For two decades, I built a world before writing a single word of it.

The Chronicles of Athea is the culmination of that journey-a sprawling epic that defies easy categorization. On the surface, it might appear accessible to younger readers, but venture deeper and you'll discover a gritty, unforgiving realm where darkness lurks and no character is safe from fate's hand.

At the heart of Athea are the Malkin-creatures evolved far beyond their humble origins into something extraordinary. Yes, humans exist in this world, but their story unfolds in ways you'll have to discover for yourself. This is a saga of great houses and elder gods, of deep lore and rich history, populated by characters I've poured my soul into creating.

Beta readers of the bigger picture have compared my work to A Song of Ice and Fire, Dune, and Dragonlance-influences I'm honored to acknowledge. But the journey begins with Azrael, and what might seem like a modest start is actually the opening movement of an epic ensemble spanning twelve outlined books. Think of these early volumes as my "Hobbit"-the gateway into the vast, intricate world that awaits.

My editors and I believe we're attempting something unprecedented, especially at this scale. Major publishers haven't quite known what to make of it. But after spending nearly half my life building Athea, I'm not writing for markets or trends.

I'm writing for you-for that reader out there who might fall in love with this world as deeply as I have.

Cheers!