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A Magical and Vast Universe
Beast of Phe’lak follows a woman trapped on an alien planet, under the control of a powerful beast who spots a delegation on the beach that triggers century-old memories, and a chance to regain her freedom. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration began in Queen of Highwings, the first book in my Chronicles of Phe’lak Trilogy—of which Beast is the third book. Phe’laki General George muses about the beast with regard to the palace’s understructure, which once served as another dragon’s lair. He thinks that the underpass was sealed to prevent attracting the Beast of Phe’lak to such a luxurious dwelling because, unlike the original resident, the Dragon of Yand, the beast is not benevolent. I received many questions, including: ‘What happened to the beast?’ and ‘Is it related to the beloved Yandar dragon?’ The character Hele’ne lived in my head for a long time. I always knew who she was and how she ended up on the alien planet. I naturally wove her in.
Hele’ne is a fascinating character. What scene was the most interesting to write for that character?
I must say, I love all her scenes. My top favorites include her introduction scene, her interaction with the beast and then with Wolfpack at the beginning of the story. I also love her exchanges with Rel and Drace, as well as her final scene in the last chapter. This last scene is very powerful.
For readers who have not yet read the rest of the Worldmaker® series, what do you want them to know about the world you have created?
It is a magical and vast universe, spanning galaxies and constellations. Each new world—whether a star system, planet, or moon—comes to life in vivid detail. The people who populate these worlds, whether they are queens and kings, scientists, military archers, or regular people, are just as authentic and lifelike. There are four humanoid species introduced so far: the empathic, winged Yandar; their slightly smaller telepathic cousins, the non-winged Yendai; the benevolent, non-meta giants known as the Phe’laki; and the malevolent K’tul. The main characters are complex and richly developed, and their extensive dialogues throughout the stories enhances the immersive quality. The illustrations are glorious. If you purchase the PDF, please read in full-screen, two-page format to get the full benefit of the artwork.
The primary genre is Sci-Fi/Fantasy, but with elements of the paranormal, a touch of horror, and unconventional romance, always with a hint of humor. LGBTQ+ and polyamorous marriages are part of the norm alongside exclusive and binary ones.
The storylines follow the saga of Worldmaker Yanara’s family, whose children have evocative names: Snowfox, Hawklord, Asimia, Dragonlord, Wolfpack, Sunstorm. Can you guess the kings among them? The Worldmaker and Dragoon? The Pathfinder?
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
I received requests to write more about the Dragon of Yand and his wife, Yira, and also of Drace and his husband, Rel. I can’t stop writing about these two. I could serialize their adventures. However, I meant to write the third trilogy in my series, the one that brings the war to the K’tul homeworld. We’ll see. For the next couple of months, I’ll be taking a breather and focusing on earning a few accolades for Beast to adorn its cover, just like my other books. It has already received a few awards, the most prominent among them being the No. 1 Book/Manuscript on Coverfly’s Red List this month (out of 57,000 scripts).
Author Links: Website | X | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok
Wolfhound: The King’s Hounds Book I
Wolfhound is a gritty and heart-wrenching fantasy tale that follows Cassian, the leader of a King’s Hound team—elite enforcers of royal justice in the kingdom of Fentia. When a mission to arrest a treacherous baron goes terribly wrong, Cassian is forced into a desperate escape that leaves him with nothing but the duty to report the betrayal and the weight of lost comrades. Along the way, he crosses paths with a scrappy, abused orphan boy named Theo, and what begins as a simple act of mercy turns into a test of Cassian’s soul. The story weaves together themes of loyalty, honor, justice, and grief with an emotionally raw and action-packed narrative.
Austin Davis knows how to keep your heart pounding with intense action scenes that don’t let up, but what surprised me most was how emotionally resonant it was. Cassian isn’t some one-note hero; he’s wrecked and angry, grieving and fiercely loyal. I felt every moment of his pain and frustration. The writing strikes a balance between immersive world-building and intimate character focus. Davis doesn’t get lost in fantasy tropes. Instead, he pulls you into the dirt and grit of being a King’s Hound. I especially loved the way he handled Theo—what could’ve been a tired “rescued orphan” trope felt alive, vulnerable, and earned.
Some scenes, especially action-heavy ones, occasionally ran long. But those dips are minor compared to how invested I was. I laughed at Cassian’s sarcasm, teared up more than once (no shame), and fist-pumped when justice was served. The dialogue felt natural and snappy, with a good amount of humor even in the darkest moments. Most of all, I appreciated that this wasn’t just a fantasy adventure—it was a meditation on loss, found family, and the cost of doing the right thing when it’s hard. And the horses? Don’t even get me started. I’d follow Strider into battle, no question.
If you’re into emotionally charged fantasy with grounded characters and a dash of political intrigue, Wolfhound will be right up your alley. I’d recommend it to fans of Joe Abercrombie, Brandon Sanderson’s grittier moments, or anyone who loves loyalty tested in the fire. It’s perfect for readers who want more heart than high magic, more scars than spells. Just don’t expect to walk away without feeling something deep in your chest.
Pages: 297 | ASIN : B0F8FS1HYD
His Wictim’s Innermost Dreams
The Son of Poetry follows a high-achieving and emotionally frayed teenager, who is unwittingly drawn into a mysterious, supernatural conflict while protecting his friends from a demon sent to destroy them. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the villain of the story, “Icelos” came from a painting titled the “Nightmare” by Henry Fuseli, 1781. In this painting, a hideous, demon implants fearful, crippling thoughts into a victim entrapped in sleep. In his modern persona, “Ice” never resorts to physical violence to control or punish his victims. But able to know his victim’s innermost dreams or greatest fears, he is able to implant thoughts or manipulate memories until the most courageous hero is broken.
This in turn inspired the idea of a normal teenager who has an inner hidden quality that can allow him to triumph over such evil. Only someone whose life has always been a quiet daily struggle can face an enemy whose weapons are cruel and psychological. The protagonist, Louis Song, has never won a fight and isn’t popular. But his selfless love for friends and family turns him into a tenacious hero.
In many contemporary coming-of-age fiction novels, authors often add their own life experiences to the story. Are there any bits of you in this story?
Many of my own life experiences were able to find their way into the story. I was very studious in my school years and did well, but like Louis, was never able to win any honors for all my efforts. And episodes of day dreaming between intense bursts of study were pretty common while I was holed up in my room.
The wet mountains and boreal rainforest of the Otherworld also bear a resemblance to the Olympic Peninsula of the Pacific Northwest, a place I loved to climb and backpack. Being surprised by a front coming off the Pacific while climbing an icy summit and crossing a long stretch of beach against a cliff before the next high tide are both experiences that I can now look back on fondly.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The theme that runs through the story is to never give up. Ice is a monster. His victims end up ruined or commit suicide. Several of the primary characters seem outwardly successful, but happiness eludes them. Many successful people have problems which are hidden behind successful façades.
Louis should be the weakest and most flawed character. He is constantly struggling, fighting despair, the fear of being ridiculed, and a crippling fear of heights that he has to overcome. Once he is able to win the inner struggle, then the bigger battle become achievable.
Our lives are interconnected. When Louis triumphs over evil, everyone in his inner circle, including friends, family and even some enemies find redemption. Good triumphs over evil, and it is important that we lift each other up.
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?
There is a sequel, Aerglo, which will seek to answer several questions that have been left open. And, of course, Ice is a vengeful immortal who cannot accept failure. Work and other commitments limit my time so I don’t have an estimated completion date, but it will happen.
Author Links: Website | Amazon
Louis Song is completing his last year of high school in Edinburgh. His world revolves around achieving academic excellence and acceptance to a top university. For Louis, his grades mean everything. But self-doubt and exhaustion plague him as he often studies into the early hours of the morning.
Annwfn is the mystical name of the Celtic Otherworld. It is also the name of Louis’ friend, Anne Engliesin. Anne is brilliant; top of their year, she makes getting perfect grades look easy. And like Louis, who is Scottish-Asian, she too is different, keeping secret that her father was among a group of survivors who escaped the Otherworld and who now make their lives in modern Edinburgh. Her mum’s a native Scot, but her father is a descendant of a mythical people.
An Otherworld demon now seeks to destroy the remaining survivors, and this includes Anne. Icelos, or “Ice” in his modern form is the personification of nightmares. Off the streets of Edinburgh, Ice recruits disillusioned youth with the promise to join him and become like gods in a magical Otherworld. He betrays them and they become his sluagh; evil incarnate, bound to his evil plan.
Only Louis, with his intellect and true heart, has what it takes to protect his friends. But what Louis doesn’t realise is that, in saving the lives of his friends, his stature against the evil of the world grows until his life becomes the greatest prize of all.
The Dog Ladies
Julie Titterington’s The Dog Ladies is a genre-bending story that blends cozy mystery, small-town gossip, and quirky dark humor into a wild narrative full of twists and unexpected heart. The book follows a group of people—eccentric, nosy, and fiercely loyal—who orbit around a central murder mystery while diving into everything from call transcripts to livestreams, etiquette lessons, soap operas, and the existential dread of insomnia. It’s structured with sharp shifts in tone and form, creating a layered and chaotic tapestry of voices, moments, and digressions that somehow all loop back into the odd little universe of these unforgettable dog-loving people.
Reading this book was like falling down a rabbit hole laced with sarcasm and sentiment. Titterington’s writing is whip-smart, often hilarious, and occasionally moving in a way that catches you off guard. One moment I’d be laughing at a bizarre conversation between characters I wasn’t sure I trusted, and the next, I’d feel a sudden emotional punch, like I’d just been reminded of the ache of growing old or losing a friend. The experimental structure, scenes flip between transcripts, interviews, and dialogue-driven chaos, can be disorienting, but it adds to the charm. This book doesn’t spoon-feed you. You piece it together like you’re one of the nosy ladies yourself, eavesdropping and speculating.
Sometimes the plot meanders. Characters talk over each other. There’s a lot of inside-joke energy that made me feel like I missed a memo. But somewhere along the way, I realized that was the point. The Dog Ladies isn’t about clean resolutions or linear storytelling. It’s about the mess of community, the kind that gossips and schemes and watches out for each other, even when it’s wildly dysfunctional. It’s an ode to oddballs, to late-night phone calls, to memories that come back in snippets and smells and weird phrases.
I’d recommend The Dog Ladies to readers who enjoy voice-driven stories, especially fans of authors like Maria Semple, Shirley Jackson (on a whimsy bender), or even absurdist podcasts. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re the kind of reader who likes a challenge, laughs at dry wit, and doesn’t mind feeling a little lost now and then, this book will win you over. It’s a messy, funny, bittersweet ride—and I’m glad I stuck around until the end.
Pages: 403 | ASIN: B0F4L66CV5
Unspoken
Unspoken is a deeply personal and emotionally raw autobiographical novel that follows the harrowing journey of two boys, Williams and Tega, who suffer and survive sexual abuse. Told through alternating narratives, the book plunges into the terrifying silence many male victims are forced to live with, capturing the confusion, betrayal, and eventual resilience that arise in the aftermath of trauma. At its core, this is a story about reclaiming power, finding one’s voice, and pushing back against a society that often ignores or mocks male victims of abuse.
Emecheta writes with a kind of honesty that cuts to the bone. He tells it like it is. I found myself angry, gutted, even ashamed at times, not at the victims, but at the adults who failed them and at the systems that let abusers slip through unnoticed. The storytelling isn’t polished in a literary sense, but it’s blisteringly authentic. The language is raw and emotional, which works in its favor. His use of direct narration, flashbacks, and interior dialogue brings you so close to the trauma that you almost want to look away, but you can’t.
Healing isn’t linear, and trauma tends to loop, not walk a straight line. What the book lacks in polish, it makes up for in courage. There’s nothing easy or neat here, and it doesn’t try to give false closure. The characters don’t get perfect justice, and the parents don’t suddenly transform into loving, attentive caregivers. It felt real, and maybe that’s why it hurt and helped so much.
But what I really appreciated was that this book didn’t just stay in the trauma. It showed the fight to break free. The courage it took to speak. The relief of being believed. And the stumbling, uneven path toward healing. It made me cry, yes, but it also made me hopeful. Emecheta’s honesty is unflinching, but his compassion is just as powerful. The story doesn’t just expose the abuse. It shines a light on what it means to reclaim yourself after being broken.
Pages: 98 | ISBN : 978776291X
PARADOX FORGED IN BLOOD
Paradox Forged in Blood is a historical murder mystery rooted in the decades-long repercussions of a brutal crime. Told through multiple timelines and perspectives, it weaves the tragic tale of Ellen O’Malley Szabo, who harbors a chilling secret stemming from a 1939 murder of a Cleveland socialite. As the story unfolds from Ellen’s early years through post-WWII America, it uncovers the dark entanglements of love, loss, guilt, and justice. Based on true events and enriched with authentic period detail, Fisher’s novel explores themes of trauma, moral ambiguity, and the long shadows cast by war and prejudice.
From the get-go, I was pulled in by Fisher’s talent for bringing history to life. The early chapters read like sepia-toned memories, layered with texture and heart. Her characters, especially Ellen, feel heartbreakingly real, flawed, brave, and haunted. Fisher doesn’t just tell a story—she captures a world. The prose is straightforward and emotionally direct, often charged with a kind of raw nostalgia. That said, the pacing sometimes slows, especially in the middle, where the plot steps back from the murder mystery and focuses more on historical backstory. While that deepens the characters and themes, it slightly muddles the genre expectations for a mystery. Still, I didn’t mind too much, I was already invested in the people more than the puzzle.
What stuck with me most wasn’t the crime, but the emotional wreckage it left behind. Ellen’s guilt seeps into every corner of her life. I also appreciated the undercurrent of social commentary. The anti-Semitism, the lingering trauma of war, the costs of silence. Fisher doesn’t preach. She shows us what it feels like to live with choices you can’t undo. At times, the story gets heavy, but it earns that weight. There’s grief here, but also grit. And love, the kind that quietly saves you, even if it can’t fix everything.
Paradox Forged in Blood isn’t just a mystery. It’s a reckoning. A slow burn about how the past refuses to stay buried. I’d recommend this book to fans of historical fiction who appreciate a strong emotional arc and morally complex characters. It’s especially suited for readers who like their mysteries more character-driven than clue-packed. If you’ve ever wondered how one secret can echo through generations, this one’s for you.
Pages: 662 | ASIN : B09WYSRZ6Q
Cotton Wood Adventures: New Beginnings
Cotton Wood Adventures is a wholesome, heartfelt story centered around a young girl named Macy and her journey to find connection, responsibility, and confidence through the dream of owning her very own horse. Set against the wide-open beauty of ranch life, Macy’s world is full of playful dogs, best-friend mischief, and the deep yearning for a horse she can call her own. When she’s finally gifted Apollo, a majestic black gelding, what follows is a bumpy but beautiful ride, full of setbacks, fear, triumph, and love. This is not just a story about getting what you want, but learning how to earn it, care for it, and understand it.
I was pulled into the warm and nostalgic atmosphere of the ranch. The writing has a gentle rhythm, like a quiet afternoon breeze through the cottonwoods. It’s charming, uncomplicated, and filled with lovely imagery—sun-dappled rides, muddy mishaps, giggles over licorice treats. But what really got me was the emotional depth beneath the simplicity. The tension between Macy’s dream and the reality of responsibility was real and raw, especially when Apollo challenges her. I felt her joy, her embarrassment, her heartache. That moment she was bucked off was gut-wrenching. The rescue in the storm was absolutely gripping.
Some plot developments happened quickly, especially around Apollo’s early behavior. I would’ve liked a deeper dive into why he was so stubborn or how his past might’ve shaped him. Still, the emotional payoff in the end made up for it. The growth felt genuine. Macy learned not just how to ride a horse, but how to lead one, how to listen, how to grow up. Her friendship with Kate adds a lovely, grounding layer to the whole thing. Just the right mix of laughter and loyalty to carry Macy through the tough moments.
Cotton Wood Adventures: New Beginnings is a warm hug of a book. It’s perfect for young readers who are just beginning to grapple with responsibility and self-doubt. Horse lovers will be absolutely hooked, and adults reading alongside their kids might just find themselves unexpectedly choked up by the final chapters. If you’ve ever dreamed of having a horse—or a best friend who gets you inside and out—this book is for you. It’s a story about falling down, getting back up, and building a bond that can weather even the worst storms. I loved it.
Pages: 82 | ISBN: 1923163841
LITERARY TITAN 