Are you looking for your next fantasy read? Are you looking for a cast of diverse and intriguing characters? Powerful mythical beasts they can bond with? A unique and dangerous magic system? A vast fantasy world filled with history, mythology, and political games?

Then this might be the book for you…

Tale of the Dragon Champion is the debut fantasy novel written by yours truly: Chris Devin (follow me on Instagram for more!).

Written for a New Adult audience, this book has it all: dragons to bond with, an epic fantasy world with diverse countries and people groups, unique magic and mythology systems, and a wealth of history to dive into.

Read on to learn more about the book, and the world of the Tales of Beasts Series.

1. Cover Art
2. Blurb
3. About the story
4. Recent World History (1776-1794 CE)
5. Characters
6. About the Author
7. Release Date

Cover Art

Blurb

Eighteen years ago, the Black Rebellion stormed the mighty capital of Kerzov, slaughtering the Dragon Empress and her court. With the Empire destroyed, the rebel leaders attempted to divide the continent amongst themselves with disastrous results, and the wars that followed have no end in sight.

Aleksander Noyakov lost everything the night the Dragon Court fell. Since then, he has spent every moment preparing the Kerzovi rebels to retake their country and destroy those who had betrayed his Empress. As he doubts whether the rebel leaders will ever choose to act, he finds a woman who might be the key to achieving everything he wants, including restoring the Empire.

Nadya Stepanova is a Kerzovi conscript, forced to fight for a foreign king and hunt down those deemed ‘undesirable’. Her country has been exploited, her people enslaved, and all hope, including Nadya’s, is gone. That is until a mission to capture Kerzovi rebels goes wrong, and she is swept up into their quest for liberation. Yet, as their campaign begins, the truth of Nadya’s past is uncovered, and her identity may threaten the lives of everything and everyone on the continent. Now, she must decide between her own freedom and the destiny she was born to fulfil.

But no choice ever comes without consequences.

About the story

As much as I love the fantasy genre, I found that the books I kept getting recommended were all starting to sound the same. I like morally grey characters, fae, dragons, and a bit of ‘romantasy’ every now and then, but I wanted something more expansive…

I wanted a world I could immerse myself in with a wealth of history like in The Witcher.

I wanted a complex political system with powerful characters like in Game of Thrones.

I wanted a fantasy setting that was both beautiful and brutal like in A Court of Thorns and Roses.

I wanted a memorable cast of characters that I loved like in Throne of Glass.

I wanted a unique magic system that remained mysterious like in Shadow and Bone.

I wanted a more grown up version of the gods and mythology like in Percy Jackson.

I wanted a different take on bonding with mythical beasts like in Fourth Wing.

It’s a lot I know, but if you liked any of those series, then you might like this one too.

Recent World History (1776-1794 CE)

Set in the fantasy world of Avarona, this story takes place on the continent, eighteen years after the Dragon Empire fell.

For five hundred years, the Khan-Tsarin family ruled as Kings and Queens of Kerzov, until the daring Prince Nadenkayen set out to conquer the continent for himself. He did so with resounding success, establishing an empire that his descendants ruled for centuries.

Yet as the Khan-Tsarins grew complacent, the people grew unhappy and rebellions sparked across the continent. For years the emperors and empresses stamped out these measly attempts to overthrow them, until new leaders rose.

These young idealists joined forces, uniting their rebel factions across countries and borders to form the Black Rebellion. As their influence grew, so too did their strength. As they recruited the common people to their cause, they destabilised the puppet governments that Khan-Tsarins had established and assassinated key members of the royal court.

Yet their efforts all came to an end on an evening of celebration across the continent. People of all classes and status flocked to enjoy the festivities that raged in every major town and city as the world commemorated five hundred years of Khan-Tsarin rule. For a single night, their failures were forgotten, their terror purges and executions, crimes and strict policies all disregarded.

The grand party at the palace overseen by Empress Evikana was unlike even the greatest balls her ancestors had thrown. Only the most wealthy and most powerful were in attendance, flaunting their best attire and jewels, as they each vied to gain favour with their empress.

They could not have known that the Black Rebellion lay in wait just outside the walls of the Khan-Tsarin fortress.

At midnight, they struck.

With the help of beasts and magic, Black Rebellion fighters appeared everywhere, swarming through the castle. Across the continent they took government buildings and courthouses, palaces and military bases. They were everywhere, and after years of being slowly weakened, the Khan-Tsarin Empire fell.

Chaos reigned in the weeks that followed as the Black Rebellion made their victory clear.

Officials and court members that were captured during the initial assault were publicly executed on the palace balconies.

Bodies of the recognisable members from the Khan-Tsarin court were paraded like trophies through the cities.

Countless Zaretseli soldiers who had loyally served the Dragon Court were tortured to death for the crowds.

The fearsome dragons of the Khan-Tsarins were hunted down and killed, parts of their bodies stripped down and sold as memorabilia.

Servants from the palace were not exempt, and their blood painted the walls of the palace as they were hung from the battlements.

Across the continent the Khan-Tsarin Empire shattered, and was re-divided under the Black Rebellion leaders. Each took on the title of ‘Khan’ establishing themselves as leaders equal to those who had ruled their lands before the Khan-Tsarin’s swept through.

Each took their birthplace for their own country, creating new governments in Mathari, Zanbar, and Soltse, while Artraeus and Norio Rikuto renamed themselves to commemorate the new beginning.

However, Kerzov remained ungoverned. Disagreements rose as the Black Rebellion leaders argued about who could lay claim to the country, which soon turned violent. As such, the home of the emperors became a battleground, with each major power attempting to carve out a piece of it for themselves.

Soltse, the country directly south of Kerzov and ruled by Faliq al-Abbas, lay first claim to Kerzov. As such, the Soltsean army occupied the southern province of Kerzov, fighting hard over the next decade to claim the trading cities on Kerzov’s east coast and west border.

Offended by King Faliq’s move, the Khans of Zanbar, Norio Rikuto, and Mathari have mounted countless attacks to drive the Soltsean forces out of the country, to no avail.

In a war-torn country, the Kerzovi people are subjected to terrible mistreatment, and forced to work for their occupying powers.

In the last decade, Soltse introduced conscription as a way to use the Kerzovi children to bolster the army and protect the Soltsean people. As conflict intensified, the conscription age was lowered from eighteen to seventeen, and in recent years, sixteen. Any opposition from the Kerzovi people was met with brutal crackdowns and horrifying examples.

Characters

Read on to get a glimpse at some of the key characters you’ll meet in this story…

Nadya Stepanova is a fiesty Kerzovi conscript who rarely takes instructions from anyone. Clever and adaptable, she is good in a fight with her unconventional methods. She grew up on a small farm in the south of Kerzov with her parents, two brothers and younger sister. When she was conscripted at sixteen and sent to fight for Soltse, she nearly had all the fight knocked out of her. It is only after a mission goes wrong that she and her fellow conscript, Izabela Antonova, are given the opportunity to fight for their country’s freedom.

Aleksander Noyakovy is a leader in the rebel army, fighting to liberate Kerzov. Calculating and ruthless, Alek will do whatever it takes to see their people freed and their land restored. With his family killed during the Fall, Alek also wants revenge and when he joined the rebels as a young boy, he swore he would get it. It is only after a scouting mission goes wrong that he finds a woman who might be the key to achieving everything he wants.

Izabela Antonova is a Kerzovi conscript who was captured after attempting to avoid the draft. Cold and obedient, Izabela is the model soldier, and no one could ever accuse her of harbouring rebel sympathies. When her unit returns north to hunt rebels though, Izabela is given the chance of a lifetime…

Skadi Lykke is a Matharian turned rebel who lived in Kerzov during the Fall of the Dragon Court. After her family was killed she joined the rebels, and has worked hard to rise through the ranks. An skilled swordswoman, she joins Alek on his scouting mission to the south of Kerzov. Yet her past is spotty and her reasons for fighting with the rebels are flimsy. One has to wonder, what Skadi’s true intentions are…

Danica Zalena is a Zaretseli soldier loyal to the Governors of New Kerzov. Private and fearless, Danica plays her cards close to her chest but if you win her loyalty you will have it for life. She and her younger siblings Lukas and Kamila are striking not only because of their red hair, but because of the mystery that shrouds them. What secrets are they hiding?

Benedikt Zhabin is a Zaretseli Captain that escaped the slaughter after the Fall. Loyal and driven, Benedikt will stop at nothing to protect his people. He has trained to be a soldier all his life, but for what? He might just find the answer to that question when Aleksander returns to camp with a very interesting young woman…

About the Author

Hi, I’m Chris! I am currently a student of International Relations and Literature, and an avid nerd. Growing up, fantasy was easily my favourite genre, and the idea for this world has slowly been developing in my mind for years now. In my studies, I became fascinated by concepts of power and the many moves and countermoves that make up world politics. Though I am still no expert in any of these things, I found it interesting to think about how they could play out in a fictional world, and thus the ideas I had considered writing about for years came together into a single story that I couldn’t wait to tell.

Release Date

So, there you have it: everything you need to know about Tale of the Dragon Champion.

This book will be released in early 2024 – with the date to be announced soon!

Stay updated by joining the mailing list on my blog and follow me on Instagram @chrisdevinauthor for even more bookish fun!