The launch of Chosen Of The Dark Realm, the first in The Great Plan series, in December 2024 has been followed by The Forge, a novella in The Great Plan series that will be available in March 2025 – but that story is set before The Great Collapse (Chosen was set 1003 years after The Great Collapse).
So what’s going on?
Blame it on the lore.
(Please tell me someone else heard Milli Vanilli then).
I believe that good fantasy needs an extensive background to support it. Rich lore deepens the world, characters and events of a story.
I had that very much in mind when I wrote Chosen Of The Dark Realm. I did not want the story to be the start of things, I wanted it to be set at a time when a lot has already happened in the world and the characters already have histories and associated baggage. On that last part, I like complex characters. We all have things in our past that have shaped who we are today, our beliefs, motivations, fears and aspirations.
With that in mind, and without giving too much away for those that have not read it, Chosen is set 1003 after an apocalyptic event called The Great Collapse. It involves characters that were around at the time of that event; and it concerns the world of Anki and a dark mirror realm called Kur where wraith-like gallus reside and which invaded Anki those 1003 years ago. We have multiple kingdoms, some with warring factions; and we have characters that are struggling with the events of their past, anxieties of their present and both dreams and fears for their future. There is also… something else going on. A ‘Great Plan’ that keeps being mentioned by mysterious beings in dark stone chambers.
So, whilst I was writing Chosen, I was also writing the lore. World history, ancient legends, bloodlines, religions and the list goes on.
And it got deeper.
And it got darker.
And it got really, really good.
So good, in fact, that I quickly realised my efforts to ensure Chosen was not the start of the story had succeeded in ways I had not expected.
The past was not just calling, it was demanding to be heard.
And that brings me back to the subject of this post. What comes next?
The next book in The Great Plan series is going to be a prequel to Chosen Of The Dark Realm and it is well underway. It will expand upon the story that was introduced in Chosen and dive deep into The Great Collapse, those characters mentioned in the epilogue, the origins of the tower and just what The Great Plan is. You will also learn the backstories of characters that you have already met such as Nanaya and Adaru; plus you will be introduced to a whole range of new characters.
As I mentioned before, the prequel is well underway, but there is more to enjoy before it arrives.
The Forge is a novella that is set directly before the prequel. In fact, it leads straight into the prequel.
AND, another novella is on the way.
Why another novella?
Whilst writing Chosen and the prequel, I realised there was a character that needed some particular attention. Their story arc is epic and terrifying and to really get the impact they deserve, they need a bit of time spent on them. Blood And Wild Places focuses on that character and will be available in the next few months. Stay tuned.
And then we are full throttle on completing the prequel. After Blood And Wild Places comes out, I can devote myself to it and updates will come out probably around June-August.
Well, there you have it.
The Forge – March 2025
Blood And Wild Places – Mayish-Juneish 2025
Prequel (Untitled) – It will tell me when it is ready.
Hold on tight. There is a lot of content coming your way and The Great Plan in all its horrifying detail will be revealed.
Thanks for walking beside me on this journey, I could not do it without you.
David