The Pain that is Serpentus
I’ve talked about the emotions I try to convey in my writing before, but did you know that sometimes a book hurts me to write?
Most of my books have a few of those painful moments. A character death, an injury, a betrayal… But in terms of absolute gut-wrenching, soul-destroying agony, Serpentus tops the charts.
I knew going into the project that it was going to be rough for me. Since the trilogy was already written, I knew what the story of Serpentus had to entail, and I knew there would be a few scenes that would completely destroy me. And I’m the genius who decided to write this book (yes, that was sarcasm.)
I could have written it in third person, keeping it in the same vein as the trilogy itself, but after a two-page attempt, I decided it wasn’t going to work as well that way. If I was going to bleed my soul into this book, the readers were going to feel every ounce of anguish Owen endures too. And the best way to do it?
Write it in first person. Get into Owen’s headspace and make the reader feel everything he does. And most of what he experiences in this book isn’t pretty.
I’m still hesitant to categorize Serpentus as “grimdark,” because it has a somewhat uplifting conclusion. Not everyone dies, and Owen’s future isn’t bleak forever. He does go through hell and there are some truly horrible moments, but I am unapologetic when I say this might be the best book I’ve written to date.
BUT, Serpentus isn’t going to be for everyone due to that darkness and the pain enfolded in its pages.
So take this as your warning, fair reader: If you enjoy stories about a character’s suffering, their helplessness, and their fears manifested, then you’ll probably like this book. If you’re looking for something light, fluffy, or humorous, it is not for you. If you’re easily offended by strong language, this book is also not for you.
I’ve talked to a few early readers regarding Serpentus, and when I tell them it was the most emotionally-draining book (for me) that I’ve ever written, they’ve all said they understand that completely. It’s more than Owen losing a few friends along the way, but I hesitate to share details of the events from the latter half of the book. (Those who have read the trilogy probably have some guesses, since Owen makes an appearance at the end of War of the Nameless.)
Serpentus is a gruesome story. You’ve been warned.
Serpentus is available for preorder and will release February 27, 2024. It’s a standalone set in the Relics of War universe, and is a relatively short read. You can learn more about it here: SERPENTUS