Welcome!
Before you dive in, there's a few things worth knowing.
This is the first book of a longer story. I've tried to write the kind of fantasy I personally like to read, one where the world actually feels lived in. One where characters across continents and cultures get equal weight, and where the politics matter as much as the swordplay. There are seven point-of-view characters in this first book. The early chapters move between them quickly, in different places, with different stakes. It will briefly feel like you are meeting a lot of people. You are. Stay with it. The threads weave together faster than you'd expect, and by the time they do, the people you met early on will matter a great deal.
There is a world map. I've posted it in the chapter below this one, save it to your phone if you're the kind of reader who likes to check where places are as the story moves. A higher-resolution version is linked in my profile bio.
Nine powers share this world. The story introduces each of them naturally, through the people who live and fight and die for them, so you won't need a guide to follow along. That said, I'll post a faction reference at some point down the line for anyone who enjoys that kind of thing.
A note on the calendar itself. The year is 843 ADW (After the Divine War), a catastrophe long ago that ended the previous age and reshaped the known world. Each year is divided into five great seasons of 70 days each: Thaw, Bloom, Sunmarch, Rend, and Frostfall, followed by 15 Days of the Fallen at the close of the year, set aside for mourning and truces. The word "month" is used as a unit of measurement for four weeks, rather than being an actual month.
So when a chapter is dated Sunmarch 22nd, 843 ADW, you'll know where you are.
The images at the top of each chapter have been touched up with some design work, but the underlying images are entirely AI generated. I want to be completely upfront about that. They're just there to give you a little extra visualization along the way. I'd love for the art to be entirely human-made down the line but for now I'd rather put my hours into the writing and worldbuilding.
Oh, one last thing. I love comments. Really. If something hits you, or confuses you, or sparks an idea, let me know! I find that some of the best parts of writing come with these types of conversations with readers.
With that being said, I hope you have a great read!
— Sorenyk
Content Warning: This book contains graphic battlefield violence, on-page deaths of characters, sustained close-quarters killing scenes, grief and trauma. Please read with care.
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𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 · 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐿𝑜𝑦𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑦
FantasyA samurai promising his sister he'll return. A hundred elite soldiers marching north with him. A fenwulf knight without family or past. Only the republic that made her, and her will to die for it. The empire's perfect blade, and it's emptiest man. A...
