A New Chapter in Aliru: This Emerald Crucible Update

It's hard to believe, but I've been working on my latest book 'This Emerald Crucible' for close to four years now. And I do feel a touch of guilt that it's taken so long to bring to life — but stories often grow at their own pace.

In fact, This Emerald Crucible has undergone significant changes since the first draft — one of which was a full re-write, another of which was splitting the book into two parts. It's taken a while to sharpen focus on the right parts of the world, reshape the characters, and refine the tone to match the story I wanted to tell. But I think it's been worth it.

This Emerald Crucible centres around Reiuk, a hard-edged gardener from the parched, desert city of Tenolar, who gets tasked with saving a rare and vital plant from extinction. This sends him across the seas to a little known island where lush jungles and ancient ruins whisper of forgotten knowledge & splendour. Crossing paths with Teth, a brilliant but testy young archaeologist, and Kindri, a charismatic journalist who holds cards close to her chest, the trio are soon swept into an intrigue that will force them to learn about the island’s true nature — or be consumed by it.

In this story, we're back in the world of Aliru (where 'The Torril City Mysterion' was set) but this is not a sequel, nor a prequel. Rather, it’s what I like to think of as a skewquel — a standalone tale which explores a different time, different people, and a new corner of the world. It’s designed to be accessible even if you haven't read Torril, but for those who have, you'll find familiar threads, gain a deeper understanding of how magick in this world works, learn more about its history — and perhaps even discover a dark threat, moving behind the scenes…

The current manuscript is sitting at around 670 pages which, frankly, is pushing the limits of what my publisher’s printing press can comfortably handle. For comparison, Torril City came in at about 410 pages. Editing will see this number change but I hope that whatever the final count, each and every one of those pages will be worth it. I promise they'll be packed with adventure, discovery, and more than a few surprises.

The incredibly warm and enthusiastic reception to Torril City has been humbling, and I'm so excited to share this new chapter of Aliru with you all soon. This Emerald Crucible is still on track for release this year (2025).

Again, thanks to you all for the patience and support. Get ready to step through the jungle mists of the Emerald Crucible with Reiuk, Teth, and Kindri, and see where the paths of Aliru might lead to next!