Free fantasy book! From the Valley of Orchids free this weekend

December 2, 2023 / Niels Saunders / Leave a comment

Free eBook Available on Amazon:

To celebrate the launch of Battle of the Adachi Wastes (Book 7 in The Legend of Saru) you can grab a copy of From the Valley of Orchids (Book 1) for free this weekend:

Amazon link

(Regular price $4.99 / £3.99)

Here’s the blurb:

Gods and Demons Clash in Mythological Japan

In the Kingdom of Yamato, magic is misunderstood. When humans pray at shrines to the spirits of the land, their wishes are not granted directly. Instead, sometimes gods are born: shapeshifting animals with the power to conjure weapons and enter the realm of dreams.

When a snow monkey named Saru is born from a prayer of hope, he longs to understand the truth about his nature. At an enchanted temple, he crosses paths with the demonic monk Akame whose infernal magic destroys everything Saru loves—and could soon threaten the whole world.

Saru flees to Otari Village, a settlement of kind people who welcome him into their homes. The village, however, is plagued by ghosts and wicked men who would exploit Saru’s powers. With Akame’s arrival looming, will Saru save the village, or lose everything again? How far will he go to protect those he loves?

Don’t forget—book eight in The Legend of Saru is now available to pre-order. World of Ruin releases on December 19th:

Click here to find out more.

Epic Fantasy Book Launch – Battle of the Adachi Wastes

November 22, 2023 / Niels Saunders / 1 Comment

Battle of the Adachi Wastes by Niels Saunders

War Erupts to Prevent the Century of Night

Battle of the Adachi Wastes is now available on Amazon in eBook, paperback and hardcover:

eBook

Paperback

Hardcover

With the secrets of the past revealed, the story returns to Saru and his allies. A great battle is looming, however, and Saru has an army to rally…

Here’s the blurb:

With Emperor Kowa’s blessing, and the might of the imperial army, Akame marches to the Adachi Wastes to confront Asahi and Raiu. Through the power of their deaths, he plans to somehow unleash Hell itself upon the living world and usher in the Century of Night.

Only Saru can cross Akame’s veil and break his curse before it is too late. Vastly outnumbered, Saru must rally as many allies as possible. However, two of Yamato’s fiercest warriors remain trapped in other realms: Laurent and Kogarashi. For any chance of victory at the Adachi Wastes, Saru and his new companions must journey through the Nightmare Realm and Painted World to slay the Scarecrow of Heaven.

Joined by the forces of Shouza College’s Heavenly Guard, Saru leads an uneasy alliance of gods, monsters and outlaws to war. Magic will cleave the land, sky serpents will rend the heavens, old grudges will be settled and new romances will bloom. Spectacular and devastating, nothing can prepare you for the Battle of the Adachi Wastes.

Cover art by Nicolás Castell.

Don’t forget, all seven books released so far are available on Kindle Unlimited. If you bust a move, you can binge them all with a single month’s subscription.

Not only that, but book eight in The Legend of Saru is now available to pre-order. World of Ruin releases on December 19th…just in time for some dark fantasy Christmas reading!

Epic Japanese Fantasy Sale: From the Valley of Orchids just $0.99 this week

August 21, 2023 / Niels Saunders / Leave a comment

To celebrate the launch of Bringer of the Black Sky (Book 4 in The Legend of Saru) you can grab a copy of From the Valley of Orchids (Book 1) for just $0.99 / £0.99 this week:

US Amazon link

UK Amazon link

(Regular price $4.99 / £3.99)

If you’re new to my site and haven’t heard about From the Valley of Orchids yet, here’s the blurb:

Gods and Demons Clash in Mythological Japan

In the Kingdom of Yamato, magic is misunderstood. When humans pray at shrines to the spirits of the land, their wishes are not granted directly. Instead, sometimes gods are born: shapeshifting animals with the power to conjure weapons and enter the realm of dreams.

When a snow monkey named Saru is born from a prayer of hope, he longs to understand the truth about his nature. At an enchanted temple, he crosses paths with the demonic monk Akame whose infernal magic destroys everything Saru loves—and could soon threaten the whole world.

Saru flees to Otari Village, a settlement of kind people who welcome him into their homes. The village, however, is plagued by ghosts and wicked men who would exploit Saru’s powers. With Akame’s arrival looming, will Saru save the village, or lose everything again? How far will he go to protect those he loves?

Epic Fantasy Book Launch – From the Valley of Orchids

May 22, 2023 / Niels Saunders / 1 Comment

Today’s the day! From the Valley of Orchids is now available to buy on Amazon. Volume one in the epic fantasy series The Legend of Saru, the eBook is only $0.99 / £0.99 for its entire launch week. Here’s the blurb:

Gods and Demons Clash in Mythological Japan

In the Kingdom of Yamato, magic is misunderstood. When humans pray at shrines to the spirits of the land, their wishes are not granted directly. Instead, sometimes gods are born: shapeshifting animals with the power to conjure weapons and enter the realm of dreams.

When a snow monkey named Saru is born from a prayer of hope, he longs to understand the truth about his nature. At an enchanted temple, he crosses paths with the demonic monk Akame whose infernal magic destroys everything Saru loves—and could soon threaten the whole world.

Saru flees to Otari Village, a settlement of kind people who welcome him into their homes. The village, however, is plagued by ghosts and wicked men who would exploit Saru’s powers. With Akame’s arrival looming, will Saru save the village, or lose everything again? How far will he go to protect those he loves?

Aimed at adults and an older YA audience, From the Valley of Orchids explores themes of grief, loss and hope, all told from a unique perspective. All nine volumes are finished and will be released monthly this year.

Maps, Maps, Maps and More Maps!

May 9, 2023May 16, 2023 / Niels Saunders / Leave a comment

Every good fantasy book needs a map, and From the Valley of Orchids has five.

Throughout the nine books in The Legend of Saru, you’ll explore all fifteen provinces of Yamato, from the sweltering Osumi in the south of Kyushu to the frozen northern plains of Ezo where the White City of Niseko looms:

The scrolls of the island names reference landmarks from the stories. In Ezo, you’ll see the swamp plants from the Rubythroat Fens and the Stone Pillars of Shakotan. East Honshu features Mount Kazan and the petrified tree from the Adachi Wastes. In West Honshu, there’s Ihara’s Cave, Mount Ogawa and the Kraken of the Deep. Meanwhile, Shikoku features the whirlpools of the Naruto Strait with Mount Ishizuchi beyond. Finally, Kyushu includes the staggering peak of Mount Shouza with the Europan style turrets of Shouza College.

Designing these maps drove me to several nervous breakdowns (just ask my wife!), so I hope you’ll enjoy them and find them helpful. They were made using elements from K.M. Alexander’s Ishikawa Set, Map Effects Fantasy Map Builder and Japan Map by Vemaps.com.

A version of the whole of Yamato is available here.

The ebook of From the Valley of Orchids (book one in The Legend of Saru) releases on May 22nd. The paperbacks and hardbacks are out now.

Announcing the Legend of Saru

May 5, 2023May 5, 2023 / Niels Saunders / Leave a comment

An epic fantasy series in mythological Japan

It’s been over five years since my last post, and for good reason: I’ve been writing an entire fantasy series. All nine books in The Legend of Saru series are now finished and ready to release monthly this year, starting with From the Valley of Orchids on May 22nd. During its first week, the ebook will be available at the reduced price of $0.99. Here’s the cover and blurb:

From the Valley of Orchids by Niels Saunders

Gods and Demons Clash in Mythological Japan

In the Kingdom of Yamato, magic is misunderstood. When humans pray at shrines to the spirits of the land, their wishes are not granted directly. Instead, sometimes gods are born: shapeshifting animals with the power to conjure weapons and enter the realm of dreams.

When a snow monkey named Saru is born from a prayer of hope, he longs to understand the truth about his nature. At an enchanted temple, he crosses paths with the demonic monk Akame whose infernal magic destroys everything Saru loves—and could soon threaten the whole world.

Saru flees to Otari Village, a settlement of kind people who welcome him into their homes. The village, however, is plagued by ghosts and wicked men who would exploit Saru’s powers. With Akame’s arrival looming, will Saru save the village, or lose everything again? How far will he go to protect those he loves?

I’ll be making another post when the ebook is out, but you can already buy the paperback and hardback versions from Amazon. They look absolutely beautiful, so if you feel like treating yourself, I’d highly recommend them.

I’ll be making lots more posts in the following weeks, so stay tuned for more news and deals!