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After finishing the Astral Kingdoms, I wanted to write something much smaller, more intimate. Something where the stakes are personal and quiet compared to killing gods. I also wanted to make people cry. VOW OF ASHES, a novella of a dying woman and the vow she demands of her husband, is that book.

It's a story of a woman whose body gives healing, and of a Royal Court that would deny her dignity in death. A story of her husband, vowing to bring her to the sea, so only the waves may have her. PRE-ORDER LINK: www.amazon.com/Vow-Ashes-Da...

To say this is different than normal for me is an understatement. I'm fucking terrified. I adore this story, I love it so much, I bawled writing it, and I have no idea if people are willing to give the "dudes with swords" fantasy a guy a chance on something like this, but I'm hoping you will.

I suppose I should make it clear why I wanted to make people cry beyond, like, being evil. My family watches a movie together every Friday, and it was about the time I was coming up with VOW OF ASHES that we were watching a run of anime films, starting with Your Name.

Your Name wrecked my household, and immediately led to films like Suzume, Weathering With You, A Silent Voice, etc. Films that (mostly) contained some supernatural elements but also very much building up to a nice, satisfying cry by the end of it.

I was also watching Frieren, which also has similar cozy vibes that could lead to heartache at any time. Not mean, not evil, not even always "sad", but it's there. And that's what I wanted. That feeling. Those emotions. For myself, and for anyone who read it.