17,399 Words

In a land scarred by a brutal, endless war, two heirs from opposing houses are pushed to their limits. Prince Zuri, haunted by his father’s cruelty, and young Islana, facing an unthinkable fate, must forge an unlikely and dangerous alliance. To save their world from total annihilation, they must risk everything—their lives, their honor, by making a sacrifice that will either unite their people or destroy them. Genre: Epic Fantasy. Sub genres: Grimdark, Noblebright What to expect: - High stakes - Gritty low fantasy - Dual Protagonists - Emotional resonance - Character transformation - Unflinching Moral Dilemmas - Visceral and immersive worldbuilding - A brutally hopeless world illuminated by two small but fierce sparks of hope Who is this story for: This story will deeply resonate with readers who love epic, character-driven grimdark fantasy subverted by noblebright hope, like the works of George R.R. Martin or Joe Abercrombie. It’s for an audience that appreciates morally complex characters who are forced to make impossible choices in a bleak, unforgiving world. Readers who are drawn to political intrigue and the heavy, emotional cost of war, rather than flashy magic systems, will find themselves completely invested in the fates of Islana and Zuri. A TRUE ALCHEMY is a prequel novella to my debut epic fantasy series The Realm of the Watcher, releasing July 2026. If this sounds like a novella you'd like to critique, I'd love to have you on my beta team. Unpaid, but those who complete the beta read will be first in line for ARC copies of my debut in July. Looking forward to meeting you!