Blog Archives
Even Villains Have a Personality
The Arkencrest Chronicles: Battle for Crossroads follows an eighteen-year-old young man carrying the weight of his parents’ mysterious deaths, who joins a caravan, setting him on a path to discover his destiny. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I grew up in a home without parents and I know many other kids do as well. I was lucky enough to have a grandmother to take me in, so I feel I connect with the main character, Bourdain, on a personal level. He is basically a fantasy version of past me.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities, breaking away from some traditional fantasy tropes and giving it a fresh feel. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
I am a huge ttrpg player and Dungeon and Dragons fan. This original started as a custom setting for my roleplaying group to play our games in. I fell in love with the characters and the world so much that I felt it needed to become more. While writing it, I was running a ttrpg game set in the future and having that live feedback really help me lock in what happened and where I want the story to go, as well as help flesh out the characters.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Hope when there is none.
Everyone can make a difference, even from humble beginnings.
Light vs Dark.
Even villains have a personality.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
I see this being a full series 3-7 books depending how it flows. I tend to write on the go and don’t plot out all the details, so I guess we all will have to see where the writing takes the story.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
When swordsman Bourdain leaves home, he expects to find his true path, but never the weight of prophecy. Whispers spread of a darkness older than the gods, poised to shatter the foundations of existence. Joined by Devra, the Scoutmaster’s daughter; Braggo, a goblin airship captain; Batso, a wily smuggler; and many others. Together, they must stand against the forces of primal fury that threaten not only the kingdom, but the world at large.
Will light endure?
Or will the Devourer rise to claim the world once more.
Broken Revelations: When Heaven Sundered
When Heaven Sundered tells the story of Heaven before the fall, framed as a recovered record of what really happened when angels, demons, and gods collided. It follows Helel, later known as Lucifer, and his twin Michael as they grow from devoted sons into leaders on opposite sides of a divine civil war. Through shifting viewpoints, the story explores creation, rebellion, exile, and the slow breaking of a family that was never as loving as it claimed to be.
What struck me first was the ambition. The author swings big and does not flinch. The mythology blends biblical names with fresh lore, and it feels confident in doing so. I liked how personal the conflicts felt. These were not distant gods throwing lightning for fun. They were siblings arguing, hurting, loving, and resenting each other. That made the fall feel tragic instead of flashy. I felt sympathy for Lucifer even when I disagreed with him. I also felt frustration with the father figure, who came across as cold and stubborn. That emotional push and pull kept me invested even when the cast grew large.
The writing itself is earnest, and I mean that in a good way. Some scenes move fast and hit hard, especially moments of betrayal and loss. Others linger longer than needed. Still, there is heart on every page. The dialogue often feels raw and blunt, which fits the story. It sometimes reads like people speaking instead of characters performing. I appreciated that. The ideas about freedom, obedience, and love felt sincere. I found myself annoyed, sad, and even a little angry at times. That reaction mattered to me more than polish.
This book reminded me of Paradise Lost, but with less poetic distance and far more emotional immediacy. Where Milton feels grand and formal, Broken Revelations feels raw and personal, like you are standing inside the family fight instead of watching it from afar. It also echoes Good Omens in how it humanizes angels, though it trades humor for anger and heartbreak.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy myth retellings, angel lore, and morally gray characters. It is a good fit for anyone who likes big ideas wrapped in family drama. If you want something messy, emotional, and bold, this book is worth your time.
Pages: 174 | ASIN: B0GBTJJHT7
Mari-chan and Roboto Bunny
Mari-chan and Roboto Bunny by Jon Kaczka centers on Mari-chan, a fearless six-year-old whose life shifts dramatically after her adventurous father vanishes during a climb in Antarctica. Guided by her magical companion, Roboto Bunny, Mari-chan discovers a hidden passage inside her closet. It leads to a vibrant Underworld packed with playful obstacles and mysterious doors. Progress comes at a surprising cost. To move forward, Mari-chan must transform into a baby, reinforcing a powerful idea: bravery has nothing to do with size.
The story’s greatest strength lies in its boundless imagination. Every challenge feels intentional. Animal encounters bring warmth and humor. Whimsical trials unfold through clever riddles rather than danger. Kaczka layers the narrative with lighthearted song parodies and charming jokes, easing tension and maintaining a joyful tone. Even stressful moments feel safe. The scenes where constellations spring to life stand out most, adding a surreal, dreamlike quality that lingers.
Chapter-opening illustrations elevate the reading experience. Each image offers a visual pause, inviting readers further into the Underworld. These snapshots support the narrative without overwhelming it. Younger readers gain clarity. The world feels tangible, cozy, and inviting.
Mari-chan and Roboto Bunny deliver a warm, uplifting adventure rooted in perseverance and love. It blends fantasy with emotional sincerity. The message resonates without feeling heavy. This book comes highly recommended for families and young readers drawn to imaginative journeys, gentle humor, and stories that celebrate courage in even the smallest heroes.
Pages: 82 | ASIN : B0FWZ82XWF
The Arkencrest Chronicles: Battle for Crossroads
The Arkencrest Chronicles: Battle for Crossroads is an epic fantasy that lays out a vast world shaped from the bones of a fallen god, threaded with nations, factions, magical histories, and a young man’s coming-of-age journey. The book opens with myth, maps, and lore, then shifts into the story of Bourdain, an eighteen-year-old raised in the scholarly city of Ikvia, who carries the weight of his parents’ mysterious deaths and the quiet push toward a larger fate. His decision to leave home and join a caravan heading into the wider world feels like the real spark of the narrative. The story blends high fantasy worldbuilding with a classic hero-sets-out structure, and it’s clear from the very first chapters that the stakes will eventually reach the scale of kingdoms and maybe even gods.
I kept noticing how much care the author put into the setting. Whole sections read almost like ancient chronicles, especially the creation myths and the detailed accounts of elves, dwarves, orcs, and other races. Sometimes those lore chapters felt dense, but in a way that reminded me of leafing through the appendices of a much-loved fantasy series. I found myself slowing down to appreciate the small touches, like the smell of ink and seawater in Ikvia or the way the elven forest seems to breathe around its people. When the story shifts back to Bourdain, the tone changes just enough to feel more grounded. His scenes have a quiet emotional center, especially his conversations with Kael and his uncle, which helped balance the heavier mythic material.
I also appreciated the author’s willingness to give readers a wide view of the world right away. You can feel that this is a story about more than one kingdom or one hero. The factions, the ancient seals, the threat of the Devourer, the politics of Sovar, there are a lot of threads, and the book asks you to trust that they’ll matter later. Sometimes I caught myself wishing the pace would sit a little longer with Bourdain before expanding outward, but I was also genuinely curious about each new layer. It felt like walking into a bustling market: overwhelming for a moment, then strangely energizing once you settle into the rhythm.
By the time I finished the opening arc, I felt invested. Bourdain is easy to root for. The world feels lived in. And the writing has a steady confidence, switching between poetic and straightforward without calling too much attention to itself. It’s the sort of fantasy that invites you in slowly, giving you the sense that you’re only glimpsing the start of something much larger.
If you love epic fantasy with rich lore, detailed cultures, and a world that feels ancient and complicated beneath the surface, this book will land well for you. Readers who prefer fast, plot-driven fantasy might find the early chapters a bit methodical, but anyone who enjoys settling into a world and watching a young hero take his first real steps into danger will find plenty to appreciate here. I’d recommend it especially to fans of expansive, map-filled adventures who like to feel the weight of history behind every choice.
Pages: 383 | ASIN : B0FYHW5ZLY
Of Hunters and Magi
Of Hunters and Magi opens on a world shaped by old gods, buried truths, and people trying to live with the ruins the divine left behind. The story follows Bronwyn Amynta, a soldier carrying the weight of her homeland’s survival, and her uneasy partnership with Defurge, a once mad god now stripped back to something like a man. Their hunt for a lost artifact leads them through empty towns, strange magic, a deadly cassolisk, and the lingering shadow of a demigoddess whose marble remains hint at a frightening past. The world feels wide and lived in, and the early chapters mix danger, mystery, and emotion in a way that pulled me in right away.
I found myself hooked by the writing’s steady rhythm. The prose sits in that sweet spot between clean and vivid. It gives you enough detail to picture the scene without dragging you through it. I liked how the story takes its time letting Bronwyn think. Her doubts, her loyalties, and the fears she won’t admit come through in small moments that feel honest. The book plays with tension in clever ways. Quiet scenes hum with unease, and loud scenes carry a kind of messy panic that feels real. Sometimes the pacing slows a bit, especially when characters get lost in their own heads, but even then I never felt pushed out of the story.
The ideas running underneath the action kept surprising me. I didn’t expect the gods to feel so flawed or so tired, and I didn’t expect the world to feel so wounded by them. The theme of identity shows up again and again. Defurge is trying to understand who he is without his divine madness. Bronwyn is trying to decide who she wants to be when duty keeps shifting under her feet. Even the creatures and ruins around them feel like echoes of choices made long before they were born. I liked that. It gave the adventure weight. At the same time, I sometimes wished the book would loosen its grip on lore. There are moments when the explanations pile up and interrupt the natural flow of things. Still, the heart of the story stays clear and strong.
By the end, I felt fully invested in these characters and the deep strangeness of the world they’re walking through. I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy fantasy that leans into emotion as much as action, folks who like stories about broken gods and stubborn heroes, and anyone who appreciates a world that feels old and full of secrets. If you like journeys that test trust, push people to their limits, and stir up complicated feelings along the way, this one will sit nicely on your shelf.
Pages: 370 | ASIN: B0FBJP74BP
Flight of a Prodigy
Flight of a Prodigy follows Remy, an eight-year-old street kid in ancient Rome who survives cruelty that feels almost unreal. The book opens with raw violence as Remy and his closest friend, Tacitus, are dragged from hiding under a tavern floor. What happens next shapes everything that follows. Remy loses the only person he loves, kills three men to escape, and stumbles into the hands of the Roman Guard. His survival throws him into political schemes, a new orphanage, long marches, and a journey that twists his life into something far larger than he understands. The story paints Rome as a place full of beauty and rot at the same time, and Remy is caught between both worlds.
Author Daniel P. McCallister’s writing grabbed me right away because it never tiptoes around horror. It jumps straight into it. The early chapters made me feel uneasy and angry for Remy, and I found myself rooting for him before I even realized it. The pacing kept pulling me forward. Sometimes the scenes felt sharp, like the violence was a little close to the surface, but that roughness made Remy’s world feel real. I liked how the author handled Remy’s shifting emotions. He swings between fear, rage, numbness, and stubborn grit, and those swings feel natural for a child pushed far beyond his limits. The quieter moments like Remy waking in a real bed for the first time gave me a breather and made the harsh parts hit even harder.
I also found myself surprised by how much the political side of the story pulled me in. The Governor, Urbain, is charming on the surface and rotten underneath, and he treats Remy like a tool for his own gain. The guard captain, Salvador, is caught between compassion and obligation, and that tension makes him stand out. The world feels lived in. Everyone has their own motives, and the book never lets me forget how easily a child can get crushed in the machinery of Rome. I wanted even more time in Remy’s head or more insight into the other kids, but the quick cuts gave the story a restless feeling that fit Remy’s constant danger.
Flight of a Prodigy shines brightest when it shows Remy fighting to hold on to the smallest scrap of hope. I would recommend Flight of a Prodigy to readers who like dark historical fantasy, character-driven stories about survival, or tales where a young hero claws his way through impossible odds. It is not light reading, but it is gripping and inspiring in its own way.
Pages: 237 | ASIN : B0FWJNYRLV
A Man Driven By Greed
The Kingdom Thief follows Princess Sitnalta as she races to undo a thief’s reality-warping wish, becoming the lone keeper of the truth in a world that no longer remembers who she really is. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The Sitnalta Series finds itself focusing a lot on this coin- its origin, its powers, and the power of wishes. Through the first book, with Sitnalta’s relationship with the troll, Najort, we look into the consequences of wishes done with the right motivation, and by good people. For the sequel, I wanted to look at the reverse. Wilhelm is not Najort. He is not Sitnalta. He is a man driven by greed, and what would that look like, if he were to acquire the coin and make a wish.
Sitnalta and Navor’s relationship holds so much emotional weight. How did you approach balancing romance with the fast-paced plot?
For someone their age, the idea of a budding romance can be what drives a person. In a way, it is the plot. Navor wants to help Sitnalta, and Sitnalta wants her home back. This should be in balance with what is happening outside of their little bubble. For them at least, their feelings are just as important as magic, and politics, and stopping the mad man who has stolen a kingdom. When you look at the world through the lens of two young people and their feelings, one thing is never more important than the other. As a parent of teenagers, I’m surrounded by that on a daily basis, and that was my approach.
If you could expand one section of the story, give readers more time in any particular place or emotional moment, what would it be and why?
I would love to spend a lot more time in Navor’s head. He has a lot on his plate right now. Writing his dreams, his fears, and his hope for the future was a lot of fun, and I would love to have done a lot more of that.
What can readers expect in book three of the Sitnalta Series?
Oh, without giving too much away, I can say that we have tragedy, a very different type of romance, and so many questions about the past get answered. In a way, this is almost a prequel, but still very much Book Three. Sitnalta would not have been ready for these answers before now. I hope that wasn’t too cryptic.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
Princess Sitnalta has been living happily ever after with Queen Aud and King Gerald as her adoptive parents, enjoying the peace in her world. Her growing friendship with the mysterious Prince Navor leads her on a journey to visit his island kingdom. While there she receives the horrible news that her kingdom has been conquered and cruel King Wilhelm is responsible.
With King Gerald and Queen Aud imprisoned, Prince Navor and a secretive network of spies as her only allies, Princess Sitnalta feels lost and adrift. Nothing about Colonodona’s takeover seems right, and Sitnalta suspects magic may be to blame.
Far from home and unsure of whom to trust, Sitnalta must find a way to save her kingdom, and return her beloved Aud and Gerald to their rightful thrones.
Claw & Ember
Claw & Ember follows Nyra, a young rider bound to her saber tooth, Sathra. The story moves through a world shaped by political pressure, old loyalties, and a city that feels like it is swallowing itself. Nyra trains, fights, and stumbles her way through shifting alliances while a strange heat thrumming under her skin hints that something inside her does not fit the rules everyone else seems to follow. The book mixes sharp fights, thick atmosphere, and tight emotional beats as Nyra tries to find her footing in a place that demands more from her than she expected.
Reading it pulled me in more than I thought it would. The writing hits with this raw, lived-in energy. The fights snap. Even the animals feel alive. I liked how the book lets small moments breathe, like a glance from someone who matters a bit too much or a sound in the fog that turns the whole mood. I got wrapped up in Nyra’s rough edges and her stubbornness. The world feels big and hungry, and the writing makes that weight real in a way that hit me in the gut.
I also found myself hooked on the relationships. They twist in these honest ways. Quiet jealousy slipping into the training yard. Old history tucked under a single line of dialogue. That stuff landed harder for me than some of the politics. Sometimes the pacing rushed when I wanted it to walk. Other times it lingered in a way that made the tension coil nicely. But the emotional beats always felt solid. I kept turning pages just to see how Nyra handled the next mess she got dragged into or the next truth she tried to swallow.
By the time I reached the end, I felt that warm spark of wanting the next book right away. I’d recommend Claw & Ember to readers who like gritty fantasy with strong character focus and a world that feels close enough to touch. If you want sharp claws, slow-burn tension, big cats that actually feel like big cats, and a heroine who keeps getting up even when the world leans on her hard, this one will be a great fit.
Pages: 379 | ASIN: B0FVRZ5LF3
LITERARY TITAN 