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The Hunger of the Dragon
The Hunger of the Dragon is a brutal and immersive plunge into a grim world of Norse myth reborn in shadow. The story follows Märren, a haunted warrior mother carrying her daughter’s skull through rain-soaked mountains, hunted by trolls and later captured by the Sea Serpent clan. Her desperate quest to find the Dragon people, to claim a god’s scale, intertwines with Caëtin, a Raven berserker navigating shifting alliances and divine magic. It’s a saga thick with loss, myth, and raw survival, where every battle feels like it was written in blood and mud. The book draws from the bones of Norse legend but rebuilds the myth into something darker, stranger, and heartbreakingly human.
Author R.M. Schultz writes with a grim beauty that’s almost hypnotic. The language is visceral, heavy with texture and sound. It’s not a kind story. There’s no bright hero or warm victory, only people scraping meaning from ruin. Still, the characters burned themselves into me. Märren especially. She’s hard, bitter, tender in private moments. Caëtin feels carved from ice and fire, both ruthless and weary. I found myself pulled between them, torn by their choices.
By the time I finished, I felt wrung out. The book leaves you raw, sitting in silence for a while after closing it. Schultz doesn’t flinch from horror or grief. There’s love here, too, but it’s buried deep, found in loyalty and defiance more than tenderness. I liked that honesty. The pacing runs hot and cold, slow scenes steeped in myth and madness, then sudden violence that makes you jump. It’s harsh, yet beautiful. The kind of writing that crawls under your skin and stays there. I didn’t love every choice, sometimes the lore weighed down the emotion, but the ambition is staggering. The world feels ancient and endless, as if Schultz unearthed it rather than invented it.
I’d recommend The Hunger of the Dragon to readers who want their fantasy rough and full of heartache. If you like sagas that smell of smoke and iron, if you want women who fight and bleed and curse the gods, this is for you.
Pages: 574 | ASIN : B0FSYM7GK3
Astral Seeds- Eternal Reign Edition
Jhani Mills’s Astral Seeds opens like a symphony of chaos, blending cosmic prophecy with the fragile humanity of its characters. The story follows Aric Draconis, a dragon rider tangled in a universe on the brink of rebirth. As celestial rifts tear open the sky and ancient Guardians stir from slumber, he becomes unwilling witness and participant in a struggle between creation and destruction. Kings crave godhood, dragons debate destiny, and stars themselves become instruments in a war of balance. Mills builds a world that feels both mythic and immediate, filled with lyrical dread and aching wonder.
The prose is lush, almost hypnotic, and sometimes it feels alive, like the words hum beneath the surface. The dialogue between Aric and Ignarion, his dragon, carries real warmth. Their bond has weight, not the kind of flat loyalty you find in typical fantasy tales. But the beauty of the writing cuts both ways. At times, the rich, layered descriptions slow the rhythm a bit, letting the poetry take center stage over the story’s momentum. The language feels deliberate, like Mills wants you to taste every syllable before moving on. But, when it hits, it hits like thunder. There’s power in the way small human acts like kneading dough, watching the sun, and listening to the river, mirror the collapse of galaxies.
What really stayed with me was the sense of longing that runs through everything. The book isn’t just about power or prophecy. It’s about connection, about what it costs to keep faith when the sky itself turns against you. Mills writes with this quiet conviction that even in ruin, there’s something worth saving. The characters aren’t perfect heroes, they’re scared, sometimes arrogant, sometimes heartbreakingly kind, and that makes them real. There were scenes that gave me chills, others that felt heavy in the chest. I could feel the loneliness in Aric’s choices, the hunger in Vaelion’s ambition, the melancholy in Zephyr’s song. The story asks questions most fantasy avoids: Can destruction be sacred? Can love survive apocalypse? It doesn’t hand out clean answers, and that uncertainty is what makes it linger.
If you like your fantasy poetic, unpredictable, and soaked in cosmic mystery, Astral Seeds is for you. It’s not a light read. It’s a storm you walk through, slow and unsteady, until you find something glowing on the other side. I’d recommend it to readers who love the mythic scope of Brandon Sanderson but crave the lyrical weight of Erin Morgenstern.
Pages: 422 | ASIN : B0FTGP8M9N
The Coolest Warrior Ever
The Call of Thunder centers around a young woman struggling with identity and duty, living a hidden existence in a mountain village where she must resist the urge to reveal her own extraordinary powers. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I give a lot of credit to The Legend of Zelda video games, also Marvel (costume was inspired by Black Widow), and movies like The Avengers, Black Panther being my favorite. Being able to create your own world and literally do whatever you want with it got me really excited about this. I spent years trying to create the storyline and figuring out what powers she would have. I truly wanted her to be the coolest warrior ever!
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
There were times in my life that I wanted to stop being so reserved, stop caring what other people thought of every single thing I said and did. I recall in my younger years how frustrating yet amazing it can be to first experience romantic feelings. I wanted to bring that to light in Havanna as somewhat of a reflection of myself.
What was your favorite scene in this story?
Probably when Havanna arrives in Sabbia and fights the Backers trap that was set up for her there. I loved writing about Queen Calista and their relationship, and how freaking awesome she is. It was a way to give Havanna some hope after so much loss.
Can you give us a glimpse inside Book 2 of the Hidden Heroes series? Where will it take readers?
It picks up right where book 1 leaves off, with Quill and Havanna going to find the next Descendant. There are tests along the way to find the other Descendants, such as fighting enormous monsters and one particularly cold, brutal personality. Slow-burn romance is for certain as the characters get to know each other and learn to work together for the same purpose. The ending, in particular, will leave readers shocked, just the way I like it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
In the kingdom of Petros, twenty-year-old Havanna wants nothing more than to be free, to find herself, and to use her powers without reserve. But using her lightning abilities could expose her to the Backers—who do the Dormant King’s dirty work in hunting down her kind—and the bloodthirsty, fatal Dormants.
Besides, not even Havanna’s best friend knows her secret.
When her own impatience, isolation, and a bully create the perfect storm, Havanna’s desperation snaps her self-control. But she triggers the wrath of the Dormant King and a deadly raid that leaves her more alone than ever.
Determined to make things right, Havanna breaks out of hiding to take revenge. While searching for the Dormant King, testing her powers, and exploring the kingdom she begged to see her whole life, she finds that this quest is more difficult than expected.
Maybe that’s because this quest was never Havanna’s alone…
The Call of Thunder is a YA fantasy with an epic quest, adrenaline-spiking action, and a heroine learning the full scope of her power.
Foretold in the Scriptures
The Manifestation of Evil follows a young girl whose seemingly ordinary life in Ankara slowly unravels under the weight of sinister visions, haunting figures, and a destiny tied to forces beyond her understanding. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup for my story would have to be Genesis 3:15 in the Bible, where it says how God will put an enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel, and that verse was actually prophetic because it deals with the messiah, Jesus Christ, and the spiritual war. In my fictional book, I wanted Asya, a young Turkish girl who lives a normal life, to be visited by celestial beings to herald the birth of her firstborn child, who will change the world and her status as a chosen vessel. But she will be unaware of the type of celestial beings talking to her and the implications of what is being said to her. Just like the Virgin Mary in the Bible, who comes from a religious background, I wanted Asya to come from a religious background as well. Asya has no idea that the child she will give birth to is the antichrist, which was foretold in the scriptures.
What were some of the trials that you felt were important to highlight Asya’s development?
When it came to Asya’s development in the book, Asya went through betrayal and sexual abuse from a family relative, which was an awful thing, and that shaped her life to a certain extent, where she became an overachiever. Now, in my fictional book, I wanted to explore the background of the key players and characters in my book, especially their upbringing and events that will shape their lives, like the Russian president, Igor Alexander, who is an ultra nationalist and has a very dangerous antisemitic ideology.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The purpose of this fictional series is to make people aware of the times we are living in and to think about eternity because, truth be told, we live in a messed-up world. All you have to do is turn your TV on, and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, and earthquakes in diverse places. People are losing their minds, and there is economic instability, uncertainty, and inflation. It does not take a scholar or a genius to know something is off with this world we live in, and it is full of evil.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
The Birth of the Antichrist: The Manifestation of Evil, Part 1 is part of a series. The second book, His Arrival, will be out in January of 2026. This first book deals with all the events and circumstances that will lead to the birth of the antichrist, the man of sin.
Author Links: GoodReads | LinkedIn | X (Twitter) | Instagram | Amazon
Guardians of Felina: Rise of the Phantom
Rise of the Phantom sweeps the reader into the land of Felina, a world of Guardians chosen by prophecy, magic, and responsibility. At its heart are Alada and Tierra, divine feline protectors, who cross paths with Birch, a mortal Meu, as they warn villages of the Phantom’s threat. The book brims with battles, supernatural beasts, playful humor, and quiet moments of longing. Sofia builds a lush world of glowing forests, sacred prophecies, and mysterious enemies that feel both mythical and immediate.
What I liked most was the emotional texture beneath the adventure. Alada’s solitude, her aching need for connection, felt raw and real to me. I also loved the contrast with Tierra’s spirited energy and wacky humor, which often lightened otherwise heavy moments. At times, the banter felt almost too playful for the stakes, but I think that was the point, it reminded me how humor can be armor when facing despair. The writing style was easy to sink into. Sometimes the pacing slowed in long descriptive passages, yet I found myself appreciating the detail when I leaned into it.
The ideas, though, are what lingered. The story asks what it means to guard others while remaining unseen, how much one should intervene in the lives of those they protect, and how loneliness carves itself into even the strongest. I admired the way the book balanced spectacle with intimacy, giving as much weight to kittens begging for fish as to battles against glitching monsters. The villains intrigued me too. They’re shadowy, strange, almost playful in their cruelty. It made the danger unpredictable, and I liked that.
In the end, I closed the book feeling both satisfied and hungry for more. I’d recommend Guardians of Felina: Rise of the Phantom to readers who enjoy epic fantasy with a softer heart, fans of animal-centered worlds, and anyone who wants a mix of whimsy and darkness. It would be perfect for young adults who crave adventure, but older readers who remember the ache of loneliness and the balm of friendship will find just as much to hold onto here.
Pages: 256 | ISBN : 1735495867
A Hero to Admire and Inspire
The Eye of Ebon follows a young girl who is brutalized and left to die in the snow, who is delivered a mysterious sword that has the power to change the course of her world, if she can survive. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
First of all, thank you for having me, and for your interest in my story, The Eye of Ebon. I greatly appreciate this opportunity to talk about my work, and to be showcased on the Literary Titan website. It is an honor.
The inspiration for the Eye of Ebon came from things I was witnessing in our culture and in the entertainment world around me. I saw strong trends towards glorifying villains, and bad things, and a falling away from valuing heroes in our daily lives. Gone was Adam West’s Batman, and Shatner’s Kirk, and here was Darth Vader and Prince Zuko. The conversation changed. People were more interested in villains, and heroes were cast aside as dull, or boring, or too ‘good’ to be interesting. The questions that floated around in the writer’s circles were no longer about the virtues of heroes, but instead about the complexity of villains, and many times it was just, ‘Is my villain cool enough?’ I wanted a story that brought the focus back to heroes, and one in which the villains were reacting to them. I wanted heroes that were admired and were inspiring to people, and I wanted villains that had no redeeming or likable qualities.
But there was more. I am a believer that for light to shine brightest, it must be pitted against the greatest dark. Samiare is in a dark world, and suffers a terrible ordeal. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a female character. I wanted the greater difficulty that comes with that territory. I wanted the female aspects of her character to matter, to not have her just be a man in female trappings, hitting things with her sword in a male, swashbuckling way. I wanted her to have terrible things to overcome. Samiare wrestles with anger and hate and pain through much of the story. She is physically and spiritually damaged, and has a lot to contend with. The opening scene and the ordeals she suffers carry with her throughout all the books, but are strongest in the Eye of Ebon.
Ruegette also has many things to overcome as well, there is a great sadness and regret in her, and her devotion to duty has cost her much, and may cost her more again. She is more mature than Samiare, but her journey is equally as real. My first concept of her was that she needed to be a role model that could make Samiare confident that she could follow in the ways of warriors as well. She needed to be a friend and mentor. In a world where women do not play the role of warrior, one who was living that life, and being highly successful at it, might give the spark that others could do it too. Ruegette is highly competent, and knows when to take risks. And she is just as driven as any to achieve her aims. But to make the choice that has set her on this path has come with a great cost. While it is not as front and center as Samiare and her issues, there is still much pain in Ruegette, and there is no way for her to set it right. She too takes risks of life and limb and does her duty for Tierinor, but is it what she truly wants? Or does it just end in more heartache? There is no going back for her. There is only braving the way ahead.
What were the driving ideals behind Samiare and Ruegette’s character development throughout the story?
For Samiare, I wanted her to wrestle with her feelings of anger and hate, both at her ordeal, but also at the monstrous Groll who did it. Samiare has to come to terms with a lot of change right away. And she is wielding the White Sword. It connects her to powers above—powers unlike those following the Seven Gods have ever known. Her faith and her belief carry a lot of importance, and few in the story share it with her. Samiare is asked to trust, but given little as to why she should. Yet she cannot just ignore the powers that work through her. She does believe, but can she bear it when she hates so much?
With Ruegette, I wanted to pit her devotion to duty, against that of finding love. The daring Captain Darimus travels with her, and she must work with him even though he is an agent from a foreign power—one that is supposed to be an ally to Tierinor, but is seemingly working with the Groll instead. Ruegette cannot wholly trust him, and yet…in their quest together, their feelings for each other grow. It isn’t all just foolish banter, there is something genuine behind it as well.
Ruegette is a Tagore, duty before all else is in her blood. How can she walk the line of duty to her own nation while contenting with her growing feelings towards the Marish captain? Can she survive if she must deny love to keep the Eye of Ebon safe? And what is the cost of duty when the stakes are so high?
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There are many themes explored in the book, and in the series.
In the Eye of Ebon we see strong themes of duty and faith, as well as many others, such as overcoming, persevering, loyalty, trust, love, honor, and sacrifice. And many more themes as well. But for me, personally, I wanted the story to reflect that faith matters, and that trust in things greater than oneself is something that even the most faithful wrestle with. Samiare has a lot of faith. Some of it is just hard wired into who she is, and much more of it comes from the act to save her, and her connection to the One Who Watches Over. But she wrestles with that connection throughout the story, growing in faith and questioning trust. This is a theme the spans all five books and lives with the character for the entirety of the tale. Samiare gains somewhat of the warrior ethos over the span of the five books and that too plays a role in who she is.
Ruegette has duty first on her heart. It was bred into her by the importance of being a Tagore, and plays out over the many books as well, as she tries to come to terms with her father’s love, and his effort to do his duties as well. It shapes who she is. Ruegette wants to overcome the grip that duty has on her, but knows the gravity of events means she cannot just put it aside. She must find her own way, and make her own amends. Ruegette has great loyalty to her house and to her nation, but the lone act of rejecting her father’s plans has had a cost on both herself, and on others she loves. It cannot be so easily forgotten or forgiven. Ruegette must find some way to make peace with her demons as well.
When will book two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
Book 2, The Promise of Eternity, is delayed in becoming available. I am currently working with an editor to help me provide a high quality work, and fix some of the problems it may have. And I am also waiting on the cover artist to make some changes I had asked for in the cover design. Teresa Jenellen is a wonderful artist, and I love her work. She is worth waiting for.
I am looking to have these out early in 2026, if not earlier.
Books 1-4 are all written, and book 5 is in progress. When Book 2 is released, and the rough for book 5 is written, I will be putting all my energy into getting book 3 released. Unfortunately, I have been wrestling with cancer for the last year, and I now feel it is more important to get the whole story written than to meet release date deadlines. It is important to me to complete the tale whether my cancer is cured or not. Hopefully, I can meet a schedule of one a year, or one every 18 months. The editing does take a lot of effort, and the latter books have much higher word counts.
It is my great hope that readers will enjoy them all, and stick with my tale through its darkness and grit to see its beauty as a whole.
My story has been described as, ‘What if Joan of Arc had used her sword and not her banner?’ Well, Sami is not quite Joan, but I’d like to think Joan would have admired her.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Pulled into a conflict greater than nations and Gods, both Ruegette, and the girl she rescues, try to survive in a land full of threats against brutal foes that will show them no mercy. Can Samiare find the strength to overcome her torments, and can the White Sword be enough to push back the dark? –Or will a sinister creature reclaim its prize…
The Shadow is rising…
…It seeks back its eye…
…It won’t be stopped.
The Call of Thunder
The Call of Thunder, by Sarah Blynne, follows Havanna, a young woman marked by loss and destiny. Torn from her parents during a violent raid as a child, she grows up in hiding within the mountain village of Ketra. Her life balances between ordinary tasks like running the eatery and extraordinary challenges such as resisting the urge to reveal her lightning-born powers. Legends of Descendants, monstrous Dormants, and the looming shadow of the Dormant King shape her world. Alongside friends, rivals, and potential love interests, Havanna struggles with identity, duty, and the yearning to break free of secrecy while danger lurks just beyond the village gates.
Reading this book felt like being carried along by a current that shifts from gentle to wild. The writing is vivid and often cinematic. The opening scene of Havanna’s escape filled me with both panic and heartbreak, and that urgency never really let go throughout the novel. The world-building is strong, layered with history and myth that feel alive rather than forced. At the same time, the dialogue sometimes struck me as a bit too modern for the medieval-like setting. Still, I admired how the author balanced action with quieter, emotional moments.
Havanna’s character truly makes this book unique. She’s stubborn, flawed, fiery, and vulnerable all at once. Her grief over her parents, her frustration at hiding, her clashes with Darius, her tender bond with Aria–all of it felt raw and real. I found myself frustrated with her when she lashed out, yet cheering for her every time she picked herself back up. The undertones of a love triangle with Victor and Claeron added charm to the storyline. What I enjoyed most were the training scenes and moments where Havanna questioned her place in a world that expects her to be both hidden and heroic.
I would recommend The Call of Thunder to readers who love fast-paced fantasy adventures with a strong female lead, plenty of tension, and emotional depth. It’s ideal for those who enjoy stories about chosen ones grappling with responsibility and identity. If you appreciate a mix of sword fights, mystical powers, heartfelt friendships, and a dash of romance, this book will keep you hooked until the last page.
Pages: 267 | ASIN : B0DHNLHF59
The Manifestation of Evil: Part One – The Birth of the Antichrist
The Manifestation of Evil tells the story of Asya, a young girl whose seemingly ordinary life in Ankara slowly unravels under the weight of sinister visions, haunting figures, and a destiny tied to forces beyond her understanding. Her journey is both spiritual and terrifying as she faces abuse, betrayal, and visions of the Morning Star, who claims her as the bearer of a prophecy that could reshape the world. Intertwined with her narrative is the rise of Igor Alexander, a ruthless Russian leader whose political ambitions escalate into a global confrontation, setting the stage for a sweeping clash of faith, power, and prophecy. Together, these threads create a sprawling tale of innocence and corruption, of individuals caught in the machinery of evil and destiny.
The writing is vivid, richly descriptive, and often cinematic. At times, though, the descriptions lingered long in certain places, which slowed the pace when I was eager to know what would happen next. I admired how the author captured the small details of ordinary life and then shattered them with sudden dread. That contrast made the moments of fear hit even harder. Some passages carried a touch of melodrama, and at times I felt steered toward a reaction.
The ideas in the book are bold, unsettling, and often heavy. The blending of prophecy, political intrigue, and personal trauma was thought-provoking. The narrative dares to tackle immense themes like the nature of evil, the vulnerability of children, and the dangerous ambitions of nations. At times, the larger themes took center stage, giving the characters a more symbolic presence within the story. There were moments, especially when Asya confided in Imam Ali, when her courage shone and reminded me why I cared. Those were the passages that stayed with me even after I finished the book.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy apocalyptic fiction rooted in faith, political thrillers with spiritual overtones, or stories that wrestle with the darkest corners of belief and power. It often challenged me to reflect on how fear and hope can coexist. If you are drawn to intense, layered stories that blur the line between the spiritual and the political, you’ll enjoy this book.
Pages: 193 | ASIN : B0F8VVHSW7
LITERARY TITAN 