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The Last Rays of Ra
In The Last Rays of Ra, Karina McRoberts crafts a narrative that intertwines crime, magic, and ancient history, transporting readers on an adventurous journey alongside the novel’s central character, Vahlona Selket Faralay. Set against the backdrop of a series of perplexing murders in London, Scotland Yard Detective Jackson Randolph enlists the expertise of Egyptologist Vahlona. Their quest for a mysterious ancient artifact connected to the crimes takes Vahlona to Egypt, where she confronts various challenges, from dealing with dangerous terrorists and misogynistic police officers to facing the perils of the natural world.
McRoberts’s writing style is notable for its vivid atmosphere, effectively contrasting the brisk ambiance of London with the warmth of Egypt. This descriptive prowess immerses readers in diverse settings while maintaining a focus on the unraveling mystery. The novel is a testament to McRoberts’s ability to blend elements from multiple genres, creating a captivating reading experience. The characters are well-developed, each with distinct personalities that add depth to the story. The pacing is skillfully managed, effectively maintaining reader engagement from start to finish. The narrative gains momentum towards the end, offering an exhilarating pace that brings the story to a dynamic conclusion, although some readers might appreciate a more gradual resolution. The book’s strengths, particularly in world-building and character development, make it a compelling read.
The Last Rays of Ra is a remarkable work of fiction that seamlessly blends multiple genres. McRoberts’s writing style is engaging and captivating, which makes the book an immersive experience for the readers. The storyline is particularly appealing to fans of historical mysteries and those who enjoy exploring ancient cultures. With its vivid descriptions and well-crafted characters, The Last Rays of Ra is a must-read for anyone interested in a thrilling adventure that takes them on an unforgettable journey.
Pages: 354 | ASIN : B0CYPVG46Y
Crime and the Supernatural
A Beast Within follows a normal-looking family with a dark secret who encounters three criminals on the run after a bank robbery. What inspired the setup of your story?
I always wanted to write a story combining both crime and a supernatural element to it. I wondered for a while on how to do this. So when A Beast Within came to me, I felt it was the perfect balance of both crime and the supernatural.
Your characters are well-rounded and offer readers some surprises as they get into the story. What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
Gosh, thank you so much for the compliment! I’m blushing here. I always try to make every character I write seem as real as possible. I use a method whereby I have different categories in an Excel sheet i.e. name, age, sex, hobbies, likes, dislikes, triggers, etc. By spending time working on the sheet and filling in these categories for each person, this approach helps me to make them into real people.
But to answer your question, I liked writing Natalie, not just because she’s a fellow Irish person, but because I tried to make her as evil as possible while still giving her a sympathetic backstory as to why she is this way. Jeremy was a challenge to write because, not only was he the protagonist and a criminal, but I had to make him a guy who wasn’t afraid to commit a crime if need be, but also show that he had a good side to him. It was also imperative to show readers that he really wanted to change and no longer revert back to crime so this, in itself, was a tough balancing act, coming up with ways that pushed him further back into his old life.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
Ever since I was a kid, the unknown always fascinated me. Also, while growing up, I’ve had a few paranormal encounters so it let me know that it exists. Writing in the horror genre can be tough because you have to thrill people in ways that you can’t do in the fantasy genre. You have to take readers to a dark place and if you’re to fully immerse them into the story, you have to make them scared or feel uncomfortable. Dean Koontz and Stephen King are masters at this, two men I totally respect and admire for their craftsmanship as authors.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
There are a couple of books I am working on at the moment. In August of this year, I’m releasing, Deadly Pursuits – the sequel to The Lost Son (Second Edition). I’m also editing, Lurking Beasts – the final book in my YA horror series, The Hopps Town Series, which will be released in April 2025. Hopefully, two audiobooks based on my novels will be released this year as well.
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Fresh out of prison, Jeremy vows to steer clear of a life of crime and clean up his act. But he quickly realizes that to the world, he will always be an ex-con and plunges back into his old ways. The perfect opportunity presents itself in the form of his best friend, Stephen, and his spunky girlfriend, Natalie.
After a failed bank robbery, Jeremy and his accomplices’ identities are made. So, they find refuge in the home of a typical Christian family. Their getaway should have been smooth sailing…after all it was three armed criminals against the wholesome Boyd family.
But the Boyds are hiding dark secrets of their own…
Get the latest pulse-pounding, thrilling novella by Aidan Lucid today!
“A Beast Within” ranked in 16th place in Malevolent Dark Horror Fiction’s December 2023 Top 25 Horror Fiction List.
Explore the Darker Side
In Chaos Ascending: A Feast of Betrayal, a man is forced on a quest and must evade assassins all the while journeying with a man he feels he cannot trust. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As both a writer and a landscape photographer, there is the experience of relying on one’s self, one’s own talents, to create something. However, I’ve also experienced many years working in a corporate environment where the motivations of other team members you depend on to succeed aren’t always in sync or even honorable. Many coworkers are wonderful teammates and work well with others, but not all. I guess the setup comes from life’s experiences, both the good ones and the bad ones. Others gunning for your job become assassins on your trail, whereas leaders with their own hidden agendas become Mera.
Did you plan the tone and direction of this second book in the trilogy before writing, or did it come out organically as you were writing?
The tone for Chaos Ascending: A Feast of Betrayal, was set even before I started writing the 1st book in the series. As a landscape photographer, I delight in finding the beauty in nature, creatively capturing it, and sharing my love of Nature with others. But there is a duality lurking somewhere in my soul that comes out when I write. Photography provides an outlet for expressing joy and wonder while my writing allows me to explore the darker side of people.
It is said there are two types of writers, plotters and pantsers. I write outlines for each book but never seem to follow them. As I get into each character’s head while writing, they sometimes take me in new directions the plot outline didn’t envision. The short answer to your question is that it all comes out organically.
What were some of your inspirations as a writer?
Back in the day, while still in high school, I pulled a book from my father’s bookshelf, Lord Foul’s Bane by Stephen R. Donaldson. It’s a dark and compelling fantasy. At the time, it seemed out of sync with the fantasy genre. I loved the entire series. Years later, I happened upon Mark Lawrence’s, The Prince of Thorns, and Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy. These three authors showed me that the hero isn’t always noble, doesn’t always have to win, and the bad guy may have a valid point…based on how they see things. The traditional “Hero’s Journey” could be turned on its head, and readers wouldn’t reject the character arc. Donaldson, Lawrence, and Abercrombie opened my eyes to the world of dark (grimdark) fantasy.
I was also inspired by the state of our world today in creating the worlds of Tartica and Evidar. With so many people these days taking fervent positions on one issue or the other, unwilling to co-exist with someone who sees things differently, I wrote the Utopia Falling Saga as a reflection of that dynamic expressed in a dark, epic fantasy. I’ve left it open for the reader—from either opposing point of view—to see themselves as the hero fighting to save the world. Even the Devil’s Blacksmith, as bad as he is, is fighting to secure Evidar’s salvation from its ever-present darkness.
Can you give fans a peek inside the follow-up to Chaos Ascending?
In the 3rd book, Convergence Waking: Forge of the Soul Stone, we get to see a glimpse of the origins of The Great Destruction, and it isn’t what the utopian civilization of the Third Age presumed. One character’s discovery of that secret has a major impact on the climax.
Using multiple points of view to tell the story of the Utopia Falling Saga—the 3rd and final book in the series—delivers a fast-paced, overarching plot that weaves each storyline into a cohesive conclusion. Each character arc requires a satisfying ending as a payoff to those readers who’ve stuck with me through three books. Yet, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to dark fantasy enthusiasts that a satisfying conclusion doesn’t mean every beloved character makes it to the end. Characters we love to hate, such as Neladith, Derr, and even Jerithan, will have something to say in driving the interwoven POV plotlines to a compelling climax. And of course, the question hanging out there through three books, does Reyne ever get back to Mithany, will be resolved. And, if they do, are either the same people they were when it all began? Well, that’s an altogether different issue.
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As civilization crumbles all around him, Reyne’s soul mirrors Tartica’s downfall; forced to abandon his bride-to-be; his brother ripped from his life; sent on a quest he neither believes in nor wants any part of; and alone, joined only by a mysterious man he doesn’t trust.
As Reyne prepares for an impossible transition through the Void to enter the dark realm of Evidar, he plots his own deception. But Evidar assassins are on his trail. They know he’s alive and they’re not only getting close, they’ve found him!
With betrayal lurking in the shadows, Tartica’s future, Evidar’s salvation, and Reyne’s life, all hang in the balance.
Reyne’s journey in the adult themed, dark, epic fantasy trilogy, The Utopia Falling Saga, continues in second book, Chaos Ascending: A Feast of Betrayal.
Alienation and Isolation
The Blackened Yonder: Planar Lost: Book One follows a village priest and woman involved with a group practicing forbidden magic. Each faces internal conflicts and moral quandaries, leading them to form an alliance against the evil in their world. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I take a lot of inspiration from events in nonfiction that I read. Although I’m not religious myself, I find it interesting to write characters like Father Latimer and explore struggles of faith and moral conflict. For Athenne, I’ve read many stories over the years about people who joined terrorist or hate groups and regretted it, and I thought introducing such an element into a fantasy setting might be interesting to write about. That is not a commentary on the rightness, wrongness, or morality of any of the characters in the story, since such labels are relative to perspective, but it’s what initially led me to write that story. I also try to inject a little bit of myself into all my characters, for better or worse. I’ve never participated in a violent radical organization, of course, but I’m often conflicted!
The world you created in this novel is brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you wrote?
I’ve been working on the world of the setting since around 2013 and have a large document of lore that goes into extensive detail about everything in the setting. That’s primarily for my own personal reference. I draw much inspiration from real things in history. For example, I adapted elements of the system of matrilineal inheritance in the setting very loosely from historical and some isolated contemporary cultures, and certain places in antiquity. I try to fill in holes and gaps in things like laws and customs as I write, especially if it might cause a problem for the consistency of the story. My editor sometimes says no one will care about certain small nuances, but I do.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Initially, I wasn’t going to include any elements of romance in the series whatsoever, but eventually, it did come up for certain characters where it felt natural. Mostly, I wanted to emphasize the messiness of life, the variability of individuals, and the importance of friendship, friend love, and other non-romantic social bonds, especially between genders. Another important theme is loneliness, and the sense of alienation and isolation most of us often feel in life.
When will book two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
The second book is already available on Amazon. I’m hoping to release the third book and a prequel of sorts at some point in 2024. There’ll be four books in the series in total, excluding the prequel story. The second novel continues the Undeath event described in the first book and introduces many new villains and characters. In fact, many readers’ favorite character is introduced in the second book. She’s a side character but plays an important role in much of the story. The second novel features more action and fantastical elements, and I think the third book and prequel take that even further. I don’t want the books to be all action all the time, because I feel that can be boring, so I try to strike a decent balance.
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When dark forces empty a village overnight, only the ravenous undead remain. Garron Latimer, the village priest, flees to the capital seeking salvation.
Far south, Athenne joins the underground Saints of Aetheria to ignite revolution and unleash forbidden magic. But their ambitious agenda demands a terrible price.
Torn between duty and defiance, Garron uncovers secrets that test his faith. Plagued by doubt, Athenne questions the Saints’ righteousness, knowing betrayal could destroy her.
A Beast Within
A Beast Within by Aidan Lucid intertwines the ordinary and the extraordinary, blending the lives of a quintessentially American family with a group of bank robbers, culminating in a suspenseful encounter with the supernatural. The narrative unfolds from two distinct perspectives, creating a dynamic and engaging storytelling experience. The book opens with a family – Malcolm, Helena, and David – who find themselves in a nightmarish scenario, encountering a werewolf on a desolate road. This traumatic experience serves as the reader’s introduction to the paranormal elements that permeate the story. The narrative then shifts to Jeremy, a character freshly released from prison. Despite his aspirations to leave his criminal past behind, he finds himself drawn back into that world by his friend Stephen and Stephen’s girlfriend, Natalie. This decision leads them to face unexpected and otherworldly consequences.
Lucid excels in pacing, crafting a narrative that is both brisk and captivating, making it an ideal read for those looking to immerse themselves in a story in one sitting. Jeremy, as a character, is particularly well-rendered, embodying a blend of vulnerability and resilience that makes him a compelling protagonist. His moral complexity adds depth to the narrative, presenting him as flawed yet fundamentally decent. The portrayal of trauma and its diverse impacts on individuals is a standout aspect of Lucid’s writing. The characters’ varied responses to their traumatic experiences are depicted with a sense of authenticity. For instance, while Jeremy grapples with lost self-confidence, Natalie turns to adrenaline-fueled activities for solace. These personal struggles inadvertently summon the supernatural forces that thrive on their fears and anxieties. While the novel effectively delves into these psychological themes, it leaves certain areas underexplored. The backstory involving Iraq, for instance, feels like a missed opportunity for deeper character development, particularly for Natalie, whose character at times feels limited in dimensionality. A more thorough exploration of this aspect could have enriched the narrative and offered a more nuanced understanding of her character.
A Beast Within is an engaging read for those who relish a blend of suspense, the supernatural, and psychological depth. Lucid’s storytelling is marked by a compelling plot twist that adds to the book’s overall entertainment value. Recommended for fans of thrillers and supernatural fiction, this novel is a testament to the exciting possibilities of genre blending.
Pages: 116 | ASIN : B0CJP9ND4N
Chaos Ascending: A Feast of Betrayal
Chaos Ascending: A Feast of Betrayal, by R.C. Vielee, emerges as a compelling dark fantasy novel, intricately weaving themes of internal conflict, fate, and the interplay of parallel universes. Set against a backdrop of political intrigue and spiritual turmoil, the story unfolds in a world teetering on the brink of collapse. The protagonist, Reyne, is thrust into a treacherous journey through the Void to Evidar, grappling with the burdens of deception and destiny while evading assassins. His story is a reflection of the broader narrative: the struggle of Tartica under Chancellor Tomelai’s oppressive rule and the looming threat of the Devil’s Blacksmith.
Reyne’s character is deftly portrayed, and his inner turmoil echoes the larger societal decay and the tension between conformity and rebellion. This complexity lends him a relatable depth, particularly in his struggles with moral ambiguity and trust, mirroring the human inclination to adapt for survival.
Mithany’s character complements this dynamic, offering a poignant exploration of guilt and honesty amid a web of deceit. The antagonist, known as the Devil’s Blacksmith, injects a palpable sense of dread into the narrative, embodying the despair and dangers lurking within the story’s universe. The juxtaposition of Evidar and Tartica skillfully illustrates the perpetual battle between darkness and light, resonating with the complexities and dualities of real life. Vielee’s novel is notable for its meticulous attention to detail and the seamless integration of sophisticated themes, especially the exploration of physics elements. The characters are crafted with depth and nuance, making their struggles and triumphs resonate with the reader.
Chaos Ascending is more than a fantasy novel; it’s a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition set against a richly imagined world. A highly recommended read for anyone seeking a compelling dark fantasy that will remain with the reader long after the last page is turned.
Pages: 609 | ASIN : B0CTGJW7Y4
The Blackened Yonder: Planar Lost: Book One
In The Blackened Yonder: Planar Lost: Book One, J. Gibson invites readers into a richly imagined world, following the intertwining paths of Father Garron Latimer and Athenne. The narrative juxtaposes Father Latimer’s crisis of faith, sparked by his village falling prey to an enigmatic darkness he dubs ‘The Beast,’ with Athenne’s internal conflict arising from her involvement with the zealous group ‘The Saints.’ These multifaceted characters navigate their moral quandaries with compelling depth.
The book’s opening chapters set a captivating tone, with Gibson’s meticulous detail painting vivid scenes that engage the senses. This descriptive prowess anchor the reader firmly in the setting and heightens the emotional resonance of the characters’ experiences. The plot unfolds with a careful balance of tension and resolution, leaving some threads tantalizingly open while satisfyingly concluding others. A cliffhanger ending stokes anticipation for subsequent volumes in the series.
Athenne emerges as a particularly relatable character, her quest for purpose and identity rendered with empathetic insight. Similarly, Father Garron Latimer is portrayed with nuance, his knowledgeable yet troubled persona guiding not only his own journey but also that of Amun, a character who intriguingly evolves from a supporting role to a central figure. Gibson’s ability to flesh out characters extends beyond the written word, as demonstrated by an illustrative portrayal of Athenne at the book’s end, giving readers a glimpse into the author’s vision. This thoughtful touch adds an extra layer to the reading experience.
The Blackened Yonder: Planar Lost: Book One is a striking beginning to what promises to be a captivating series. Its intricate character development and immersive storytelling make it a noteworthy addition to the dark fantasy genre and leaves the reader eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Pages: 340 | ASIN : B096QX9YJ1
Literary Titan Gold Book Award March 2024
The Literary Titan Book Award celebrates books with creative ideas and honors authors skilled in transforming words into exquisite prose. These remarkable books elevate the craft of storytelling. Here’s to the talented authors who’ve turned original concepts into wonderfully crafted books. Your extraordinary skill merits every ounce of this acknowledgment.
Award Recipients
Black Coffee by Verity Grey
ZAINAB! by Tajudeen Bioku
I DECIDED by Wahiba C.Rekkab
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
LITERARY TITAN 