Sam’s skin crackled with moonlight and his muscles swelled as he sank his talons into the joint of the moth’s wing and tore it from its body with a massive wrench. The wing fluttered to the ground like a gossamer sail as he turned back and seized the next one. The moth’s thin, long torso was immobilized in searing bands of crystal flame as he held it with his other hand. His muscles strai...
2022-04-28 23:16:32 +0000 UTC View PostWhen the governor followed him, Sam grimaced. He’d been hoping Garild would go away. Whether it was his new race influencing him or something else, the man annoyed him. Greed was clear in his eyes, which had hardly wavered once he caught sight of Sam. The only redeeming feature he seemed to have was a sense of duty to go along with it.
The governor had tried to offer him the peak and th...
2022-04-27 01:41:00 +0000 UTC View Post“Sam?!” Lenei’s eyes widened as she halted and stared up at him. Her head tilted much farther back than she’d been expecting. She barely came up to his chest now. “What happened? You’re gigantic!”
“That’s a new one,” Lesat added, tilting his head back as well. He was a few inches taller than Lenei, but he only made it to Sam’s shoulders. “You’re definitely a foot...
2022-04-23 19:48:29 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's an animation of the cover that the artist did for Moonlight Relic.
Patreon's imbed is being weird, so watch it over here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1oFlL0PGedQ
2022-04-22 17:02:45 +0000 UTC View PostGarild Morlan shuddered as the echo of a roar washed over him. It was an unearthly sound, far more commanding than the jaguar he’d just fought. Then he steeled his spine and turned toward it. He could hear the similarity to the voice of the Horned Hunter that had echoed out two weeks before, but this time it sounded deeper and more dangerous. It was also much closer.
The jaguar had been...
2022-04-21 02:37:00 +0000 UTC View PostSam frowned at the sun as he ran. It was too bad he couldn’t make it move backward. There were only four and a half days left until the alignment now. By the time they returned to the village, it had already been evening and his aura was fluctuating. The star had insisted he rest again to stabilize it.
His healing had advanced by another 7%, helped along by a couple more drumbeats from ...
2022-04-19 18:55:08 +0000 UTC View PostThe enchantment expanded outward with Sam at the center. There were five interlocking circles, each blending into the other: Star, Moon, Edge, Flame, and a central one for Ice, which was the anchor for the rest. It was difficult to hold so many runes at once, even with the help of his bracer, and beads of sweat ran down his temples.
The charges in the artifact were swift...
2022-04-15 20:07:49 +0000 UTC View PostSam was awoken by the pulse of a drum. It was the thunderous roar of a waterfall crashing through his heart and veins, and it threw him to his feet with a shout as his lungs expanded. Even once he was standing, it poured through him in a current of lightning, energizing him and throwing him to full wakefulness.
He staggered for a moment as he caught his balance with his hand against the w...
2022-04-13 22:59:01 +0000 UTC View Post“There are more curseborn?” Sam felt a sense of dark necessity settle around him as he listened to the report. The energy boost from the drum had worn off and he was only staying awake through willpower. His muscles felt like someone had driven a lightning bolt through them—half were twitching and the other half were numb. Repairing the relic and running both ways was a strain.
He w...
2022-04-11 21:01:10 +0000 UTC View PostThe threads of aura flowed together beneath Sam’s hands, twisting into a crashing silver current as he carefully guided it through the channel. He’d finished carving the path just a few moments before and the pressure of the aura he’d gathered was pressing down like a landslide at the moment just before it fell. All of that energy needed somewhere to go.
He had to do both at once, s...
2022-04-08 22:04:39 +0000 UTC View PostIn the Hall of the Dwarven Council
“Return to the governor.” The words rumbled out from a circular table that was set up in an expansive stone hall. The hall was as round as the table, with broad pillars that flared at top and bottom to support a roof soaring upward to high arches. Magical crystals in brackets glimmered from the pillars as they cast a soft, amber light on eve...
2022-04-01 04:09:24 +0000 UTC View PostIt took three hours to reach the central plateau, even with Sam using the elements to boost them up steep inclines that would have been nearly impassable otherwise. He took as many shortcuts as possible, thanks to the map of the relic that the star was constantly providing him, but it was still a long climb through the layers of the relic up to the peak.
From the central plateau at the to...
2022-03-30 00:55:41 +0000 UTC View Post“There’s not much space inside,” Aemilia said as she left him at the door with a concerned look. “Come home for dinner after.”
Sam reflexively reached out and hugged her, pulling her in tight before he let her go. The world was doubled around him as he saw himself from two angles, but as long as he moved slowly, it was working. He would have liked to promise her that he would be...
2022-03-25 00:52:12 +0000 UTC View PostSam Hastern
Level 94
Race: Outsider (Aster Fall)
Class: Battlefield Reclaimer, Level 94.
Subclass: The Scion of the Crystal Flame.
Essence Constellation (Third Layer): 8,366 / 15,000.
Title: Horned Hunter of the Moons
Health: 11...
2022-03-22 21:33:11 +0000 UTC View PostHis dreams were filled with sparkling streams of essence twisting through the void, bending around stars and drifting worlds. Figures floated through them, elementals traveling like comets as they crashed through the stars and shattered to pieces.
When it all faded away, the first thing he heard was his mother’s voice encouraging him to wake up and eat. She was on a stool beside the bed...
2022-03-22 20:40:48 +0000 UTC View PostIf you had the option, which name would you pick for Book 3?
Other than Shattered Skies, I'll add some ideas below.
I like this name for Book 3, but it's also been used by other novels, like a space sci-fi one that just came out in January, so I'm debating whether to use it or go with something more unique.
Titles can't be copyrighted, I believe, so it should be fine ei...
2022-03-20 22:14:21 +0000 UTC View PostThe blood veins slammed into Siwasir’s shield in a thousand hammering tendrils, shaking it like a leaf in the wind. They wrapped around the vision of the field and covered it in an ugly, red web that blocked it away. It didn’t seem possible for Siwasir to turn any more pale, but as he absorbed the blow, his body shrank on itself until his bones were defined in sharp angles. His hands were w...
2022-03-18 05:54:53 +0000 UTC View PostSam charged through the currents of bright dust as he raced back toward the center of the room. This time, his stylus was in one hand and an Expert aura from a Hoarfrost Serpent was swirling in the other. He had to empower the runes and the first thing that came to mind was to create an enchantment that would funnel energy into them.
It was only a few strokes and runes to create the patte...
2022-03-12 05:42:17 +0000 UTC View PostAs the bowl spun, the heartbeat resounded throughout the hall, shaking the pillars as new cracks formed everywhere. As the sound echoed, blood filled the bowl and began to pour over the sides. A drop poured over the edge and struck the altar with the force of a boulder, sending shudders and a newly reverberating echo through the hall.
Under the force of that sound, the hall began to warp....
2022-03-10 00:33:28 +0000 UTC View PostThe red glow intensified, pulsing like the beat of a magmatic heart. It was accompanied by a thundering accompaniment in Sam’s ears as his own heart accelerated. The end of the tunnel was a dark haze covered over by the light and space that seemed to be twisting in on itself. Before he could determine anything else, the gleam brightened, flashing twice with a sanguine intensity that bit into ...
2022-03-05 03:17:54 +0000 UTC View PostWhen the sun rose above Winter Peak, Sam was already far away from the sylvan village. The question of the curseborn was an itch under his skin that wouldn’t let him rest, and it had pulled him out of bed long before the sun was up. Fortunately, he didn’t need a lot of sleep anymore. He needed to find out where they’d come from and if there were more.
He gave himself half a day befo...
2022-03-02 21:41:29 +0000 UTC View PostTwo green spheres of venom shot out from the wyverns’ jaws, flying down at the villagers and Aemilia as Sam raced across the snow. Most of the villagers were around Level 40, which wasn’t enough to defend well against a normal wyvern, much less a cursed one, and they had crafting classes. The monsters were Levels 72 and 66. Even without the curse, they would cut through the villagers like p...
2022-02-25 21:37:15 +0000 UTC View PostI'll be aiming for 3x chapters a week here, starting in this last week of February.
Let's do it!
I have lots of plans for cool things in this third book, but I won't spoil them by hinting at them right now. They'll come to life on their own. If there's anything you "really" hope to see, leave a comment and let me know. I might be able to work something in.
Things at home...
2022-02-23 05:49:01 +0000 UTC View Post“Altey,” Aemilia spoke up before anyone else. “Run to Elder Siwaha and seek shelter with her. Go now. I’ll check on you soon.” As soon as she was finished speaking, her eyes shone with silver light as she began to search the darkness for information on what was approaching.
She was using Far Sight to scan the area. She had Foresight too, but it wasn’t a reliable ability. It ac...
2022-02-04 05:31:13 +0000 UTC View PostA strand of moonlight flowed into the broken line on the stone. The pattern glowed as it absorbed the energy, slowly brightening. After a few minutes, sweat was pouring down Sam’s face and there was a pounding ache in his temples as his essence ran low, but he persisted, pushing the energy across the break to carve a new channel.
Slowly, the line began to shine with a silver light and a...
2022-01-26 23:09:49 +0000 UTC View PostHi All,
So, February will be a free renewal again. I’m working on Aster Fall 3, and chapters will come out as soon as possible. Hopefully, Chapter 1 will be out in a couple of days and then more as I get into the swing of things.
Our baby daughter is almost four months old, which is what’s taking up most of my time, but it‘s fun and it will balance out soon enough.
May o...
2022-01-24 02:36:53 +0000 UTC View PostI've got a set of US and UK Audible codes for Battlefield Reclaimer to give out.
Narrated by the wonderful Travis Baldree!
If you want one (and will hopefully leave a review on the audio version), let me know in a comment!
I can give out about 10 each of US and UK codes here.
Audible link is here: ...
2022-01-13 03:56:38 +0000 UTC View PostHere's the link to follow along! It's live on Discord. Click on the "Listener's Lounge" for the text discussion with other listeners, and click on Travis's name for the live link.
He does about three hours a day, with some breaks, so if you want to catch the recording, it'll depend on whe...
2021-12-31 18:24:27 +0000 UTC View PostMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year, folks.
Chapters will start for Book 3 soon.
Lots of family things over the holidays.
2021-12-24 16:47:29 +0000 UTC View Post