What If Your City Turned Dark Fantasy?

Hello readers, and welcome to the next post in my ‘Dark City’ series. This week re-imagines what New York would look like in a Dark Fantasy setting.

A dark fantasy rendition of New York City. The full moon hangs behind the black clouds in a red sky. Glowing sigils adorn the buildings behind the bridge that spans the river, and foul creatures lurk on the rooftops.

Some questions for you to ponder over while you enjoy this latest rendition…

When the Fog rolls down Fifth Avenue, which towers vanish first into its hungry veil?

What whispers echo from the runes carved into the Empire State Building’s spire — are they warnings, or invitations?

Beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, what creatures barter in the dark for the souls of those who cross after midnight?

What ancient covenant binds the gargoyles of St. Patrick’s Cathedral to the city’s protection — and what happens when it’s broken?

When the moon turns green above Central Park, what spectral procession marches through the trees, unseen by mortal eyes?

If you want to find out which city will be entering the shadows next week, you know where to come.

Until then,

Happy reading!

Fantasy Weapon of the Week.

A dark fantasy style Scimitar lying on a cracked stone floor. Runes burn red along the dark metal blade, as it curves to towards its pointed tip. The guard akin to the set it hails from; a grinning skull with glowing red eyes, flanked by spikey wings. Leather-bound handle capped in a curved, metal pommel.  A caption reads 'Serpent of the night. Dancer of death. Thirsts for the soul'.

This deliciously dark scimitar is crying out for your attention. Fifth in a series of concept art images from my collection of cursed weapons forged by a dark lord. This week’s weapon; a curved sword that delights in the sorrow of the dead. A collector of souls with a thirst for blood.

What would you name this weapon?

What If Your City Turned Dark Fantasy?

Hello readers, and welcome to the next post in my ‘Dark City’ series. This week’s reimagined city is none other than Chicago.

Some things to ponder over while you admire this delightfully dark rendition:

‘When the red moon rises over the Willis Tower, what ancient sigils awaken along its steel frame, and what do they whisper to the storm clouds above Lake Michigan?’

‘Does an ancient leviathan dwell beneath the Chicago River, coiled in the silt, waiting to re-awaken? If it does rise from its slumber, what will it feed?’

‘In the Loop, where runes flicker across glass towers, which windows remain lit long after midnight? Who (or what) still works there… and what are they actually doing?’

‘What toll must be paid to the gargoyles of Tribune Tower by those brave enough to venture down Michigan Avenue?’

A dark fantasy rendition of Chicago City. A strange creature flies beneath a blood moon and a glowing aurora. Sigils illuminate the sides of the buildings, and shadow creatures watch over the river.

You may not have all the answers, but if you dare to enter this world, they are questions you should consider.

Which City will next week conjure from the mists? You’ll have to wait and see.

Until then, watch out for the creatures of the night.

Happy reading!

Fantasy Weapon of the Week

A dark fantasy style Flail lying on a cracked stone floor. The head is a ball of dark metal, with runes glowing between its deadly spikes. The head is connected by chain to a leather-bound handle. A caption at the base of the image reads 'Bound in darkness. Wrought for pain. Chaos given form'.

Mesmerize yourself with the chaotic beauty of the fantasy weapon of the week. Forth in the series of concept art images from my collection of cursed weapons forged by a dark lord. This week’s weapon; a flail with dark desires, only sated when the spikes of its deadly head are embedded in flesh.

What would you name this weapon?

What I’m Reading: Grimdark Edition

A book lies on the ground of the forest, a skull, a dagger, a key, and some candles placed around it. A text overlay reads 'Writers are readers first - here's what's feeding my imagination'.

Hello Readers,

Most recently, I sank myself into ‘Emperor of Thorns’ by Mark Lawrence — a book that reminds me why I gravitate toward the brutal, the beautiful, and the morally tangled. I am yet to write what I would consider to be a Grimdark novel, yet this is without doubt my favourite genre to read. Lawrence’s world-building is jagged and raw, and this brutal world is pushing me to sharpen the edges in my own writing. This story by Lawrence didn’t just entertain me; it provoked, lingered, and reshaped the way I think about character arcs in grim worlds, just as my favourite author, Abercombie has done before him. I feel these authors will continue influence my writing in the future, and possibly even lead me to create my first ever Grimdark novel.

Having now finished the Broken Empire Trilogy I’m moving on to Dead Man’s Steel by Luke Scull. I can’t wait to get stuck into it!

Happy Reading!

A Quote from my Tales.

Hello Readers,

You’ve probably noticed I’ve been doing a refresh of my web page and my Merchandise site over the last couple of weeks. I have created some new content especially for this, but I have also revisited some of my old stuff, like the quotes from some of my work, and I have redesigned them with a different look and feel. So, I thought I would run a weekly quote post for a little while to showcase the updated designs, and to add some new quotes too. This is the first post in this ‘A Quote from my Tales’ series. I hope you like it!

A zombie like duck floating in a pond with skulls and bones discarded around the banks. A castle sits in the background. The quote "Ah... the Dead Duck." from the fantasy novel 'Blood Rage' sits in bone white text above the ducks head.

Happy reading.

What If Your City Turned Dark Fantasy?

Hello readers and welcome to the fourth post in my ‘Dark City’ series. Which city has been reimagined with the magic of AI this week. Let’s indulge our dark side and gaze on the next deathly location.

This week the creatures are stirring in Montreal, Canada. So let me ask you…

‘What ancient, frost-bitten king is entombed beneath the Mount Royal Cross, and why does the cross turn blood-red when the “North Wind” howls? What “Tunnel-Crawlers” have now creep through the corridors of RÉSO; the underground city? Is it true the streets of Old Montreal are now cobbled with the teeth of a dead leviathan?’

Montreal, Canada in a dark fantasy setting. Winged critters swarm beneath the blood moon that fills the night sky. A creature pulls itself from St Lawrence river onto the banks of the city. The windows of the Notre-Dame Basilica glow blue against the red city lights behind.

Ponder these questions while you enjoy this monstrous Montreal cityscape.

Which city will sink into the darkness next? Visit me again next week to find out.

Until then,

Happy reading!

Fantasy Weapon of the Week

A dark fantasy style spear lying on a cracked stone floor. The dark metal spearhead is forged in the image of a grinning skull with glowing red eyes. The skull is flanged with spiked wings and crowned by a deadly pointed tip. Glowing red runes burn their way up along the spearhead. A caption reads 'Born of shadow. Cast in hate. Seeks the heart of kings'.

Cast your sight upon my fantasy weapon of the week. The third in a series of concept art images from a collection of cursed weapons forged by a dark lord. This week’s weapon; a spear of dread that has felled many a hero and is known as a killer of kings.

What would you name this weapon?