Fia Riftborne thought joining the Sidhe Guard was the hardest choice she'd ever make.

She was wrong.

Taken prisoner by the very shadows she was sworn to fight, Fia uncovers a devastating truth. The wraiths who brought destruction to the Isle's western border aren't monsters at all, but a race of people from a dying realm called the Kálfar, and they believe Fia's growing powers are tied to their survival.

As war looms on two fronts, Fia must navigate a world of shadow magic and political upheaval. A disgraced Kálfar lord builds an army in the south while tensions within Sídhe reach a breaking point. And the Void that gave Fia her power is calling—but answering it means betraying everyone she left behind.

The Guard. Her friends. Laryk.

In a war where nothing is as it seems, choosing the wrong side could cost her everything, including the brooding commander whose darkness seems to recognize her own.

Duskbound is a dark fantasy set in a world of shadow magic and political intrigue, where two realms wage a desperate war for survival. It includes elements depicting war, graphic violence, torture, blood rituals, self-harm (blood oaths & magic), hand-to-hand combat, severe injuries, death of loved ones, genocide, starvation, mind control, psychological manipulation, trauma, imprisonment, child soldiers, alcohol consumption, drug use, nationalism, xenophobia, emotional abuse, graphic language, and sexual activities that are shown on the page. Readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please be aware.

Series: Esprithean, Book 2
Genres: Fantasy Romance, Romance
Age Range: Adult, 18+
ASIN: Coming soon
ISBN: Coming soon

NOTABLE CHARACTERS:

FIA RIFTBORNE (FEE-ah RIFT-born) - Our protagonist, a duskbound from Sidhe

AETHER (AY-ther) - Second in Command to General Urkin, Leader of the Spectre Unit

LARYK ASHFORD (LAHR-ick ASH-ford) - General of Faction Venom in Sidhe

VEXA (VEX-ah) - Blacksmith turned Umbra soldier, can enchant weapons, member of Spectre Unit

EFFIE (EF-ee) - Noble daughter turned Umbra soldier, teleportation abilities, member of Spectre Unit

RETHLYN (RETH-lin) - Umbra soldier, can manipulate feelings/consciousness, member of Spectre Unit

RAVEN (RAY-ven) - Communications runner turned Umbra Soldier, can create bonds with mirrors that allow communication through them, member of the Archivist Unit

LAEL (LAY-el) - Orphan from Croyg, Strykka contestant, necromancer, member of Spectre Unit

MIRA (MEER-ah) - Strykka contestant turned Umbra Soldier, nightmare illusionist, member of Spectre Unit

THERON (THAIR-on) - Strykka contestant turned Umbra Soldier, fragment illusionist, member of Spectre Unit

LORD SOLEIL (so-LAY) - Noble House in Sidhe, Osta’s employer, leader of Sidhe resistance

OSTA RIFTBORNE (OS-tah RIFT-born) - Fia's oldest friend from Sidhe

MALADEA THISTON (mal-AY-de-ah THIS-ton) - Known as Ma, Fia's friend and former employer from Sidhe

VALKAN SYRNDORE (vahl-KAHN SER-en-dor) - Lord of Draxon, leader of the Damphyre, shape-shifter

KRAYKEN VINDSKALD (KRAY-ken VIND-skald) - Traveling bard & author of a historical memoir detailing his life before the crusades

UMBRA GENERALS:

GENERAL URKIN (UR-kin) - Leader of the Umbra combat forces

GENERAL TALIORA (tal-ee-OR-ah) - Leader of the Medic’s Unit

GENERAL TALON (TAL-on) - Leader of the Archival Unit

GENERAL KARIS (KAIR-is) - Leader of the Scout's Regiment

UMBRATHIA NOBLE HOUSES:

HOUSE VALTÝR (VAHL-teer) - The royal family of Umbrathia

• Queen Andrid Valtýr (AN-drid) - Current queen, descended into madness

• Prince Andrial Valtýr (AN-dree-al) - The lost prince

• Vilda Valtýr (VIL-da) - The queen's sister

HOUSE SKALDVINDR (SKALD-vin-dr) - Noble family connected to royalty through marriage

HOUSE EIRFALK (AIR-falk) - Noble House, Effie's family

HOUSE GALDRYNNE (GAHL-drin) - Noble House

HOUSE BREIDFJORD (BRAID-fyord) - Noble House

HOUSE BALDURSON (BAHL-dur-son) - Noble House

HOUSE SVEINSON (SVAIN-son) - Noble House

HOUSE VALLGRYM (VAHL-grim) - Noble House

HOUSE ELDGARDR (ELD-gard-r) - Noble House

HOUSE ALFARSON (AL-far-son) - Noble House

RACES/TITLES:

KALFAR (KAHL-far) - The dark elves that live in Umbrathia

AOSSÍ (EE-shee) - The race of elves that live on the Isle of Sídhe and Riftdremar

DAMPHYRE (DAM-feer) - Kalfar who feed on blood/essence from other Kalfar

DUSKBOUND (DUSK-bound) - True shadow-wielders, traditionally only in royal bloodline

RIFTBORNE (RIFT-born) - Children who were saved from the destruction of their homeland, Riftdremar, and brought to the Isle of Sihde. Before they were granted citizenship, these refugees were branded with a symbol of unity on their left wrist and hand. Most were raised in group homes throughout the Isle and were expected to assimilate into Sídhe culture and society.

LOCATIONS:

UMBRATHIA (um-BRAY-thee-ah) - The dying realm of the Kalfar

SÍDHE (SHEE) - The Isle of Sídhe is a thriving kingdom in which all Aossí now reside

RAVENFELL (RAY-ven-fell) - Capital of Umbrathia

RIFTDREMAR (RIFT-dreh-mar) - An Island to the east of the Isle of Sídhe. Riftdremar was destroyed after an uprising against Sídhe’s colonial effort to mine and steal arcanite stores, and expand their influence on Riftdremar’s culture, economy, and resources. 

DRAXON (DRAX-on) - Southeastern territory of Umbrathia, ruled by Valkan

STRAVENE (stra-VEEN) - Neutral territory between Ravenfell and Draxon

CROYG (KROY-g) - Once the largest farming region of Umbrathia, now dead from the drought

VARDRUUN (var-DROON) - The second largest city in central Umbrathia, taken by the drought

ILSTHYRE (ILS-thire) - Small village to the south of Draxon

THE RIP - Tear between realms

MAGIC/POWERS:

ESSENCE - The living energy that flows through the realms

TETHER - Umbra term for magical abilities

FOCUS - Sidhe term for magical abilities

THE VOID - The darkness in northern Umbrathia that creates void burns

VOID BURNS - Marks that allow vessels to absorb shadows

ORGANIZATIONS:

THE UMBRA - Umbrathia's military force

SPECTRE UNIT - Umbra with shadow-wielding capabilities

THE GUARD - Sidhe's military force

THE COUNCIL - Umbrathia's ruling body

IMPORTANT ITEMS/THINGS:

THE DROUGHT - A magical drought in Umbrathia where essence is being drained

VESSEL - A Kalfar who has entered the void and bears it’s marks. Able to absorb and manipulate shadows they are given by a duskbound.

SENTINEL - A member of the Umbra combat unit

ARCANITE (AR-kan-ite) - Crystal that stores essence

THE STRYKKA (STRIE-kah) - A set of trials that allow Kalfar to join higher ranking positions within the Umbra forces

THE CRUSADES - A dark period in Umbrathian history when the royal family systematically hunted down and eliminated other duskbound families to secure their exclusive claim to the throne, ensuring House Valtýr would be the only bloodline with the power to control the void. These purges lasted for centuries, nearly eradicating all duskbound outside the royal line.

VOID-LETTING - The process in which a Duskbound shares their shadow magic with vessels

BLOOD OATHS - Binding magical contracts used by the Guard

BLOODWEEP - A plant used in blood oaths, native to Umbrathia

SIPHON - can control and redirect the flow of essence

CREATURES:

DREAD SIRENS - Wraith-like beings that can speak to the dead

VORDR (VOR-dr) - Horse/Dragon Hybrid that share a connection with those touched by the void

RELIGION

Esprithe (Esp-rith) -The pantheon of deities who are worshiped by those on the Isle of Sídhe

Sibyl (Sib-uhl) - The Esprithe of Foresight

Conleth (Kohn-luth) - The Esprithe of Wisdom

Niamh (Neev) - The Esprithe of Dreams

Ainthe (Ah-N-yuh) - The Esprithe of Memories

Eibhlín (Eve-lin) - The Esprithe of Justice

Fírinne (Fehr-EN-yeh) - The Esprithe of Truth