D BOHICA's Blog, page 2

FOUND FAMILY (Forged in Dragonfire)

Published on October 22, 2025
The best relationships are built in battle.
Breach of Balance isn't just a romance. It's about broken people finding their pack.
The Unlikely Alliance:

Roar'Z (former gladiator slave)
KyKlaw (sea-shaman war leader)
Zirien (disgraced Grand Druid)
Swift-River (escaped dragon prisoner)
ScuzNails (dog-man who chooses loyalty over survival)
Juba (gruff arena trainer with a soft spot)

None of them trust easily. All of them have been betrayed. But when dragons threaten extinction, they forge something stronger than blood: chosen family.
ScuzNails steals every scene:
The dog-man gladiator who could run, who could hide, who SHOULD save himself... but instead leads guards away so Roar'Z can escape.
"ScuzNails fast. ScuzNails knows tunnels now. Will find way out later."
He survives. He always survives. And he shows up exactly when Roar'Z needs him most.
The Three Brothers:
Zirien, Iandel, and Streed aren't just comic relief (though Streed's dramatic titles are GOLD). They're elite druids who risk everything to forge Beculum—the dragon-slaying sword.
"Our Emperor of Impossible Situations," Streed announces before every ridiculous plan. And somehow, Zirien pulls it off.
Why this matters:
Roar'Z spent his entire life alone. Survival meant trusting no one. Attachment was weakness.
Then these idiots refuse to let him die alone. They fight beside him. Bleed with him. Forge weapons for him. Save his life repeatedly.
That's when he stops being a weapon and becomes a person.
The moment it clicks:
During the Deep Knowledge ceremony, Roar'Z's war-chiefs don't just see his victories. They experience his terror. The child forced to kill. The exact moment he chose protection over power.
That vulnerability? That's what makes warriors follow him into dragonfire. That's what transforms strangers into family.
Reader question: Who's your favorite found family in fantasy? I'm weak for characters who choose each other over blood.
Tropes in this book:
👥 Found Family
🗡️ Battle Brothers
🐕 Loyal Companion (ScuzNails)
⚔️ Earned Loyalty
💪 Unlikely Alliance
🔥 Chosen Over Blood
Genre: Epic Romantasy | Found Family Fantasy | Dragon Fantasy

WHY ORCS? (And Why They're Not What You Expect)

Let's talk about the orc question.
Every time I mention that Breach of Balance features orc protagonists, I get the same reaction: "Wait, like... green monsters?"
No. Well, yes. But also no.
Here's what my orcs are NOT:

Mindless brutes
Cannon fodder for human heroes
One-dimensional savage races
Comic relief

Here's what they ARE:

Organized into clans with distinct cultures (Kelp-Kicker are seafarers, Stone-Breaker are desert warriors, Silver Ear are master smiths)
Politically complex (clan alliances, trade agreements, territorial disputes)
Capable of sophisticated military tactics
Individuals with personalities, trauma, dreams, and agency

Why I chose orcs as protagonists:
Because fantasy keeps using them wrong. Orcs get treated like obstacles instead of people. I wanted to flip that completely.
Roar'Z isn't dangerous because he's an orc. He's dangerous because humans enslaved him and trained him to be a weapon. That's a choice the "civilized" races made, not nature.
The cultural elements:
Each clan has distinct traditions:

Kelp-Kicker uses conch horn magic and practices tide-reading
Stone-Breaker brews berserker elixirs from blue-fruit
Silver Ear bonds with metal through ear piercings that enhance hearing

These aren't savage tribes. They're nations with their own magic systems, military structures, and diplomatic protocols.
The romance angle:
Yes, this is orc romance. Roar'Z and KyKlaw are both orcs. They're 7'2" and 6'4" respectively. They have tusks. They're built like tanks.
And their chemistry is ELECTRIC.
Size difference? Check. Mutual protection? Check. Battle couple who can't keep their hands off each other? Double check.
Reader question: What's your favorite fantasy race that deserves more protagonist representation? I'm here for unconventional heroes!
Tropes in this book:
🗡️ Orc Protagonists
🌊 Distinct Clan Cultures
⚔️ Organized Warfare (not mindless hordes)
💪 Orc Romance
🔥 Subverted Fantasy Tropes
Genre: Epic Romantasy | Orc Romance | Dragon Fantasy

THE MAGIC SYSTEM: Power Always Has a Price

In Breach of Balance, magic isn't free.
No mana bars. No convenient spell slots. Every time someone uses power, they pay for it. Sometimes with pain. Sometimes with permanent damage. Sometimes with their sanity.
Roar'Z's Fire Magic:

Burns him from the inside out
Black tears form when he channels too much
His skin literally cracks under the strain
Each use brings him closer to consuming himself entirely

The foundling house fire that got him sold to the arena? That was an accident. A scared kid who lost control. He's spent his entire life suppressing his power because using it means destruction—of his enemies AND himself.
KyKlaw's Sound Magic:

Channeled through her conch shell horn
Disrupts magic and minds with targeted frequencies
Overuse damages her vocal cords
By the final battle, she's paying in blood and lost voice

She goes from commanding armies with her voice to barely able to whisper. That's the cost of saving her people.
The Druids' Dilemma:

Observe but don't interfere (Balance Doctrine)
Intervention costs their position and power
Swift-River pays the ultimate price for helping

Zirien gets stripped of his Grand Druid title for saving orc lives. That's what happens when you break the rules, even for the right reasons.
Why consequences matter:
Magic should be a choice, not a cheat code. When Roar'Z decides to unleash his fire, it's not "I cast fireball." It's "I'm willing to burn myself alive if it means saving these people."
That's stakes. That's sacrifice. That's what makes the victories meaningful.
The Dragon Binding Magic:
The darkest magic in the book? The crystal shards that enslave the dragons. The Puppet Master found a way to override free will entirely. No resistance. No escape. Just forced obedience.
Ruby and his horde know they're enslaved. They're aware. They're screaming inside their own minds while their bodies commit genocide.
Reader question: What's your favorite magic system where power has real costs? I love stories where magic is dangerous even to the user.
Magic elements in this book:
🔥 Internal Fire Magic (self-destructive)
🌊 Sound/Disruption Magic (physical cost)
🐉 Mind Control/Binding (corruption)
🌳 Druidic Nature Magic (political cost)
⚔️ Magical Weapons (Beculum awakens)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Not your typical orc story

If you're tired of orcs being mindless cannon fodder, this book is for you.

Roar'Z isn't savage because he's an orc. He's dangerous because humans enslaved him and trained him to be a weapon. That distinction matters.

The world-building here is solid. Each orc clan has distinct culture, magic systems, and military tactics. Kelp-Kicker are seafaring shamans. Stone-Breaker are desert berserkers. Silver Ear are master smiths. These aren't mindless tribes. They're organized nations with their own politics and traditions.

The romance between Roar'Z and KyKlaw hits hard. Enemies to lovers done right. She calls him "gladiator meat" at their first meeting. He thinks she's an arrogant brat. Then dragons attack and forced proximity changes everything. The tension is electric, and when they finally get together, the payoff is worth it.
What I loved most? The magic system has real costs. Roar'Z's fire burns him from the inside. KyKlaw's sound magic damages her voice.

Power isn't free in this world. Every spell is a trade, and by the final battle, the characters are paying in blood.

Fair warning: this gets dark. Arena violence, dragon warfare, mind control. But it earns its darkness. The trauma isn't just set dressing. It shapes who these characters become.

If you like your fantasy brutal, your protagonists complicated, and your romance built on mutual respect between warriors, pick this up.

WHY ORCS? (And Why They're Not What You Expect)

Let's talk about the orc question.
Every time I mention that Breach of Balance features orc protagonists, I get the same reaction: "Wait, like... green monsters?"
No. Well, yes. But also no.
Here's what my orcs are NOT:

Mindless brutes
Cannon fodder for human heroes
One-dimensional savage races
Comic relief

Here's what they ARE:

Organized into clans with distinct cultures (Kelp-Kicker are seafarers, Stone-Breaker are desert warriors, Silver Ear are master smiths)
Politically complex (clan alliances, trade agreements, territorial disputes)
Capable of sophisticated military tactics
Individuals with personalities, trauma, dreams, and agency

Why I chose orcs as protagonists:
Because fantasy keeps using them wrong. Orcs get treated like obstacles instead of people. I wanted to flip that completely.
Roar'Z isn't dangerous because he's an orc. He's dangerous because humans enslaved him and trained him to be a weapon. That's a choice the "civilized" races made, not nature.
The cultural elements:
Each clan has distinct traditions:

Kelp-Kicker uses conch horn magic and practices tide-reading
Stone-Breaker brews berserker elixirs from blue-fruit
Silver Ear bonds with metal through ear piercings that enhance hearing

These aren't savage tribes. They're nations with their own magic systems, military structures, and diplomatic protocols.
The romance angle:
Yes, this is orc romance. Roar'Z and KyKlaw are both orcs. They're 7'2" and 6'4" respectively. They have tusks. They're built like tanks.
And their chemistry is ELECTRIC.
Size difference? Check. Mutual protection? Check. Battle couple who can't keep their hands off each other? Double check.
Reader question: What's your favorite fantasy race that deserves more protagonist representation? I'm here for unconventional heroes!
Tropes in this book:
🗡️ Orc Protagonists
🌊 Distinct Clan Cultures
⚔️ Organized Warfare (not mindless hordes)
💪 Orc Romance
🔥 Subverted Fantasy Tropes

TOUCH HER AND DIE

Protective MMC Energy: When a Gladiator Falls in Love
Let's talk about Roar'Z's brand of protectiveness—because it's NOT the "damsel in distress" trope.
KyKlaw is a warrior-shaman who commands the sea and leads her own clan. She doesn't NEED saving.
But Roar'Z? He's hardwired to protect. Years in the arena taught him that the strong defend the weak. Then KyKlaw walks into his life and breaks every rule he knows.
What makes this different:

She's NOT weak (challenges him constantly, calls him out, fights beside him)
He's NOT controlling (respects her autonomy even when it terrifies him)
Protection goes BOTH ways (she uses her magic to shield him multiple times)
His protectiveness comes from trauma, not dominance (arena conditioning: "protect or lose everything")

The turning point:
During a dragon attack on Clan Kelp-Kicker's settlement, Roar'Z faces a choice: escape to safety or buy time for evacuations. KyKlaw refuses to leave without him.
They stand back-to-back on a crumbling platform as acid dissolves their world. And for the first time, Roar'Z realizes: she's protecting me too.
That's when enemies become partners. That's when his protectiveness shifts from "I must keep her alive" to "I want to fight beside her forever."
My favorite protective moments (mild spoilers):
1. The Claiming Mark
After their first intimate scene in the hot spring, Roar'Z unconsciously leaves a mark on KyKlaw's shoulder. When she notices, instead of anger, there's understanding: "Mine," he growled, the possessive word surprising them both. "Yours," she agreed, then claimed him in return.
2. The Bond-Magic Awakening
They discover they can feel each other's emotions through their connection. During battle, KyKlaw's fear hits Roar'Z like a physical blow—and he goes FERAL protecting her.
3. The "Not Her" Moment
When a war-chief questions KyKlaw's battle strategy, Roar'Z's response is quiet but deadly: "Question her tactics again, and we'll test your combat skills personally." Not shouting. Not posturing. Just... certainty.
4. The Confession

"When I'm near you, I want to fight harder. Smarter. Not because I'm proving something, but because I'm protecting something real."

What I love about writing this dynamic:
Roar'Z's protectiveness isn't about control—it's about partnership. He doesn't want to cage KyKlaw. He wants to stand beside her when the world tries to break her.
And KyKlaw doesn't see his protectiveness as weakness or patriarchy. She sees a warrior who's been alone his entire life finally finding someone worth fighting FOR instead of just surviving.
The size difference element:
Roar'Z is 7'2" of muscle and scars. KyKlaw is 6'4" of deadly grace. The physical difference matters in combat (he can shield her, she's faster) and in intimate scenes (the logistics are... creative 😏).
But what REALLY matters? They make each other feel safe in a world that's tried to destroy them both.
Reader question: What's your favorite "protective but not possessive" MMC in romance? I'm here for recs where the FMC stays BAMF while being loved fiercely!
Tropes in this book:
🔥 Touch Her and Die
⚔️ Battle Couple
💪 Size Difference (7'2" MMC, 6'4" FMC)
🌊 Mutual Protection
👑 Equals in Power
💎 Bonding Magic
🗡️ Back-to-Back Badasses
Genre: Epic Romantasy | Orc Romance | Battle Couple Romance

THE DRAGONS AREN'T THE VILLAINS

Let's Talk About Ruby (And Why Enslaving the Tyrant is Poetic Justice)

Here's the thing about Breach of Balance that might surprise you: the dragons attacking the orc clans? They're not the real enemy.

Crimson Ruby—the dragon tyrant terrorizing the realm—is himself enslaved. Yes, you read that right. The name is a deliberate nod to D&D's evil red dragons. Ruby should be the ultimate villain—arrogant, greedy, destructive. Ancient chromatic dragons are nightmare fuel. But here's the twist: he's a puppet. And the irony is delicious.

The Poetic Justice — A creature that spent centuries dominating others through fear and power? Now he's the one being dominated. His legendary pride crushed under mind control. His infamous will bent to serve something he can't even comprehend. Ruby isn't tragic because he was innocent. He's tragic because even tyrants don't deserve to have their minds stolen.

Enter: The Puppet Master — Ruby and his dragon horde are enslaved through binding magic—crystal shards embedded in their essence. They're aware of what they're being forced to do. They remember their autonomy. Some even fight back (at horrific cost). Imagine being Crimson Ruby—apex predator, lord of the skies, fear incarnate—reduced to a weapon in someone else's hand. Unable to stop yourself from committing genocide. That's a special kind of hell.

Why this matters for the story — • Moral complexity: Roar'Z has to fight enemies who are also prisoners (he relates HARD to this as a former gladiator slave) • Real stakes: The dragons are symptoms, not the disease—someone is pulling the strings • Uncomfortable questions: Does being enslaved absolve Ruby of the atrocities he commits? (Spoiler: No. But it complicates things.) • Series setup: Who is powerful enough to enslave dragons? That mystery drives the larger arc

Swift-River's perspective — The copper dragon druid who escaped Ruby's citadel has seen what the Puppet Master does. She knows Ruby is both monster and victim—and she hates that those things can be true simultaneously. Her trauma fuels her desperation to stop the convergence before more beings lose their free will.

Reader question: Do you prefer dragon antagonists who are purely evil, or ones with layers of complexity? What's your favorite "enslaved villain" story in fantasy?

Dragon tropes in this book — 🐉 Enslaved Dragons • 🔥 Mind Control/Corruption • ⚔️ Villain as Victim (but still a villain) • 💔 Poetic Justice • 🌪️ Dragon Warfare (epic battles) • 🦎 Druid Shapeshifter (Swift-River) • 👁️ Mysterious Puppet Master

Genre: Epic Romantasy | Orc Romance | Dragon Fantasy

GLADIATOR TO WARLORD ARC

Character Arc Deep Dive: From Caged Weapon to Clan Protector

One of my favorite things about writing Breach of Balance was crafting Roar'Z's journey from arena slave to leader—and showing how trauma doesn't just disappear when someone gains freedom.

What makes this different from typical "slave to king" stories?

Roar'Z doesn't become a leader because he's suddenly confident or "healed." He becomes one because:

• He's forced to survive (three gladiator tournaments taught him to read threats)

- He's learned to protect, not dominate (that moment at age 12 when he took a beating meant for a weaker gladiator? That's when his true nature emerged)

- He still struggles with arena conditioning (violence as first response, difficulty with trust, hypervigilance)

- He earns loyalty through understanding pain (other survivors recognize his scars—literal and metaphorical)

The pivotal moment:

When Roar'Z performs the Deep Knowledge ceremony with his war-chiefs, they don't just see his victories. They experience his terror. The child forced to kill. The young orc who believed strength meant isolation. The exact moment he chose protection over power.

That vulnerability? That's what makes warriors follow him into dragonfire.

Why this arc matters to me:

Too often, fantasy gives us heroes who overcome trauma through sheer willpower. But real healing is messy. Roar'Z still:

• Grips his sword too tight when startled

- Struggles to accept help (sees it as weakness)

- Defaults to violence when cornered

- Questions whether he deserves KyKlaw's love

He's not "fixed" by love. He's choosing growth despite his conditioning. And KyKlaw doesn't save him—she challenges him to save himself.

Reader question: What's your favorite "broken character learns to lead" arc in fantasy? Drop your recs—I'm always looking for books that handle trauma with nuance!

Tropes in this book:

🗡️ Gladiator Hero

👑 Slave to Warlord

⚔️ Trauma & Healing

🔥 Morally Gray MMC

🐉 Reluctant Leader

💪 Earned Loyalty

Genre: Epic Romantasy | Orc Romance | Dragon Fantasy

Is Breach of Balance Enemies-to-Lovers?

Hell yes. 🔥

Roar'Z (enslaved gladiator with fire magic) meets KyKlaw (fierce sea-shaman) and sparks fly. Not the good kind. She calls him "gladiator meat." He thinks she's an arrogant mainland brat. Instant. Loathing.

Then dragons attack. Forced proximity in capsized boats and blood-soaked battlefields changes everything. That hatred? It was attraction in disguise.

"The flame burned for sea-green eyes and deadly grace. For an enemy who made him feel more in one morning than three tournaments of survival."

Think From Blood and Ash meets Fourth Wing with orc gladiators and dark magic. Slow-burn tension that explodes into obsession.

Warning: These two don't do gentle.

Chapter 57

As I wrap up Chapter 57 of the sequel to "Invasive Species," I'm eager to share the next thrilling adventure with you all. Expect twists, deep character journeys, and the enchanting depth of the Sporran world. Look for its release in late spring 2025. Thank you for your support and stay tuned for more updates. Together, we'll continue exploring this mystical realm. Keep an eye out for pre-order announcements!