One of the objectives of this novel was to embed some of the less cheesy conventions of the popular ‘dark fantasy’ / ‘paranormal romance’ genre within a fully realised, gritty fantasy world. In other words, to try to remove the cliches of ‘dark fantasy’ (werewolves (yawn), vampires (yawn), passive female protagonist) and ‘epic fantasy’ (silly names, excessive world-building, uber-powerful magic), whilst retaining the strengths of each.

Only one way to find out if I succeeded…

A note on versions: The Wolf of Helocene has been around for quite a while now. I completed the initial draft in 2005. At that point it was a novella. Thereafter I rewrote it, almost doubling its length, and printed a few copies in 2006. Then the manuscript stayed in a dark and forgotten folder on my laptop marked ‘misc’ for some years, until I rediscovered it in late 2010. I rewrote it again, added probably 30% content (mainly at the end of the story), tidied up a few things and deemed it fit for human consumption. No doubt I will add to it again at some point (or write the sequel). But in the meantime, enjoy The Wolf of Helocene v3.0 – now with 30% extra!

More news, reviews and updates soon.

The good news is you don’t actually need to own a Kindle to read it. Amazon has made a variety of apps available for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows PCs, Android phones and more. And best of all, they’re completely free.  This means you can shop for 850,000 ebooks in the Kindle store, including The Wolf of Helocene – available for a paltry $2.29 in the US and £1.43 in the UK. A flipping bargain! The Kindle device also allow you to read the first chapter or so for free, if the extract hasn’t already persuaded you.

Whether you choose to purchase or not, please please ‘like’ the book on Amazon (by clicking the ‘thumbs up’ button next to the book title.) And if you do download and read it, please please write an Amazon review. Whether you think it’s a load of old pickle or the finest of chutneys, let the world – and me – know what you think.

Welcome. This the the website for the ebook novel The Wolf of Helocene – a new, gripping dark fantasy cycle. The book is available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk for Kindle and Kindle readers. Find out more about how to download a copy here. A free extract is available here.

Read on for some background to the story:

Arna’s world is governed by the Laws – a complex set of rules and regulations, feasts and rituals that shape the lives of everyone, even the non-human races that inhabit the darkest places. But the Laws have become a tool of control, enforced by the hated Keepers, and resented by many.

Arna herself is seventeen years old and has never left her village. She is quiet and timid, living in her own head. But when her younger sister Rhion fails to return in time for an important feast, Arna feels a nagging desire to travel to the city of Moelberg and find her. Beniol, the village’s despised Keeper of the Laws, makes the risks clear: with only three days before a festival that forbids women from leaving their homes, Arna must move fast – or face a terrible punishment for breaking the Laws.

Her mission to find Rhion is riddled with perils, including encounters some of the mysterious races that inhabit her world: the bitter and evil Kurne, who hunt in the immense Llansor Forest; the ancient Sennen, who lie imprisoned beneath the city of Moelberg, and the enigmatic Nagael, who only emerge from hiding once a year to travel the cursed ghost paths.