Blog Archives
Astral Seeds: Eclipse of The Celestial War
Astral Seeds is a cosmic fantasy epic that launches readers into a universe on the brink of unraveling. It’s a story about the ancient Astral Seeds—primordial fragments of creation—and the celestial war that stirs as they begin to awaken. Dragons, starborn witches, and zodiac titans populate this intricate world where prophecy looms large and bonds are tested. The novel follows Aric Draconis, a dragon rider caught between loyalty, legacy, and the gravitational pull of destiny, as he struggles to navigate alliances, prophecies, and a deepening rift with his dragon, Ignarion.
What really gripped me right away was the way the prologue set the tone—it was vast, eerie, and poetic. There’s something bold about opening with lines like “The sky is no longer silent. It screams with the promise of war.” That’s the kind of sentence that makes you sit up straighter. I loved how Mills wove together celestial grandeur and raw emotion. You feel the weight of the universe, but it’s also personal. Aric’s connection with Ignarion—fractured and fraying—was my favorite thread. Their bond, once unshakable, becomes this quiet heartbreak humming beneath the action.
The worldbuilding is lush and expansive. There were moments in the council chambers or during long internal monologues when I wanted things to move along. The stakes were sky-high, sure, but I did wish the plot got to the point a little faster at times. Still, scenes like the one where King Vaelion reveals his ambition to use the prophecy for control was chilling. He’s not your typical mustache-twirling villain—he’s methodical, frighteningly rational. That conversation between him and Aric had tension for days. And then there’s Eira, the king’s daughter, stepping up as a quiet force of rebellion. Her presence brings a grounded warmth to the book’s colder, star-drenched conflict. Mills is at her best when exploring the gray zones: not all the “good guys” are noble, and not all villains are soulless. The prophecy itself feels more like a mirror than a map—reflecting the characters’ choices rather than dictating them.
Astral Seeds is for lovers of rich worldbuilding, complicated characters, and stories that balance the epic with the intimate. If you like your fantasy with dragons, existential stakes, and a lot of emotional depth (think Eragon meets The Silmarillion with a touch of Dune), then this book will definitely scratch that itch. It’s not a fast read, but it’s a rewarding one. I’m really curious where Mills will take this in the next installment because the battle lines have been drawn—and the heartache has only just begun.
Pages: 388 | ASIN : B0DLBQY4FC
Marvels of the Underworld
Marvels of the Underworld, by Hermione Lee, is a fantasy novel that follows the adventures of four teenage girls. Alexandria and her three friends, Eileen, Clarissa, and Daphne, discovered something remarkable about themselves the year before. It turns out that these seemingly ordinary girls were the descendants of the four gods that created the dimension known as the Otherworld. As a result, they become caught up in a magical adventure that completely changes their lives. Now, the four girls get to return to the Otherworld after spending the year attending school and honing their powers. This time, however, the Elders have called upon the girls to help them overcome the newest threat to the Otherworld. Alexandria’s parents, King Patrick and Queen Marianne appear to blindly trust that their kingdom is no longer in danger… but this is not the case.
Lee is a master of suspense and intrigue. Good vs. evil stories are tales as old as time, but the battle between good and evil that Lee has created with her fascinating cast of characters is particularly unique. There is nothing like reading a fantasy novel in which an entire group of characters is suspect, and the course of the story could ultimately change at the drop of a hat. Lee brings readers just that kind of tale, and it is a most welcome addition to the adventure and fantasy genres.
Marvels of the Underworld, by Hermione Lee, adds a certain magic found in Alexandria’s adventure–a magic that comes from a place far outside the plot of the story. I found the genuine tone and nature of Lee’s writing to be comforting–something that is not often found in many adventure and fantasy novels. The story brings up those strong emotions that I love so much about teen and young adult fiction. Impactful books in this genre create the feeling within readers that they are meant for something greater, and Lee’s work certainly strikes a similar chord.
Marvels of the Underworld will captivate fans of science fiction and teen and young adult novels. In addition, those interested in exploring a novel with high-quality writing and an exceptionally well-thought-out storyline will find this a pleasure to read.
Pages: 322 | ASIN : B09TRTR8NM
A World of Magic and Mysticism
The Last Keeper follows a young magician with the power of prophetic sight as he tries to stop the destruction of his world. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I have varied inspirations for the story, but the vast majority of the worldbuilding and plot lines were a result of twenty years of playing Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role playing games.
During the planning process for the series, I was able to memorialize several of my unique campaigns and many of our characters, villains and “cryptids” and wove them into the greater story of The Last Keeper. I took inspiration from those adventures with friends and family and used it as the basis for the story. Thus, I had a built-in and battle tested geography, political system, pantheon of gods (that I refer to as “Ancients”) as well as backstories for each.
The exercise made for a ready-made world that I just needed to launch with book one.
Daemus Alaric has many challenges to overcome as a result of his prophetic sight. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
The storyline of Daemus came to me in part by a set of recurring nightmares I had as a late teen, and I used some of the imagery to create the conflict between Daemus and the novel’s villain, Graytorris. In my dreams, I was visited by a similar entity to Graytorris that claimed to be a “guardian angel” of mine and was here to reward me if I followed his requests.
When I took that true-to-life experience and flung it into a world of magic and mysticism, it was easy to supercharge it into the metaphysical battle between protagonist and antagonist. I even used some “scenes” from my own nightmares, like the scene in the prologue near the placid pool shrouded in fog as the basis for Daemus and his first contact with Graytorris the Mad, in their shared dreamscape.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The book is a classic sword and sorcery novel, steeped in the spirit of Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and Dungeons and Dragons. At its heart, it highlights themes such as betrayal, struggle and duty. Betrayal in the form of a staged coup to topple the rightful king of Thronehelm; struggle in the form of a burgeoning war, but also struggles against Graytorris the Mad and his plot for revenge; and duty, in the form of service to kingdom as well as forbidden love between two main characters, Princess Addilyn Elspeth and Sir Ritter of Valkeener (racial tension).
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Book two, known as Vorodin’s Lair, is in editing now and will be available in late summer while the third book, The Trillias Gambit is nearly done and will enter the editing process later this year. I expect it’s release around the holidays of 2022 or early 2023.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Blind at birth, Daemus Alaric is blessed with the gift of prophetic Sight. Now, as a Keeper of the Forbidden, he must use his powers of the Sight to foil the plans of a fallen Keeper, Graytorris the Mad.
An elven Princess with a horrifying secret.
Princess Addilyn Elspeth travels from Eldwal, the magically hidden home of the Vermilion elves, to begin her life as a diplomat to the human capital of Castleshire. During her journey, she stumbles upon a mystical creature foretelling ill tidings.
A terrifying force of evil.
Daemus’ recurring nightmare vision threatens to catapult him into a terrifying struggle that will leave the fate of the Keepers—and the realm—hanging in the balance. Daemus and Princess Addilyn must set out to face the menace that threatens their very existence.
Will the entire realm fall to its knees?
The Last Keeper is the first book in The Warminster Series. With gripping, epic action and heart-pounding adventure, you’ll love this new adventure series.
The Last Keeper
In author J.V. Hilliard’s The Last Keeper, the realm of Warminster is thrown into tumult with a treasonous act and flight of their powerful Keeper of protection. The sudden occupation of marauding raiders feeds into the prophetic vision from one of the last Keepers with the gift of Sight, the destruction of Warminster. However, if the vision of the young Daemus Alaric can be interpreted correctly – and in time – order in the realm might be maintained. With the aid of the seer princess, Addilyn, and the field leadership of Sir Ritter Valkaneer, a talented Longmarchers captain, Warminster is poised to defend itself against the return of the traitorous Graytorris.
This wonderfully detailed medieval fantasy tale is filled with dramatic action and adventure. The characters are well developed and easy for the reader to connect with. The story’s pace is intense and keeps you on your toes the entire time. I was always wondering what would happen next and found this book to be unpredictable.
The element of magic introduced in the initial chapter is not explored with much depth, but it is believable and helps the story progress. Hilliard expounds on the hierarchies of race, status, and class in each of the sub-worlds that the three principal characters inhabit, adding an intriguing background to the characters in the story. There is a large cast of characters introduced, lending to the epic feel of this fantasy story, but I felt that they were hard to keep track of at times, even though each character does play an important role in the story. It never becomes clear who will spearhead the overall defense against Graytorris’ encroaching threat to the realm, but it is patently evident that there is more to come in what is sure to be a compelling series.
The Last Keeper is a riveting epic fantasy novel. Readers will find the non-stop action and adventure as the characters all come together from their separate worlds to be invigorating. This opening book to the series will really grab the attention of readers who enjoy metaphysical fantasy.
Pages: 419 | ASIN : B09NB2L871
LITERARY TITAN 