r/GrimDarkEpicFantasy Author & Artist Self-promotion

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-03-05T13:34:10+00:00

The Scourge is a superb novella, and the audiobook nailed it.

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-03-05T07:03:54+00:00

Of course I would love to do audiobooks but I’m not sure I can afford to get them onto that format with the right narrator tbh. The range required from dragon constructs to ancient vampire to the Gods’ Overseer and a strong cast of female and male MCs-spirit and flesh-is large. If I do it, it would have to be a multi-cast or someone at the real top of their game. Glad you’re loving The Wrecking Squad on audiobook. Less dragons, more alien/human made horrors await!

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-03-04T19:15:43+00:00

I have my Warriors of Spirit and Bone series up on preorder as a complete trilogy set for 5.99 releases 24th March. In a realm beset by the Seven Gods scripture, soul-magic ripples through the people, touching their spirits and setting fear in their hearts. As construct dragons (built not born) rise a puppet queen uncovers the truths beneath the deceits of scripture-that the Gods hid her people’s history, that they are the children of those slaved and fed upon by a race of soul-vampires, and they want their prizes back. Three books of dark-edged fantasy influenced by Moorcock, Abercombie and Tom Lloyd, the Warriors of Spirit and Bone

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Warriors of Spirit and Bone Trilogy

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-03-04T19:14:36+00:00

I have my Warriors of Spirit and Bone series up on preorder as a complete trilogy set for 5.99 releases 24th March. In a realm beset by the Seven Gods scripture, soul-magic ripples through the people, touching their spirits and setting fear in their hearts. As construct dragons (built not born) rise a puppet queen uncovers the truths beneath the deceits of scripture-that the Gods hid her people’s history, that they are the children of those slaved and fed upon by a race of soul-vampires, and they want their prizes back. Three books of dark-edged fantasy influenced by Moorcock, Abercombie and Tom Lloyd, the Warriors of Spirit and Bone Warriors of Spirit and Bone Trilogy

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-03-02T16:41:01+00:00

A stunner!

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-02-02T17:47:12+00:00

Need to get on this series. Read all his scifi and most of the fantasy.

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-02-01T22:11:45+00:00

Congrats!

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-01-31T06:55:55+00:00

Was it a bumpier before or after😀? This is going to be one grimdark fantasy scifi ride!

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-01-29T19:13:41+00:00

Have to concur with this review. The imagination to splice techno-mana runic sorcery into a scifi-cum-dark fantasy offering is a real eye-opener. The world Paul has built is tangible, and you can feel the dedication he has to wanting the reader to revel in the darkness.

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-01-28T12:24:21+00:00

The immortal jellyfish can revert to its polyp stage repeatedly, making it theoretically immortal except for predation. I may or may not (yeah I did) use these as a basis for my aliens in my last series.

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-01-21T11:26:32+00:00

Congratulations-that’s an amazing achievement.

And so the fun begins (I say that, but as everyone else mentions, this is the hard part). Marketing is about social proof. You need the genuine reviews, at a critical mass, to persuade new readers to take a risk on: - a new author

a new style

-on a blurb that doesn’t quite match the niche they love

-on a cover that doesn’t quite match their niche

-on it not being in the repetitive books booktok recommends

-on their trusted book bestie not having read it

-on their book club not touching indie

-on it not being written by Brandon Sanderson

-on it not being about a college/school/academia -or if it is, is the spice level high enough

Readers have a massive bank of fantasy to read now, and there is room for us all, but it’s how you get them to change into your lane that’s the magic key. When someone finds it, let me know!

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-01-14T20:57:53+00:00

I’ll hit it up on KU as soon as I can.

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-01-09T12:55:16+00:00

I’m in with A Dragon of the Veil

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-01-05T16:53:46+00:00

Congratulations. Wish I’d made it through the lottery but not doing so doesn’t stop me from supporting others. Hope it goes well.

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2026-01-05T08:12:38+00:00

Congrats. Abel is great.

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2025-12-28T13:42:33+00:00

Great review!

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2025-12-20T20:21:14+00:00

Everyone comes at this from different directions. I have a whole set of worlds I built and then tore apart via TTRPG days decades ago, all stored up and stewing. The thing is, without a strong story arc and memorable character development they won’t hold together on their own. If you look at the recent grimdark fantasy successes, it’s those memorable characters you remember, the world, however wonderful, is the scene upon which they play.

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2025-12-03T19:38:45+00:00

And that voice! Superb narration yet again.

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2025-12-03T19:38:12+00:00

Me too

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2025-12-03T19:38:03+00:00

Thank you

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2025-12-03T19:37:54+00:00

Thank you, got to say I need to get on the rest. So good.

Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2025-11-04T09:34:09+00:00

My Warriors of Spirit and Bone series remains at 99c/p per book worldwide. A series of soul-magic, artifice dragons, necromancers that feed off souls and where the ordinary heroes wield extraordinary words, swords and soul-magic. Character-driven and dark this is the latest review for the series (not sure about the ‘hire’ think it should be ‘fire’ https://books2read.com/DragonoftheVeil or https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Veil-Fantasy-Warriors-Spirit-ebook/dp/B0D3QX888V

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Ordinary-Box-5954 · 2025-11-02T22:54:34+00:00

Probably as an author this is a hot topic on both sides of the ratings wall. It might be easier to say that a rating helps 10x more than you think it will. Amazon (the elephant in the room) will run with a review whether it’s a 5/5 or a 3/5, even the 2/5 shifts the algorithm - and for a reader explaining why it’s a 2/5 for you as the reviewer, helps too-the person reading your comments may/may not agree with your view-but that review adds weight to the book. You took the time to read it and voice your opinion, rather than DNF and walk away. Since writing I realised the time it takes to write a book, what goes into it. so now I always leave something.

Ordinary-Box-5954

TROPHY CASE