Another Dark Journey Begins

I was speeding along writing The Monk of Thanatos, book 2 of my Order of Thanatos series, when another project tapped me on the shoulder, and went, ahem. I’ve been doing this long enough to know that when this happens, you pay attention. So, I paused The Monk of Thanatos and listened to what the muse wanted to say.

The Novice of Thanatos, book 1, is out there and doing its thing (albeit slowly in this economy). I will let that grow an audience (fingers still crossed). Book 2 is likely coming this year, but I’ve decided a short break from Mishal’s story would be good to let the ideas percolate. It is a separate storyline from my main Absolution of the Morning Star (AMS) series, but they overlap at the end of Book 4, Destiny of the Daystar, and in the yet-to-be-written, Dusk of the Demon. I wanted that to be perfect, and I was beginning to allude to that overlap in The Monk of Thanatos before I was mentally ready.

It then begs the question. What am I working on now (I have to write something)?

It is not a new idea—actually, it is a few years old—but suddenly, it came to the forefront of my mind. Perhaps it is because I really enjoyed writing Duke Rhime of the Spire and its female lead, Evaline, and this book will also have a female main character. Every story begins with a spark. Sometimes, it’s a question, a moment that refuses to let go, or, as in this case, a character that begs to be heard. For this latest project, that spark is the thief Jezelle.

Jezelle was never just another character in AMS, and as the series progressed, she grew into a vital viewpoint with a close bond to Erikson Gray. Jezelle is raw, fierce, and haunted by a past that shapes every shadow she walks through. As a viewpoint character, we’ve seen her actions and inside her mind in the present. But this new work is a deeper dive—an exploration into her origins, the choices that forged her, and the darkness that shaped her into who she has become when Erik meets her in Dawn of the Lightbearer.

When I started writing Jezelle‘s backstory, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. She has already hinted that her early life was brutal, her world unforgiving. This is not a tale of gentle beginnings. It’s a story of survival, betrayal, and a relentless fight for existence. It’s about being discarded and learning to claw your way back. It’s about facing the monsters that haunt you, both within and without.

I’m just two chapters in, but they have been some of the most challenging I’ve written. It is not because they didn’t flow. It was the subject matter. Jezelle‘s story demanded honesty. It required me to step into the grimiest corners of her world and show it as it is—ugly, brutal, and real. From her abandonment at a brothel by her father, to growing up on the streets of Grafton Notch, to her first taste of power and defiance, every moment is steeped in struggle. And yet, there is a spark of something greater within her. A spark that will one-day shape empires.

This project feels different. It’s personal and raw. Maybe it’s because I’ve known Jezelle for four years now. Perhaps it’s because her story is one of defiance against odds that seem insurmountable. Maybe it’s because she’s a survivor in every sense of the word. Or perhaps it’s because writing her means confronting the harshest parts of the world I’ve built—and seeing them through the eyes of someone who refuses to be broken by the relentless assault.

Jezelle‘s journey will be visceral and painful, but I believe it will also be deeply human. I hope it will resonate with anyone who has ever felt powerless and fought to reclaim their strength. But it will not be for the faint of heart, that much is clear, even after writing only two chapters.

I’ll share more as this project unfolds, insights into Jezelle‘s character, glimpses into her world, and the challenges of writing a story that doesn’t shy away from darkness. If you’re drawn to tales of survival, strength, and shadows, you might want to follow Jezelle‘s story.

Here’s to the darkness and finding the strength to rise above it.

Cheers!