Introducing Owen Greenwaters
Unlike the Relics of War trilogy, Serpentus is written from a single viewpoint, that of a character only briefly seen in the final book of the main series. The reader encounters him there after the major events are pretty much over, but you know he’s been through some trials by then.
Serpentus begins with the onset of a battle mentioned in book one of the Relics of War trilogy. Our main character, Owen Greenwaters, is a knight. He’s not your usual knight either; he was common-born and won his way into knighthood through sheer determination, some skill, and a fair dose of luck when it came to the melee. Owen’s cynical at times, impatient and demanding at others, and has a tendency to curse. But at his core, he has a good heart… You just have to get past the sharp edges of his exterior first.
In the first chapter, you’ll learn that Owen was sent to Stone Hill to muster that city’s defenses against a relatively nebulous threat. He was sent alone, and only has the city guard to assist him. You can probably see where this is going…
Beyond the inevitable battle scenes in Serpentus, there are a number of other things Owen goes through, some of which were incredibly difficult to write. I chose to write this book in first person because I wanted the reader to really feel what he did, understand his thoughts and motivations—and later on, his pain and suffering. Writing this book took an emotional toll on me, and it was almost a relief when it was done.
As one of my beta readers said, Owen “goes through some stuff.” It’s an understatement and a half.
But don’t mistake me: I am absolutely thrilled with how this book came out. Yes, it was grueling for me, and there were times I questioned my decision to write it as I did (or at all), but I believe this was a story worth telling. Despite its darkness and the horrors the characters endure, it does end on a hopeful note.
While I don’t really know how well this book will be received in the wider world, it certainly has its place alongside The Relics of War trilogy, and I’m tempted to say that it may just be the best story I’ve written from that world.
I hope you’ll enjoy it too.
Serpentus is currently available for preorder, with a release date of February 27, 2024. You can learn more about the book and where to purchase a copy here: SERPENTUS