Demon's Tear

No prophecies
No destiny
The new heroes of our time shall choose themselves

The Jantakai, the lands of the Twin Swords, are divided. War threatens every border, crime infests countries like a disease, and the gods themselves have faded away. Beneath this turbulent arena an ancient, malicious power begins to wake. The whole world is like dry tinder, waiting for a spark.

Old friends Ellyah and Nastja must rediscover how to trust one another as they navigate the underworld of Anish. Eain is a young soldier of Banahgar, whose dreams of glory turn out to be a nightmare. Driven by necessity, their quests will force them to travel further and through more dangers than they could have imagined.

At the heart of it all, a blood-red ruby gleams, sending out a siren call. A frantic chase begins, those who would possess it unaware of the danger it holds. Glory and riches await the victor, and for the losers the only prize will be death.

Who will claim the Demon’s Tear?

If I had to describe it, I’d say this book feels like an epic game of hide-and-seek meets catch the mouse, but on a Lord of the Rings scale. The stakes? A glowing red ruby, brimming with unimaginable magic, but there’s one deadly catch that whoever touches it dies.

From the very first page, the story literally grabs you buy the throat and does NOT let go. The action kicks off immediately with a shocking betrayal—the king is attacked and murdered by his own son, and in the aftermath, the legendary Serpent Sword (one of the twin blades) is lost. The twist? You'll have to read that to find out.

The novel is written in third person, and our journey begins with Eain Connow, a determined young warrior on his first real mission. He and his trainees are racing against time to deliver a message to his master—one that could change the course of everything. Despite the desperate urgency of their mission, the story isn’t all doom and gloom. There are moments of lighthearted banter, well-placed humor, and genuine camaraderie between characters that had me chuckling out loud.

But what really stole the show for me was the imagery. The descriptions assaulted my senses in the best way possible. Every battlefield, every shadowed forest, was painted with such vivid precision that I could smell the damp earth, hear the clash of the steel and feel the weight of the journey alongside the characters. It was the kind of writing that doesn’t just tell you a story, it transports you to the middle of it.

And let’s talk about the visuals—because this book doesn’t just rely on words to tell its story. It is packed with breathtaking internal artwork, a sprawling, intricate map at the start, and gorgeous chapter illustrations that mark each shift in perspective. Speaking of perspectives, this book features multiple POVs, including Eain, Clayton Moore, Evane Claes, Desya (the demon), Ellyah, Luara, and Nastja. Each viewpoint is distinct, offering different layers of depth to the world and its unfolding chaos. And the cliffhangers? Brutal. I actually messaged the author mid-read because I was losing my mind at how each chapter left me hanging.

Now, let’s talk world-building—because wow. We’ve got dwarves, elves, warring armies, entire kingdoms teetering on the edge of destruction. And then there’s the Mackem's—an unrelenting faction hunting down anyone who possesses the ruby, leaving only death in their wake. Every piece of the puzzle fits together seamlessly, and despite the complexity, it never feels overwhelming. And fantasy readers, don’t stress—there’s a full glossary at the back to help with any unfamiliar terms. 

And then—of course—it ends on a massive cliffhanger, and I'm desperately waiting for the next one. Favorite characters? Tann and Eain, hands down. They’re loyal, courageous, and so well-developed that they felt real. And the way the author crafts every detail with such care, weaving emotion into action, made me completely invested in their journey.

If you love high-stakes fantasy, intense action, incredible world-building, and storytelling that pulls you in and refuses to let go, this book is an absolute must read.