written a remarkable first book . . . full of memorable sentences and reflections on the human condition . . . an excellent work of historical fiction.

—US Review of Books (Recommended Review)

In an age in which engagement rides roughshod over substantive storytelling, writing of such assuredness is hard indeed to find. Elliott's prose is elegant and dense with meaning. . . . A magisterial evocation of life on the steppe.

—IndieReader (IR Approved, 4.9 rating)

A story of truly epic proportions, spanning vast distances both geographically and metaphorically. . . . Elliott has taken a fable and crafted an epic.

—Independent Book Review

The prose is often lyrical, and the pace is as relentless as a horse’s gallop across the fierce steppes. . . . Highly recommended.

—The Historical Novel Review

Brutal, poetic, and unforgettable. . . . A haunting, vivid read that lingers long after the final page.

—The Prairies Book Review

Nonfiction

  • Book cover titled "On the Bit: The Five Rein Aids" by J.M. Elliott, with a black and white illustration of a hand holding a riding crop.

    On the Bit: The Five Rein Aids

    Understanding Control, Contact, and Collection

    By J. M. Elliott

    Commonsense horsemanship for the homeschooling horseman.

    Horsemanship, Horseback Riding, Horse Training; Equitation

    Release date: Fall 2027

A large detailed tree with sprawling branches, with three grazing cows in the foreground, set in a rural landscape.

WhyWardenTree?

Warden trees served a unique function in pre-Christian European societies. These sacred trees held a central role in village life, serving as gathering points for various communal activities. They symbolized protection, endurance, and the unity of the community. Warden trees were revered as living landmarks, often planted to demarcate boundaries and territories. People offered gifts and conducted rituals at these trees to honor the spirits believed to reside within them. The inherent guardianship of warden trees over the land and its inhabitants was integral to the belief system and practices of ancient communities.

“The trees encountered on a country stroll
Reveal a lot about that country’s soul . . .
A culture is no better than its woods.”

― W. H. Auden

Explore the past;

envision the future.