The Ruarnon Trilogy is portal fantasy adventure and epic fantasy for teens, young adults and adults, with LGBTQIA+ characters.
Manipulator’s War (#1)
Nonbinary Ruarnon is determined to prove their worth as heir to Tarlah’s perfect King. Things get complicated when their parents are abducted and they’re left ruling Tarlah in the shadow of impending war, with absent allies.
Neighbouring King Kyura has no intention of invading Tarlah. But his warmongering subjects long for the glory of expansion. When Kyura rejects their calls for war, assassins threaten his family and mutiny threatens his reign.
Stranded Aussie Linh is desperate to return to her family in Australia. But the only transport to her gateway home is Ruarnon’s absent allies, sailing to Tarlah’s aid.
Monsters at sea threaten everyone. Linh’s monster observations could save Kyura’s people, and clear her homeward path, if she risks her life aiding Ruarnon. But to secure peace with Kyura’s unruly subjects, Ruarnon’s ultimate test as heir risks betrayal and Tarlah’s bloody defeat.
Secrets of the Sorcery War (#2)
In book 2, Nartzeer’s monsters return to the eastern seas and so does magic. In pursuing allies to aid recovering their abducted family Ruarnon, and in seeking confirmation of her way home Linh, discover dangerous secrets from the Sorcery War lie across the seas. Nartzeer seems to know and have plans for these secrets, his motives remain a mystery and his monsters appear to be evolving …and to threaten Ruarnon’s allies.
War in Sorcery’s Shadow (#3)
In book 3, Ruarnon and Linh sail to Nartzeer’s homeland to recover Ruarnon’s parents and for Linh to get home. They seek allegiance with an underground resistance in occupied territory, undertake a quest and discover secret sorcerer organisations and a continent on the brink of a second sorcery war.
Nartzeer is more complex than anyone anticipated. He is as terrible as they feared, more wonderful than they imagined, and about to destroy his world, if they can’t find a way to stop him.
Add Trilogy to Your TBR
Content Warnings
Book 1: off-page suicide, death, family grief, moderate fantasy battle violence.
Book 2: mental health themes (paranoia), moderate fantasy battle violence.
Book 3: mental health themes (paranoia and PTSD), death, grief, moderate fantasy battle violence.
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Readers Are Saying
“…the representation of Ruarnon as nonbinary was amazing.”
“…took me on an emotional roller coaster with every twist and turn.”
“…captivating, immersive and thrilling. I loved the echoes to other great fantasy reads.”
“This book takes many unexpected twists and turns and keeps you wanting more of the storyline.”
“…continues to paint elaborate lands, vivid imagery, and rich character portrayals…. Overall very well written and easy to lose yourself in the storyline! Cannot wait for the 3rd.”
Diversity Rep
LGBTQIA+
Main characters include: nonbinary, aromantic and asexual people.
Side Characters: multiple letters of LGBTQIA+ (sexuality coming up more in books two & three).
Neurodiverse
One character is explicitly identified as having ADHD, while multiple characters have multiple autistic and ADHD traits and the author has yet to categorise them as either (or both).
Author & Diversity
Elise is a nonbinary, asexual, aromantic person with diagnosed ADHD and is beginning to explore the possibility they have also have autism.
They are a long covid survivor with a chronic illness and they intend to explore disability rep more in their upcoming Sythe Trilogy (though keep an eye out for The Dedicated, late to the party in Ruarnon Trilogy book 3).
Prequel
Everywhere he looks, 15-year-old Urmillian sees his people suffering under brutal foreign occupation. High taxes drive poverty and malnutrition, while the execution of anyone suspected of resistance brings the people of Tarlah to their knees. Urmillian longs to join his father’s uprising and free his people, despite father’s orders to protect the family home. When occupying soldiers turn on all Tarlahans, Urmillian’s younger brother calls for aid. But the streets are filling with soldiers. If Urmillian doesn’t help cut them off, the city will be overrun. So he risks both their lives by abandoning his household’s defence and joining his older sister on the front line.
An action-packed YA Fantasy short story (7500 words), set before Manipulator’s War.
Get it for .99 cents on the below stores, or free with my newsletter.
