October 1 is coming, and with it the release of Koen: Quills from the Raven’s Nest. I’ve been sitting with this story for almost three years now, and to finally be able to share it feels surreal. It isn’t “just another book” for me—it’s a piece of my life, a rollercoaster, a soul that’s been growing alongside me, and a story that has found its way into everything I’ve written since.
When I first started Koen, I had no idea how much it would influence the rest of the Absolution of the Morning Star saga. I thought I was just fitting in another piece of the puzzle, but I’ve slowly begun to realize that it is actually the linchpin. Looking back, I can see how its roots reached into Destiny of the Daystar, how its echoes shaped The Novice of Thanatos, how Jezelle’s journey is touched by it, and even how Duke Rhime of the Spire—set centuries earlier—carries its shadow. In a way, everything I’ve written since Koen has been in conversation with it. He marks a turning point in Lucardia, where all the conflicting players cross, bringing forth the reckoning that will be his son.
That’s why this release feels so big to me. Not because I expect my career to change overnight—publishing rarely works that way—but because it’s a milestone for Lucardia as much as it is for myself. This book, and its promise of becoming something more than just a story, has been my bulwark through doubt and a guiding light through other projects. To finally be here, to finally share it, is a huge accomplishment.
And the funny thing is—coming back to Koen after spending so much time away has lit a fire in me again. I’ve already started work on the next step in this part of the tale: Sylvanus: Swords and Sons is a direct sequel that follows Koen’s younger brother as he negotiates through the ripples produced by his older brother. It is already 26,000 words in. It feels good to be back in this part of the saga, carrying the story forward. It is all very important for what is coming in Dusk of the Demon, book 5 of AMS.
But here’s where you come in. Books only find their resonance when readers carry them into the world. That’s something I can’t do alone. If Koen is to matter beyond me, it needs you—your voices, your thoughts, your willingness to take a chance on a story that has been a huge part of my life.
If you’d like to help, you can grab an advance copy on BookSirens. Your feedback, your reviews, your sharing—it all makes a difference. It’s not just promotion, it’s part of the story’s life.
And for those who don’t want to read an advance copy, but prefer the polished book, the ebook for Koen: Quills from the Raven’s Nest is available for preorder, and the beautiful paperback will be released on October 1. I’ve received the proof copy, and I am super excited about it.
Lastly, for those of you who have already pre-ordered a copy or opted to go the BookSirens route, thank you. Your support means a great deal to me, and I hope you find adventure, wonder, and entertainment in my words.
So here we are. Almost three years in the making, one step forward, and hopefully the beginning of something even bigger. Thank you for walking this road with me.
Cheers!
Discover more from Author Scott Austin Tirrell
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Hi Scott and fellow readers! I have finished my advance copy and wanted to share the draft of my review for others to read and give feedback on before I post it on Amazon. See any typos? Too long? Would a different sequence work better! Thanks in advance for your feedback. It’s a wonderful book!
__________________
Koen’s grueling quest to find assistance from an ancient order of witches takes us to places in Lucardia that were mentioned but not explored in the first 4 books of Absolution of the Morning Star (AMS) and also visits new landscapes, expanding the exploration of this richly imagined world. Those already familiar with the adventures of Koen’s son will enjoy encountering key characters in the saga before they rose to later prominence. For those who first experience the ancient world of Lucardia with Koen’s story, your future reading of the AMS books (believe me, one book will leave you eager to read more!) will be enriched in the opposite direction.
Koen’s transformation from an impatient, entitled prince travelling undercover into a seasoned and battered man freed from the grip of the religious system of control engineered by his emperor father involves encounters with witches who pose Sphinx-like riddles as he seeks to reverse the barrenness of his wife with ancient magic so that they can conceive a son. As he travels from the Northland castle of Blackdown to the Wastelands, the swampland of Norn, the volcanic stronghold of Ignis and a mysterious island in the Elderian Ocean, Koen also repeatedly runs afoul of corrupt humans who imprison and torture him as part of their own schemes, usually after a lively bout of swordplay against daunting odds. He survives these trials in large part due to Erikini, a precocious young orphan and skilled archer he meets in the Wastelands where he finds the first witch in his quest. Erikini mocks his personality flaws and punctures his self-importance by teaching him much needed survival skills and rescuing him from one dire situation after another, often guided by the voices of the dead. The relationship between this unlikely pair sparkles with humor, witty dialogue, and no small measure of pathos.
In an interview with Grendel Press, Tirrell said he hoped that “readers will feel haunted when they closed the book.” Mission accomplished! I was an introverted child who read early and prolifically, so the people (and creatures) I felt I knew best beyond my immediate family were those I encountered in books. Lucardia’s place as one of my favorite worlds in the expansive geography of my imagination is secure, and Koen and Erikini have joined the already sizeable list of memorable characters I have gotten to know there. Read this book, and they will take up residence in the geography of your imagination, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Holly, thank you for reminding me why I write. Your words touched me deeper than you can know. After three years of working on this book, I must admit a tear or two may have broke free. You captured the essence of Koen beautifully. I cannot directly comment on the content as I don’t want to influence the review in any way. I want it to be entirely from you and unbiased as possible, but do know that I am very appreciative of your kind words and am overjoyed that you liked the book. Any time I send a story out into the world, I never know how it will be received. Part of me feels it’s good because I put so much work into it and truly love the world I’ve created, but part of me will always have doubts. This is actually healthy. No writer should believe their work is perfect. We settle with idea that we got it as close as our skill will allow, but it could always be better. Some of us can never settle and is why you see great writers publish only a few books with long pauses in between. Koen is as good as I could get it with the chops I have, but I will still have those nights when I’ll wake up in a sweat realizing a plot hole 😉 Writing is a form of telepathy- a transference of a thought, a idea, a world from one mind to another. It is a truly magical thing and we must never lose sight of that. I am honored that Koen and the greater Lucardian world has found a place in the geography of your imagination and I hope you have plenty of real estate because there is so much more to come!
LikeLike
I wrote nothing but the truth! Here’s hoping Koen will reach a wide circle of readers who will then go on to read the books of AMS if they haven’t already. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Erikini will return as an older woman in book 5. What a gift it would be for Koen’s son to hear some of her stories of their adventures, since unlike us, he can’t actually read the book…
LikeLike
I don’t want to give spoilers, but Erikini’s part in Koen ends too abruptly to offer the closure she deserves, and that was done intentionally. She still has a story to tell in the Lucardian universe 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person