I am so excited to reveal the cover for A Time of Gladiators and Fate. This is a novel I’ve dreamed of writing for so long, and it’s a great pleasure to bring it to you soon. I’m working through revisions and beta reader feedback before it goes to the editor next month. The official release date is October 12th.
All the details about the book, including the cover, summary, tropes, and pre-order links are below. I am changing things up with this one by releasing it straight to KU (Kindle Unlimited). Having said that, the hardcover will still be widely available (and the Realm of Zadrya books will still go wide first to accommodate those already following that series).
If you’d like a taste first before committing, I’ll be posting the first three chapters late next week. It should give you an idea of whether or not you’re ready for the madness that ensues in this book.
As for audio, I’m going to run A Time of Gladiators and Fate (ATOGAF) by my audio publisher first, but if they’re not interested, I’ll handle it another way to make sure it happens. Regardless, it won’t release with the ebook, but I will get it out as soon as I can to those who prefer that format. Be sure to check back for updates.
In an update post back in April, I mentioned that I’d started a new project. It required a massive amount of research and sort of took over my life. The story that had been playing vaguely in the back of my head for more than ten years finally took shape, vividly.
I’d already begun writing it when I mentioned it before, but now I’m far enough along to have a cover designed (same person who handles the Realm of Zadrya series). I can also announce the release date, which will be October 12th. You’ll get to see the cover much sooner on July 9th, though. I’ve got a sign-up link for anyone interested in participating in the reveal that you can find here: https://forms.gle/4iJQR43XMghh58Eg8
While I’ll go into some other details below, this is the current summary of the novel to give you an idea of what it is about (unless you’ve been paying close attention to my social media posts and already know):
Be careful what you wish for, or you might end up in 97 CE.
I grew up on a farm in Kansas, so nothing could have prepared me for landing in the Roman Colosseum when it was still intact. I was surprised, the audience shocked, and my rental car unamused as we hit the sand. After a heart-pounding chase around the arena involving spear-throwing legionnaires, armed gladiators, and a couple of wild animals, they cornered me. I punched and kicked my way through as many of them as I could before being forced to surrender in my floral sundress meant for vacation, not blood sport. The emperor offered me two choices.
One: my immediate execution Two: become a female gladiator.
I chose to live. While I’m not afraid of hard work, the ludus where I’ll train is brutal. It’s an environment most modern women would find unlivable, aside from all the bare-chested men, but that isn’t as spectacular as one might think in a place where violence is the goal. I’m about to discover all the unpleasantness of this period that most movies skim past. On top of that, an enigmatic man who knows I’m from the future has offered to sponsor me. What he wants in return could be dangerous. I’m in way over my head with no ruby slippers to send me home.
If you’ve ever wished for a story with Spartacus-meets-Outlander vibes, including the grit but with a little more humor, this might be the book for you.
Book releases October 12th, 2026. Pre-order the ebook on Amazon HERE.
TROPES
Time travel
Roman Empire
Gladiator romance
Banter
Slow-burn romance
Reluctant allies to lovers
Found family
Fish out of water
Mysterious MMC
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Brief explanation on why this setting and year.
So why did I choose 97 CE, given that the Roman Empire spanned many centuries?
A sentient murder garden, gods meddling in unexpected ways, weird creatures running wild. Oh, and the two main characters trying to navigate their new marriage while a war rages and a blight kills the land. Wrath & Desire is here and ready to keep you on the edge of your seat in more ways than one. You don’t want to miss out on this installment.
For those who haven’t read the first book, Oaths & Vengeance, you can find it on Amazon (including Kindle Unlimited). If you have read it, but it’s been a while and you need a refresher, I recorded a YouTube video that covers the key points to keep in mind as you head into the second installment. It will refresh your memory of many of the characters, plot points, plants, animals, and the sequence of events that led to the conclusion of the first novel.
Now, for the full details on the book below, including links to where you can grab it. For anyone who doesn’t use Amazon, please get it quickly because I’ll be pulling it tomorrow night to put into Kindle Unlimited. I’m also working to get the hardcover available in the next week or so, and the paperback sometime in March.
BOOK SUMMARY
Darrow is raw power exemplified. He is full of secrets and pain. The dark elf isn’t satisfied with only marrying me. Oh, no. He wants it all—my body, heart, and soul. I must resist despite being his fated mate. Because if I don’t, he could break me, and I’m already at my limit.
Aella is everything I’m not. She is full of compassion and resilience. The half-druid’s grace and odd fondness for plants bring me to my knees. Though I cannot love her, I need to own her in every way. She can resist all she wants, but I’ll do whatever it takes. No price is too high, even if it breaks me.
But now, war and death plague us. My mother’s people have invaded our realm with ruthless precision. Our monarchy is at stake. And a blight is rapidly spreading to kill the land. Powerful forces are at work to divide our people. I may wish I could focus entirely on my new wife. But we must find a way to save our world. Even if it means traveling to a distant one with its own dangers. That is…if we can find a way there before the enemy stops us. Somehow, they’re ahead of us at every turn.
Note– This novel contains adult content, including graphic violence, foul language, rough spicy scenes, torture, and divine astral projection/consensual body sharing between multiple characters (of a sexual nature).
Other content warnings– weird homicidal chickens, terrifying hordes of venomous frogs, sentient plants with murderous attitudes…actually, many flora and fauna are not what they seem in this world, so assume nothing and mentally prepare yourself for anything. It’s fantasy. Immerse yourself in the madness or go find another genre.
Note- The ebook will only be available widely until the evening of February 24th, 2026, when I pull it to enroll into Kindle Unlimited. I’m working to get the hardcover available before the end of the month and the paperback in March. Stay tuned on my website or social media for more on that.
BOOK SERIES RESOURCES
While there are two professional maps inside the eBook and hardcovers, you can use the ones HERE on the website for reference if you want to avoid flipping back and forth while reading. These are hand-drawn images with some digital details added later that are relevant to key lands and cities that the two in the book don’t show as deeply due to size limitations. You can locate them in the Realm of Zadrya book tab.
Special thanks to my amazing street team for working tirelessly these last days to promote Wrath & Desire. They’ve designed banners and other promo materials, shouted about it on social media, acted as a sounding board, and been a huge source of motivation in many ways. I appreciate them so much! Also, I want to give a special thanks to Hawthorne & Aster for managing my book release blast for this week.
I am excited to announce an amazing pre-order incentive for Wrath & Desire (open internationally). This contest is brought to you in part by me and also the lovely Rae Rae Reads on Instagram, who also wanted to help sponsor the prizes. Please be sure to check her out and follow her!
For those who pre-order from one of the retailers (purchase links below) and submit their proof through this LINK, you will be entered for a chance to win a paperback or hardcover (depending on the goal we reach and which order your name is drawn) of either Oaths & Vengeance or Wrath & Desire.
This contest will remain open through to the end of the day February 22nd (United States time). The drawing will take place after that. We will announce the winner(s) and contact them within 48 hours of the novel’s release on Feb 23rd. If you enter, be sure to check back for the results. I also have a counter below that I’ll update regularly.
Note that entering your email and any other data is only for the giveaway and does not sign you up for newsletters or anything else. We simply need a way to contact you if you win.
75 Pre-orders
-We are already close! If we reach this milestone, one name will be drawn to receive a paperback copy of either Oaths & Vengeance or Wrath & Desire (their choice).
100 Pre-orders
-If we reach this milestone, a second name will be drawn to win a paperback copy of either Oaths & Vengeance or Wrath & Desire (their choice).
150 Pre-orders
-If we reach this milestone, in addition to the two winners above, we will draw a third name to receive a signed hardcover copy of either Oaths & Vengeance or Wrath & Desire (their choice).
CURRENT PRE-ORDER TOTAL
*I will update this regularly for anyone who wants to track the number.
Please comment below if you have any questions. Once again, you can enter the contest (with proof of pre-order) at this link- https://bit.ly/WrathPreorder
I hope everyone who celebrates had a lovely Christmas! I’ve been hard at work on revisions these past couple of months, along with juggling family and holidays. Wrath & Desire is officially my longest novel yet, currently over 180,000 words. It is due to the editor at the end of December, but I’ve already implemented beta reader feedback on much of the book and wanted to give you all a sneak peek!
Because this is three chapters totaling more than 13k words, I’ve chosen to put them into eBook and PDF formats that you can download from Bookfunnel. For those who aren’t familiar with it, this service is free for you to use (only authors pay). Just click the link and let them know which format you prefer to download to your device, or you can read it directly on their app. They even have excellent customer service if you run into trouble.
That’s it for updates, but I’ll post more after the new year. I hope you enjoy the first chapters if you decide to go ahead and read them! Otherwise, as noted in the cover reveal earlier this month, the novel will be released on February 23rd.
Most of these chapters take place in Zadrya’s capital city, Porrine. I don’t have a professionally designed map for it, but I’m attaching the hand-drawn one I made below. Some people have told me they like following the characters along on their journey, and many of the places mentioned in this set of chapters are on the map.
