MarvinKnight

Paladin of the Sword: Chapter 3

Five Years Ago

Darren stood over the corpse of a greater fiend, twirling his silver sword in his hand. He took a moment to decide what he needed more, its corpse or its aura. Its skin had been as tough as stone, and it might make a good armored cloak or pair of boots. Besides that, he had eaten nothing since he’d killed that demonic turtle the day prior. The soup he’d made from that thing had been so foul he could hardly stomach it. He was hoping to find so...

Paladin of the Sword: Chapter 2

Ten Years Ago

It had been five years since Darren and his mother descended into the First Layer of Hell. Five years since Darren had seen the light of the sun. He was ten years old, and already, the memories of the world above were fading. He didn’t remember the faces of his friends, or what it was like to play in the mud and the sand.

But he knew other things now. Like how to track a Felbeast through blood-drenched soil, and how to seal his mind from t...

Paladin of the Sword: Chapter 1

Forward:

Someone asked for a preview of this novel, so I'm going to post the first few chapters here. My current draft is available for beta reading for anyone interested in providing early feedback. I'm hoping to have this revised and launched by September, just prior to the launch of Spellheart 7.

15 Years Ago

Smoky clouds wafted up from the mouth of the yawning cave. Darren knew he wasn’t supposed to enter there. Demons lurked past that ent...

Be a beta reader for a new series!

My hitherto unmentioned identical twin brother Marvin Knight, (who is exactly the same as me in all ways except for the fact that his name is more marketable and he did not sell his audio rights) wants to release a novel. He's been working on it for the past few months while editing the most recent Spellheart series novels.

The novel is in a completed, readable state, but he'd like to get feedback from beta readers pulled from my fan base, since he has a strong suspicion he'll be target...

What do you want to see in book 8?

So it's been a few books since I've done one of these things. I wrote the rough drafts for books 5, 6, and 7 all at once so most of the stuff for this arc has been locked in by the time you guys see it.

We're not particularly far into book 7, but my plans for book 8 and 9 are solidifying. They're most likely going to be titled "Web of the Fateweavers and Tyrant of the Devilbeast Wilds," to give you some rough idea as to content without spoiling anything.

I'm going to start draftin...

Artwork vote poll

Alright, I found an artist working cheaply and I have a slot reserved for us. I did a bit of brainstorming based off my own ideas and what people mentioned they wanted to see. If any of these listings appeal to you, give them a click. You are welcome to suggest additional options in the comments. Vote for write-ins by liking them. (I reserve the right to modify write-ins so they fit our budget.)

I'll use the commission slot for whatever comes up as the top result unless the artist quote...

Spellheart 6: Champion of Deania is now live!

I finally got this one out the door!

Link: https://amzn.to/3gvFGUm 

Link to your local Amazon store (if you don't buy off the .com site): https://mybook.to/Spellheart6

To be honest, it felt like the world was conspiring against me for this release. My car brok...

Anthology Short Story: Sweetwood (3/3)

Note:

Patreon analytics are telling me you all are boycotting this short story. I figured I'd edit the last section today so people can read the whole thing in one go over the weekend. We can start with Spire of Blood and the novel version of the paladin story next.

Part 3:

“Hey Edmund.” Sweetwood began. “Will that old man give us the six acres of land?”

“No,” Edmund shook his head sadly. ...

Anthology Short Story: Sweetwood (2/3)

The two of them made love until Edmund’s eyes lost focus and he collapsed on top of Sweetwood, unable to move. She too seemed to weaken, and the two of them lay on her mossy bed clutched against each other like two vines wrapping around a single tree.

Edmund embraced her, taking comfort in Sweetwood’s company while he returned to his senses. Without opening his eyes, he reached up to stroke her hair. Instead of finding long stringy locks, his fingers found nothing but the moss benea...

Anthology Short Story: Sweetwood (1/3)

I've got something a little different for you guys today. I wrote most of this yesterday, so it's much more recent than the stuff you usually read from me. It's going to be a short story (I'm aiming for 10k-13k words) for the Dukes of Harem Anthology.

The morning air was crisp over the Valadel Barony. The lord and his men were still asleep, as were most of the serfs who lived in the village around the small keep the local lord ruled from.

One lone figured opene...

He Who Slays Demons: Chapter 2

As the three most recent graduates, Aron, Sasha, and Darik formed a team. Eventually, most paladins worked alone or found partners with other branches of the temple, but for their first few missions, they would work together.

“Do I really have work with him?” Darik asked, jabbing his thumb in Aron’s direction.

“Yes, you must learn to put faith in your fellow paladins.” The attendant said, brows tightening as it became apparent that his next words would make trouble. “B...

Book Six Cover art!

I know somebody requested Melise on Book 4, but I opted for Eltiana because she had a bigger role and I'd just done Nela for cover#3.

Well, now you get your wish! Melise gets her cover! The artist did a good job at distinguishing her from Nela while still keeping them similar enough to be relatives.

He Who Slays Demons: Prologue

Another concept, similar to the Jabberwocky story intro. Like before, I'll likely do a few chapters of this as time allows to see how I like the world.

Thirteen years ago...

One rickety wooden carriage rolled across a cobblestone road. The path was windy and uneven, and the children chained to the bars of the cart felt every rocking jitter as they passed.

“When will we get there?” A young girl whispered.

“Shh! Be quiet!” A boy hissed b...

Assyrus gets the cover art for Chief of the Blackgorge!

This is still a work in progress from my cover artist, but it's coming along nicely.

Spellheart 5: Chapter 31 Version B

So somebody on here and a beta reader mentioned they didn't like the friendly and talkative version of Wargod Grognak. After a bit of thought, I figured I'd rewrite the scene with him as a colder, more serious character. This version is a bit more straightforward and isn't interested in being friends with Theo just yet. I'm still not sure which one I'm going to go with, but the rewrite might be better for his first introduction.

I admit I have a bit of a soft spot for Wargod Grognak's c...

Any of you guys ever done Questing?

Basically, it's like playing Dungeons and Dragons, only a little more freehand. The author controls the setting and all the characters, but readers have input on how the protagonist responds to what's going on in the story using polls and comments.

A quest might have a scene like:

"You walk into the bar and you see a blonde with shapely legs blowing a kiss at you, a redhead with blushing cheeks who gives you a wink, and a pale brunet who glances shyly in your direction be...

2021-02-14 14:53:22 +0000 UTC View Post

Nela's first battle with Sharian

Background:

In Secrets of the Hearthwood, Nela confronted her old rival, Sharian, who was at the peak of the mage acolyte realm. Sharian defeated Nela in battle, and Sharian took great pleasure in grinding Nela beneath her heel after she'd won. (Nela wasn't wearing her armor for much longer).

Little did Sharian know, Theo would soon rescue Nela, and the tables would be turned...

History of this piece of art:

I commissioned this two years ago back when I ...

Jabberwocky: Chapter 4

Callay opened his eyes to stare at a plastered white ceiling. It took him a few heartbeats to realize what he was staring at. Normally, he slept in a rough shack that was scarcely better than a tool shed, resting atop a pile of hay and under a thatched roof. But now he found himself staring up at a real ceiling.

But his memories of the previous day soon returned to him, and before long he was anxiously sitting upright.

“I’m... actually in the manor.” Callay said aloud as he ...

Jabberwocky: Chapter 3

“W-what do you want to show me?” Callay unconsciously edged away from the door to the warlock’s chambers.

“It’s not in there, it’s in my bedroom. Come, this way.” Lady Mimsy marched up the last of the stairs and grabbed Callay by the wrist. She hauled him down after her and they rounded two corners and a bend to come before a large pink door.

“Like it?” Lady Mimsy asked. “I had to have the paint imported.”

“It suits you.” Callay said, not really sur...

Jabberwocky: Chapter 2

Callay followed behind Lady Mimsy and her two guards in a wide-eyed daze. If this hadn’t been the same route he took to deliver firewood to the lord’s manor each day, he might have tripped and fallen on his face on the walk there.

His excitement only grew when he realized Lady Mimsy didn’t veer left towards the servant’s entrance, but instead headed towards the main doors. Callay had never even touched those doors before, let alone walked past them.

They were made of fine ...

Jabberwocky: Chapter 1

Twas Brillig in the Slithy Toves, and that meant a festival.

The sun streamed down on a small village. It was unremarkable, and rested at the edge of the Slithy Toves, but there were worse places to live than next to a swamp. Clean water passed by the village before it fed into the wetlands, feeding the people, animals, and the fields all around.

The people of the village worked the fields or scavenged the surrounding land to eke out a living. Heroes, nobles, wizard, and kings mig...

Spellheart Christmas Special: Spreading the Joy of Christmas to the Orcs

Chapter 15.5

I left the bedchambers to find Amisra, Korra, and the Hearthwood's matriarchs milling about the room, tinkering with various crafts of their own.

Sava was brewing potions, Assyrus was sharpening her ironwood weapons, Eltiana was playing with her daggers, Illiel was looking at books, and the rest were toying with objects of various size and shape.

So many cute elves milling about and working. Now what did that remind me of?

...Christmas! 2020-12-25 01:18:41 +0000 UTC View Post