
by CKMo
Book 1 - Sins of a Dying Empire can be found on Amazon. Expectations:- MC has no powers in a world of magic. Wits and strategy only.- Progression is all horizontal instead of vertical.- Meaty chapters averaging 3500+ words.- Expansive secondary world with its own history- Updates once a week every 2-3 weeks (I am le tired after work), with breaks after each interlude.- Current status: Books 1 is published on Amazon. Book 2 is complete! Book 3 in progress. Book 1 - Sins of a Dying Empire Molam longs to return home after successfully stealing from the Empire. But the enigmatic Oracle dangles it just out of reach, assigning him another task: to steal wood from the sacred World Tree from the Empire. The task sends Molam to an Empire city on the brink of collapse, its inhabitants desperate to survive the impending Winter's Sorrow. United with a group of allies handpicked by the Oracle, Molam realizes he is the Oracle's last piece in a decades-long plan to thwart the Empire's relentless ambition to reach Heaven. Entering the fray comes with lurking enemies, mistrust among allies, and lethal scrutiny from all sides. Continually at risk of having his lack of aura exposed, Molam relies on his wits to navigate powerful individuals with misdirection and a facade of powers. To obtain the group's help and trust, he must balance his new responsibilities against his deeper, more personal goals. There is no synopsis after Book 1 to avoid spoilers. Book 2 - Beyond a Broken Horizon Book 3 - Sands Under a Silent Sun - Regarding warnings: sensitive and sexual content may appear, but I use it sparingly and rarely gratuitous. It's there to allow me to retain creative freedom if I decide the plot requires it. Come chat on Discord — I'm happy to engage with readers or other writers on storytelling. Cover art by the wonderful Kiguri.
| # | Title | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ch 1: Molam | 0 |
| 2 | Ch 2: Sanctuary | 0 |
| 3 | Ch 27: Mourne | 0 |
| 4 | Ch 28: Compassion | 0 |
| 5 | Ch 29: Confrontation | 0 |
| 6 | Ch 30: Prodigy |
| 0 |
| 7 | Ch 31: Spring's Blessings | 0 |
| 8 | Ch 32: The Way Home | 0 |
| 9 | Fourth Interlude | 0 |
| 10 | Ch 33: Seeds of Tomorrow | 0 |
| 11 | Ch 34: Stairs Go Up | 0 |
| 12 | Ch 35: Garden | 0 |
| 13 | Ch 36: She Who Brings Rain | 0 |
| 14 | Ch 37: The Desire to Rest | 0 |
| 15 | Ch 38: Preparations for a Festival | 0 |
| 16 | Ch 39: Once More | 0 |
| 17 | Fifth Interlude | 0 |
| 18 | Ch 40: Festival of the Hero | 0 |
| 19 | Ch 41: Martial Arena | 0 |
| 20 | Ch 42: Echoes | 0 |
| 21 | Ch 43: Madam | 0 |
| 22 | Ch 44: A View of Violence | 0 |
| 23 | Ch 45: Shifting Perspectives | 0 |
| 24 | Ch 46: Sword | 0 |
| 25 | Ch 47: Shatter | 0 |
| 26 | Sixth Interlude | 0 |
| 27 | Ch 48: Priorities | 0 |
| 28 | Ch 49: Interception | 0 |
| 29 | Ch 50: Titled One | 0 |
| 30 | Ch 51: Challenge | 0 |
| 31 | Ch 52: OutCast | 0 |
| 32 | Ch 53: Cacophony | 0 |
| 33 | Ch 54: Discord | 0 |
| 34 | Ch 55: Cripple | 0 |
| 35 | Ch 56: An End to Festivities | 0 |
| 36 | Ch 57: Blood in the Water | 0 |
| 37 | Seventh Interlude | 0 |
| 38 | [Author Notes] Behind the Pages: on action sequences | 0 |
| 39 | Ch 58: Rigid Words | 0 |
| 40 | Ch 59: A Matter of Opinion | 0 |
| 41 | Ch 60: Motivations | 0 |
| 42 | Ch 61: A Change of Perspective | 0 |
| 43 | Ch 62: Stand | 0 |
| 44 | Ch 63: Wisdom of the Crowd | 0 |
| 45 | Ch 64: Demanding Justice | 0 |
| 46 | Ch 65: A Sunless Day | 0 |
| 47 | Ch 66: Pieces | 0 |
| 48 | Ch 67: A Change of Plans | 0 |
| 49 | Ch 68: Negotiations | 0 |
| 50 | Ch 69: Conversations | 0 |
| 51 | Ch 70: Spreading Sand | 0 |
| 52 | Eighth Interlude | 0 |
| 53 | [Author Notes] Behind the Pages: Looking back at book 2, part 1 | 0 |
| 54 | [Author Notes] Behind the Pages: Looking back at book 2, part 2 | 0 |
| 55 | Ch 71: Aliyah | 0 |
| 56 | Ch 72: Silhouettes | 0 |
| 57 | Ch 73: Questions With No Answers | 0 |
| 58 | Ch 74: Valley's End | 0 |
| 59 | Ch 75: Brighter Shores | 0 |
| 60 | Ch 76: Klagynah | 0 |
| 61 | Ch 77: The Endless Sands | 0 |
| 62 | Ch 78: A City Lost | 0 |
| 63 | Ch 79: Value of Memories | 0 |
| 64 | Ch 80: A Dark Horizon | 0 |
| 65 | Ch 81: Monsters | 0 |
| 66 | Ch 82: ShieldMarshal | 0 |
| 67 | Ch 83: SpearMarshal | 0 |
| 68 | Ch 84: Mursa | 0 |
| 69 | Ninth Interlude | 0 |
| 70 | [Author Notes] Behind the Pages: Origins | 0 |
| 71 | [Author Notes] Behind the Pages: The Critique and Review Loop | 0 |
| 72 | Ch 85: Search | 0 |
| 73 | Ch 86: Jyuni | 0 |
| 74 | Ch 87: Confront | 0 |
| 75 | Ch 88: Fair | 0 |
| 76 | Ch 89: Ryu | 0 |
| 77 | Ch 90: Checkpoint | 0 |
| 78 | Ch 91: A Mursa's Apprentice | 0 |
| 79 | Ch 92: Three for Dinner | 0 |
| 80 | Ch 93: A Different Approach | 0 |
| 81 | Ch 94: Hopes and Dreams | 0 |
| 82 | Ch 95: Assembling | 0 |
| 83 | Ch 96: A Mother’s Love | 0 |
| 84 | Ch 97: Games Within | 0 |
| 85 | Tenth Interlude | 0 |
| 86 | [Author Note] Behind the Pages: It's About Reader Reception | 0 |
| 87 | [Author Note] Behind the Pages: Rage Against the Machine | 0 |
| 88 | Announcement and Update on BtH 3, Act 3 | 0 |
| 89 | Ch 98: Prayer | 0 |
| 90 | Ch 99: Audience | 0 |
| 91 | Ch 100: Setting the Stage | 0 |
| 92 | Ch 101: Jartending | 0 |
| 93 | Ch 102: Chained Islands | 0 |
| 94 | Ch 103: Splash | 0 |
| 95 | Ch 104: Twins | 0 |
| 96 | Ch 105: Lethal | 0 |
| 97 | Ch 106: Withdrawal | 0 |
| 98 | Ch 107: Steward of Oasis | — |
| 99 | Eleventh Interlude | — |