“The Dreamer” is an idea that has been dancing around in my brain for about a year or so now. A fantasy novel, jam-packed with compelling characters and a riveting plot-line, but set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland reminiscent of the science fiction or western genres. See the summary below:
Over one hundred years ago, the Caecca — the Shadow — brutally massacred the royal family of the Aaellan Empire. Said to be descended from the gods, with the demise of the royal family, all magic — and with it, the oceans and rivers — disappeared overnight.
Only the Dreamers can still use magic, and they began to disappear, one by one. Faced with the sure destruction of the realm, a faction bent on restoring magic to the realm was formed. Composed of the leaders of the great kingdoms, it was dubbed the “Aaellan Confederacy,” and led by Saiya, regent to the human kingdom of Erith and de facto leader of the entire empire.
Now, they have tasked an expedition party, headed by the infamous Scavenger, to find the fabled Vaeris — the Tree of Life and Death — said to be able to grant any wish. Little do they know, dark forces work against them, seeking to destroy all hope and the rumored last remaining blood heir to the gods — a princess who was stowed away for her protection. Now, the group must battle against powerful mages, insane radicals, and their own dark pasts.
Artwork by Tuomas Korpi.
And now, the first look at the five races in the world of “The Dreamer.” Each race corresponds to a different kingdom within the empire — Erith, Belwyn, Gesheidan, Valterra, and Haelon — once separated by a vast ocean, now divided by a growing and pervasive wasteland composed of deserts, tundras, swamps, and other “icky” things — raiders, carrion birds, and the skeletons of vast underwater creatures.
The five races are: the Humans: a plucky, resilient race; the Aona: beautiful, otherworldly creatures; the Teln: large sentient rock beings; the Durm: an anthropomorphic feline race; and the V’lir: horned, red-skinned beings resembling devils. The images included at the top of this post (the featured image) are from my Pinterest inspiration board for “The Dreamer,” and are the inspiration photos for five of my characters, here meant to represent their whole race.
Thank you for taking this journey with me, and please, stay tuned for more snippets and information regarding “The Dreamer” as I progress through my first draft!
B.A. King 