Dear readers,
This is it – the first part of Valentina's journey has concluded, and with it, my very first novel-length story has been completed and I'd like to take this moment for a little reflection.
"A Blossom of Flames" essentially combines two ideas I've been carrying around for quite some time. First, the concept of a protagonist like Valentina, caught in an unexpected symbiosis with a naughty demon like Vyxara. Second, the metaphysical setting of a world where the Martyr keeps the forces of evil at bay.
The first idea is clearly inspired by the marvelous, fantastic, matchless Lois McMaster Bujold and her Penric and Desdemona series – if you haven't read them yet, do yourself a favor and pick up any of her books, she’s never written anything short of superb.
The second idea – the Martyr holding the forces of evil in check – came from my dissatisfaction with how religion often is used in fantasy books. Frequently, religion serves merely as a backdrop for powerful institutional forces shaping medieval-style societies, but the characters rarely engage deeply with it. It hardly influences their inner experience of the world around them, and too often, the protagonist's intellectual superiority is demonstrated by rejecting what is supposedly society's prevailing belief.
Instead, I wanted a religion that is fundamentally true: The Martyr really existed, lived as a human, provided humanity with a path away from eternal suffering and torment, and still fights daily to hold demons at bay. Nobody doubts this reality. People know demons exist, and the Martyr’s limited influence on the material world is observable. Disagreements exist, but not over the fundamental truth of these facts – rather, they're about interpretation and their implications.
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Initially, I didn't plan to combine these two ideas. The first could have turned into a much lighter story, and the second could have become a much darker, philosophical, existential piece. Yet, I'm glad I merged them because it still feels uniquely compelling to me, and I'm still deeply in love with Valentina and her world.
Although I've always written and have to write a lot professionally (alas, non-fiction), I feel I've grown significantly as a writer during writing “A Blossom of Flames”. There are things I’d now approach differently, but the die is cast – and perhaps some elements can be revised later for an ebook release if it ever comes to that.
Previously, I struggled to place my characters in difficult situations because I deeply contemplate them, simulate their character, emotions, and desires vividly in my mind. I love my characters, and it genuinely breaks my heart to see them suffer – but overcoming adversity is, of course, at the heart of storytelling. Though writing scenes like the one with Barnaby and feeling Valentina's suffering was incredibly challenging, I believe it made me grow as a writer, just as Valentina has grown and hopefully will continue to grow. I’m still rooting for her!
On the other hand, I worried it might be difficult to write a character like Vyxara – basically existing only as a voice – and create a dynamic between her and Valentina. Surprisingly, writing Vyxara turned out to be an absolute delight, bringing me immense joy.
Overall, the story closely followed my original plan. I only removed one significant subplot involving goblins and postponed it to a later point.
Next, Valentina and Vyxara head first to Valentina's hometown, Palewood, and shortly after to Dusktown, where they'll explore an entirely new environment.
I will need to take a little break and it will take a bit over a week until the next book A Weave of Ambition starts, but to bridge the time until the schedule resumes I will upload a sneak preview of the new cover and a map of Sommerland starting sunday. The map will help you trace Valentina's journey and hopefully delight those who, like me, adore fantasy maps and want to know more about the lore.
It brings me immense joy – it genuinely makes me giddy – that you accompany Valentina and Vyxara on their adventures, thank you so much!
Yours, Kleo
