Dearest gentle readers. I’m kidding! I’ve always wanted to say that. LOL. Leave a comment if anyone knows where that’s from.
But for real, hey beautiful readers! I hope everyone is doing well and staying sane during this Toronto “fake spring” season. I can’t wait until summer! And for those joining who already have warm weather… send some my way please! I beg of thee! Lol
In my last post, we talked about building our own worlds and why representation is the mission. But as we move forward, I have to be real with you: building a new world usually means something else is getting sacrificed. You can’t be the catalyst of a saga without leaving a few things on the back burner, and sometimes those things are the ones that keep you sane. In this dark fantasy novel, Mya Yu is realizing that her “new life” as a “hero” is coming at a cost she never expected.
We all have memories we’d rather leave in the past. For Mya, navigating this supernatural fantasy story means coming face-to-face with a memory that is honestly terrifying: the fire. It’s one thing to live through a disaster; it’s another to realize that your own hands sparked the flames that took everything from you. In this fantasy book about identity Mya has to grapple with the fact that her power didn’t just wake up, it exploded.
I’ve always said this isn’t a simple good vs. evil fantasy novel. It’s a story about family conflict, betrayal, and the gray areas of power. But nothing prepares you for the moment you realize the true cost of your lineage. Learning the truth about where you come from, and having to fight that legacy while still mourning the relationship you thought you had, is tough. How do you find your footing when your own blood is the enemy?
The Cost of “Moving On”
In an underground fantasy world, trust is a luxury Mya can no longer afford. Losing a close friend wasn’t just a heartbreak; it was a brutal awakening that in a novel with secret societies, the lines between ally and enemy are blurred. But here is the reality: Mya hasn’t even had a moment to grieve. The next task is always waiting. There is no “pause” button for processing pain. Mya is doing what so many of us do, she is burying the shock just to survive the next hour. We tell ourselves we’ll deal with it later, but as Mya is learning, that internal tug-of-war eventually pulls back. You can’t outrun the shadows forever.
The weight of this journey doesn’t just fall on Mya. As I dive into Book 2 (no spoilers I promise!), we see that no one escapes the fray unchanged. For Sophia, the things she has witnessed have left scars that aren’t so easily hidden. Watching her struggle with anxiety and the mental toll of the conflict is a reminder that even the strongest allies have a breaking point.
Mya Yu is no longer the girl she was in the first chapter. Her life is forever changed, not just by her abilities, but also by the weight of the truths she hasn’t had the chance to process yet (or truths she’s ignoring… let’s be real…we do that too!). This fantasy book series is my contribution to a future where we see ourselves navigating the dark and finding the light.
The stakes are getting higher, and this fantasy book about destiny I’m writing for you all is only getting more intense. If you’re ready to see how Mya navigates these new shadows, head back to the home page and grab your copy of Doppel Paladin. Let’s keep building, keep fighting, and telling our truths.
Don’t miss me too much!
Lera Bishop