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🏰 Slow Progress, Winter Blues, and Exciting News | Author Diary – December 20, 2024 📚✨

In this week’s Author Diary, I share the challenges of making slow progress on The Ravenglass Throne while navigating the struggles of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

On a brighter note, I’ve received edits back for my upcoming novel, The Knight and the Rebel (Ravenglass Legends, book 3), and I’m thrilled to announce its release date: January 30, 2025! This story blends adventure, rebellion, and political intrigue, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Join me as I discuss the ups and downs of the creative process, upcoming releases, and how I’m managing writing during the darker months.

pre-order the knight and the rebel.

The post 🏰 Slow Progress, Winter Blues, and Exciting News | Author Diary – December 20, 2024 📚✨ first appeared on Jon Cronshaw.

Best Fantasy Books with Intrigue, Rebellion, and Conflict

There’s something undeniably compelling about fantasy that delves into the darker side of human nature.

In gritty political and military fantasy, the stakes are high, the conflicts are complex, and the characters often walk a razor’s edge between right and wrong.

These stories invite readers into worlds where power is rarely pure, and survival often demands impossible choices.

Whether it’s the brutal realities of war, the intricate dance of political manoeuvring, or the personal sacrifices made for the greater good, this subgenre challenges readers to think deeply while delivering action-packed, emotionally charged narratives.

The books in this list exemplify the best of what political and military fantasy can offer.

They combine intricate worldbuilding, morally ambiguous characters, and high-stakes conflict to craft stories that stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

If you love tales where ambition collides with loyalty, and where every victory comes at a price, these works are sure to captivate you.

1. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy sets the standard for grimdark fantasy.

Packed with gritty battles, political machinations, and morally grey characters, this series is a masterclass in showing the complexities of power and war.

get your copy.2. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy War draws heavily on Chinese history to craft a tale of war, colonialism, and identity.

Through Rin, a young woman with extraordinary power, Kuang explores the devastating cost of ambition and the trauma of military conflict.

get your copy.3. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

The first book in A Song of Ice and Fire needs little introduction.

Martin’s masterpiece is renowned for its brutal realism, political scheming, and sprawling cast of morally complex characters.

get your copy.4. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

This epic standalone fantasy offers a refreshing perspective with its focus on female agency and diverse cultures.

Shannon weaves intricate politics, rich worldbuilding, and military strategy into a tale of dragons and rebellion.

get your copy.5. The Dandelion Dynasty Series by Ken Liu

Ken Liu’s series, beginning with The Grace of Kings, combines epic battles with sharp political intrigue.

Blending fantasy with elements of Chinese history, Liu explores revolution, loyalty, and the cost of power.

get your copy.6. The Broken Empire Trilogy by Mark Lawrence

Mark Lawrence’s Broken Empire trilogy is not for the faint of heart.

Told through the eyes of Jorg Ancrath, an antihero driven by vengeance, this series delves into the darker corners of military and political ambition.

get your copy.7. The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

Inspired by Indian history and mythology, Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne features a rebellion brewing in an empire rife with oppression.

With powerful prose and unforgettable characters, Suri delivers a story of power, betrayal, and resistance.

get your copy.8. The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson

Seth Dickinson’s The Traitor Baru Cormorant is a brilliant examination of imperialism and political manoeuvring.

Baru, a young savant, rises within the ranks of an oppressive empire while secretly plotting its downfall.

get your copy.9. The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee

Fonda Lee’s Green Bone Saga, starting with Jade City, blends gritty urban fantasy with family drama and political power struggles.

With its mix of gang wars, military strategies, and complex characters, this series is a modern fantasy classic.

get your copy.10. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Rebecca Roanhorse’s Black Sun, inspired by Pre-Columbian civilisations, offers a richly diverse world of prophecy, power, and conflict.

With unforgettable characters and intricate political dynamics, this book is a standout in contemporary fantasy.

get your copy.Bonus : The Fall of Wolfsbane by Jon Cronshaw

If you’re looking for a gripping mix of rebellion, perilous politics, and ancient magic, The Fall of Wolfsbane is the perfect starting point.

The first book in the Ravenglass Legends series introduces Ragnar and Maja Wolfsbane, siblings navigating the upheaval of empire, rebellion, and destiny.

With its blend of high stakes, richly crafted worldbuilding, and complex characters, The Fall of Wolfsbane is a must-read for fans of gritty political and military fantasy.

Start your journey into Ravenglass Legends today—you won’t want to put it down!

get your copy.

The post Best Fantasy Books with Intrigue, Rebellion, and Conflict first appeared on Jon Cronshaw.

Moral Ambiguity in Fantasy: Why Readers Love Complex Characters

Remember when fantasy was simple?

Heroes wore white, villains wore black, and you could spot the evil one by their conveniently twisted features.

But modern readers crave something messier, more honest.

We want characters who live in the shadows between right and wrong, because that’s where real people dwell.

Soren’s Journey in Guild of Assassins

My novel Guild of Assassins illustrates this perfectly through Soren’s transformation.

He begins seeking justice for his father’s murder – a classic hero’s motivation.

But his path leads him to join an assassins’ guild, train in killing arts, and eventually participate in what amounts to ritualised murder during the Threshing.

Is he still a hero?

Was he ever?

The Appeal of Moral Complexity

This moral complexity hooks us because it reflects truth.

Most of us aren’t purely good or evil – we’re bundles of contradictions making compromises to survive.

When Soren learns to craft poisons from Tamasin or master manipulation from Elysia, we understand his choices even as we recoil from them.

His gradual corruption feels real precisely because it’s built on understandable decisions.

Antagonists Beyond Simple Categorisation

Even the story’s antagonists resist simple categorisation.

Kierak initially appears as a straightforward bully, but his brutality stems from the guild’s brutal culture.

The masters who train the recruits aren’t cackling villains – they’re professionals doing their jobs with varying degrees of cruelty and kindness.

Like real people, they contain multitudes.

The Rise of Moral Ambiguity in Modern Fantasy

This is why modern fantasy increasingly embraces moral ambiguity.

Look at George R.R. Martin’s work, where yesterday’s villain becomes tomorrow’s hero through shifting perspective.

Or Joe Abercrombie’s characters, who do horrible things for understandable reasons.

These stories resonate because they acknowledge that morality isn’t binary – it’s a spectrum we all navigate daily.

The Guild as a Symbol of Ambiguity

The guild itself represents this ambiguity perfectly.

It’s an organisation of professional killers, yes – but one with strict codes of conduct, formal training, and complex traditions.

Its members aren’t moustache-twirling villains but professionals practising a dark craft.

Like any real institution, it contains both corruption and honour, cruelty and loyalty.

Friendship in the Grey Areas

Soren and Alaric’s friendship demonstrates how moral ambiguity adds depth to relationships.

Their loyalty to each other is admirable, but it also enables their descent into darkness.

Are they saving each other’s humanity or helping each other lose it?

The answer isn’t clear because real relationships rarely have simple moral implications.

Revenge and Ambiguity

Even the revenge plotline gains complexity through moral ambiguity.

Soren’s quest for justice becomes increasingly hard to distinguish from simple vengeance.

Like the best morally grey narratives, it forces us to question not just the character’s choices but our own assumptions about right and wrong.

Training and Transformation

This complexity extends to the training sequences.

Each lesson learned, each skill mastered, carries both empowerment and corruption.

When Quillon teaches anatomy, is he sharing knowledge or teaching students to see humans as targets?

When Varus enforces discipline through violence, is he building strength or breaking humanity?

The answer is both – and that’s what makes it interesting.

Moral Ambiguity in Conflict

Moral ambiguity also creates better conflicts.

When Soren faces Kierak during the Threshing, it’s not a simple hero-versus-villain showdown.

It’s a clash between two people shaped by the same brutal system, each fighting for survival.

Their conflict matters precisely because neither is purely right or wrong.

Asking Deeper Questions

Perhaps most importantly, moral ambiguity allows fantasy to ask deeper questions.

Through Soren’s journey, we explore how survival demands compromise, how violence transforms its practitioners, how institutions shape morality.

These questions resonate because they don’t have easy answers.

The Rejection of Simple Narratives

This is why readers increasingly reject simple good-versus-evil narratives.

We know life is more complicated.

We want characters who reflect that complexity – characters who make mistakes, who compromise, who sometimes choose wrong for the right reasons and right for the wrong reasons.

Seeing Ourselves in Complex Characters

The best morally grey characters, like Soren, show us ourselves.

Their struggles with right and wrong mirror our own daily moral negotiations.

Their compromises feel familiar.

Their corruption becomes understandable, even as we hope we’d choose differently.

Embracing Complexity in Fantasy

In the end, moral ambiguity doesn’t weaken fantasy – it strengthens it.

By embracing complexity, stories like Guild of Assassins transform from simple adventure into nuanced exploration of human nature.

They remind us that the most interesting stories happen not in black and white, but in shades of grey.

Your Thoughts

How do you feel about moral ambiguity in fantasy?

Do you prefer clearly defined heroes and villains, or characters who blur the lines?

Share your thoughts below.

The post Moral Ambiguity in Fantasy: Why Readers Love Complex Characters first appeared on Jon Cronshaw.

This week on Patreon! (December 9-14, 2024)

Here’s what’s new on Patreon this week:

For Paid Members:

Chapters 13 and 14 of Forged in Blood (Guild of Assassins, Book 2) are now live.Episode 6 of Hunters, my space Western side project.Episode 6 of Niamh’s Journey (Punks Versus Zombies side story).

For Free Members:

As the Gravity Flipped—a sci-fi story about a cleaner caught in a rebellion on a space station, now with an audio version available!My weekly author diary video, offering insights into my writing process and updates.Coming this weekend: The Mediocre Maverick, a satirical story you won’t want to miss.

Whether you’re a free or paid member, there’s plenty to enjoy this week. Thank you for your continued support and for being part of this creative journey!

Join me on Patreon now!

Jon

P.S. Use the promo code RAVENGLASS to get 50% off your first month’s subscription!

The post This week on Patreon! (December 9-14, 2024) first appeared on Jon Cronshaw.

The Mediocre Maverick (A Satire)

Meet Millie, the self-proclaimed queen of mundane who preaches the gospel of mediocrity to her devoted followers.

But behind her carefully curated beige existence lies an adrenaline junkie with a secret—and she’ll do anything to keep it.

When a chance encounter threatens to expose her double life, Millie discovers that maintaining her brand of boring might be the most thrilling challenge of all.

read for free.

The post The Mediocre Maverick (A Satire) first appeared on Jon Cronshaw.

Guild of Assassins is free today!

Are you ready to step into the shadows? 

For a limited time, you can download Guild of Assassins, the dark fantasy novel readers are calling “gritty, intense, and impossible to put down,” absolutely free on Kindle.

But hurry—this offer vanishes December 17. 

In Guild of Assassins, you’ll meet Soren, a young sculptor turned trainee assassin, whose pursuit of vengeance takes him into the depths of a brutal guild.

As he uncovers secrets, faces deadly challenges, and questions his very humanity, one thing is certain—mercy has no place in the guild. 

Grab your free copy now and begin your journey into the heart of darkness.

Happy reading!

Jon

get your free copy.

P.S. Can’t wait to continue the adventure? *Forged in Blood* (Book 2) is now available on Patreon. Use the promo code **RAVENGLASS** to get 50% off your first month on any tier. Visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor.

The post Guild of Assassins is free today! first appeared on Jon Cronshaw.

The Best Dark Magic Academy Books You Need to Read

If you’re a fan of magical academies where the lessons are as dangerous as the students, these dark magic school stories will enthral you.

Filled with treachery, ambition, and moral complexity, these tales delve into the shadows of magical education.

Guild of Assassins by Jon Cronshaw

In Guild of Assassins, Soren, a former sculptor’s apprentice, joins a brutal assassins’ guild to avenge his father’s murder.

The guild’s training programme is as deadly as it is rigorous, with lessons in stealth, combat, and deception.

Soren must grapple with questions of loyalty and morality as he uncovers the guild’s sinister secrets.

This dark tale is perfect for readers who enjoy intense, character-driven stories set in a deadly academic environment.

get your copy. The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Quentin Coldwater enrols at Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, where the darker side of magic reveals itself in unexpected and often terrifying ways.

The students confront personal demons and the dangerous consequences of power in this gritty, subversive take on magical education.

get you copy.A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

El is a student at the Scholomance, a school where survival is the ultimate test.

This deadly academy features lessons designed to weed out the weak, while monsters and dark forces stalk the halls.

The story is as much about alliances and strategy as it is about magic.

get your copy.The Magician’s Guild by Trudi Canavan

Sonea, a young girl from the slums, is thrust into the Magicians’ Guild when her untapped powers threaten to spiral out of control.

As she navigates the social and political tensions of the guild, she uncovers dark secrets and learns that power always comes at a cost.

Get your copy. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Mia Corvere attends the Red Church, a school for assassins where only the strongest and deadliest graduate.

Her training includes mastering poisons, combat, and shadow magic.

Mia’s relentless quest for revenge drives this tale of blood-soaked lessons and deadly rivalries.

get your copy. Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko

Sasha Samokhina is forced to attend a mysterious institute where reality bends and knowledge exacts a heavy toll.

The lessons are gruelling, the consequences terrifying, and the price of success is nothing less than the essence of her humanity.

get your copy. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

At Sinegard Academy, Rin faces brutal training in martial arts and shamanism while grappling with classism and prejudice.

Though not a traditional magic school tale, the academy’s dark lessons set the stage for a story of war, sacrifice, and the horrifying price of power.

get your copy. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Six magicians compete for a coveted place in the Alexandrian Society, an institution steeped in secrecy and power.

The line between ally and adversary blurs as they confront dangerous truths and the consequences of ambition.

get your copy. The Novice by Taran Matharu

This first book in the Summoner series introduces Fletcher, a blacksmith’s apprentice who discovers his ability to summon demons.

He enters an academy where competition is fierce, and his survival depends on mastering dangerous powers while navigating rivalries.

get your copy. The Black Witch by Laurie Forest

Elloren Gardner attends Verpax University, where prejudice and conflict simmer beneath the surface.

As she struggles to find her place in a divided magical society, she learns that knowledge and power are never free from consequences.

get your copy.Why These Stories Stand Out

Dark magic school stories resonate because they explore the moral compromises and sacrifices required to wield great power.

In these tales, students aren’t just learning spells – they’re reshaping their identities, often at a terrible cost.

If you’re ready for a dark academy tale with high stakes and unforgettable characters, start with Guild of Assassins.

Soren’s journey through a deadly training programme will captivate fans of morally complex narratives.

What’s your favourite dark magic school story?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Want more dark fantasy and exclusive stories? Join my Patreon for early access to chapters, behind-the-scenes content, and much more.

Join the community.

Note: This post inlcudes affiliate links.

The post The Best Dark Magic Academy Books You Need to Read first appeared on Jon Cronshaw.

🏰 Writing “The Ravenglass Throne” & Exploring Riyria’s World | Author Diary 📚✨

 I’ve been making great progress on the third novella in my ongoing serial, The Ravenglass Throne.

The story continues to unfold with twists, political intrigue, and the personal struggles of its three royal sisters as they face mounting conspiracies and power plays.

In addition to writing, I’ve been rading Drumindor by Michael J. Sullivan, the latest instalment in his Riyria series.

Sullivan’s ability to craft rich characters and intricate plots is as gripping as ever, and it’s been a fantastic source of inspiration for my own storytelling.

Join me as I share updates on my writing process, thoughts on the Ravenglass Universe, and reflections on the brilliant world of Riyria!

The post 🏰 Writing “The Ravenglass Throne” & Exploring Riyria’s World | Author Diary 📚✨ first appeared on Jon Cronshaw.

Why We Love Characters Who Walk the Line Between Hero and Villain

The most compelling characters aren’t those who walk in light or shadow.

They’re the ones who stride the razor’s edge between.

There’s something magnetically human about watching someone navigate that precarious balance.

Perhaps it’s because it reflects our own internal struggles with morality.

Soren’s Transformation in Guild of Assassins

My novel Guild of Assassins explores this tension through Soren’s transformation.

He begins with heroic motivation – seeking justice for his murdered father.

Yet his path leads him to become the very thing he initially opposed: an assassin, a killer, a dealer of death.

The fascinating part isn’t his corruption, but how understandable each step of his descent becomes.

Why We’re Drawn to Morally Conflicted Characters

This speaks to why we’re drawn to morally conflicted characters.

They show us how good people become compromised through understandable choices.

When Soren learns to craft poisons from Tamasin or master manipulation from Elysia, he’s not cackling with evil glee.

He’s doing what survival demands, making choices we can imagine making ourselves under similar pressure.

Challenging Assumptions About Right and Wrong

The best morally ambiguous characters force us to question our own assumptions about right and wrong.

Consider how the guild masters are presented – not as cackling villains, but as professionals teaching their craft.

Varus’s brutality serves a purpose.

Quillon’s anatomical lessons have logic behind them.

Even their cruelty comes from conviction rather than malice.

Human Nature and the Perception of Evil

This complexity reflects something true about human nature – most “villains” don’t see themselves as evil.

The assassins’ guild has codes, traditions, and principles.

Like any real institution, it contains both honour and corruption.

Through Soren’s eyes, we’re forced to confront how systems can normalise darkness while maintaining a veneer of legitimacy.

The Appeal of Anti-Heroes

Perhaps this is why anti-heroes resonate so deeply.

They acknowledge the gap between societal ideals and survival’s demands.

When Soren participates in the Threshing, he’s not embracing evil but accepting that survival sometimes requires terrible choices.

Like the best morally conflicted characters, he shows us how circumstance can make monsters of anyone.

Exploring Darker Impulses Through Characters

The psychological appeal goes deeper.

Characters who walk the line between hero and villain give us permission to explore our own darker impulses from a safe distance.

Through Soren, we can examine our capacity for violence, our potential for moral compromise, and our ability to justify increasingly questionable choices.

The Corrupting Nature of Training

This is particularly powerful in training sequences.

Each lesson Soren learns carries both empowerment and corruption.

We feel satisfaction when he masters new skills, even while recognising that each capability gained represents another step away from innocence.

Like watching a car crash in slow motion, we’re both horrified and fascinated by the transformation.

The Complex Relationship Between Soren and Alaric

The relationship between Soren and Alaric adds another layer to this moral ambiguity.

Their loyalty to each other is admirable, yet it also enables their descent into darkness.

Are they preserving each other’s humanity or helping each other lose it?

The answer isn’t clear because real relationships rarely have simple moral implications.

Navigating Impossible Choices

Maybe we’re drawn to these characters because they reflect a fundamental truth.

Morality isn’t about maintaining perfect virtue but about navigating impossible choices.

When Soren finally confronts Kierak, neither is purely hero nor villain.

They’re both products of the same brutal system, each fighting for survival.

The Power of Relatable Conflicts

This moral complexity creates better conflicts precisely because it makes them relatable.

We understand both sides, even if we don’t agree with them.

The tension comes not from wondering if good will triumph over evil, but from watching characters struggle with choices that have no clear right answer.

Characters as Reflections of Ourselves

Ultimately, characters who walk the line between hero and villain captivate us because they show us ourselves.

Their struggles with right and wrong mirror our own daily moral negotiations.

Their compromises feel familiar.

Their corruption becomes understandable, even as we hope we’d choose differently.

Light and Shadow in Everyone

These characters remind us that the capacity for both light and shadow exists in everyone.

Through them, we explore how circumstance shapes morality.

How survival demands compromise.

How good intentions can pave roads to darkness.

They show us not just what we might become, but how we might become it.

Why We Return to Morally Complex Characters

Perhaps this is why we return to these stories again and again.

Not for escapism, but for truth.

Characters like Soren remind us that the line between hero and villain isn’t fixed but fluid.

Morality is a choice we make daily.

We’re all capable of both light and shadow.

Your Thoughts

What morally complex characters have most resonated with you?

How do you think they help us explore our own capacity for good and evil?

Share your thoughts below.

The post Why We Love Characters Who Walk the Line Between Hero and Villain first appeared on Jon Cronshaw.

This week on Patreon

Here’s what’s been happening on Patreon this week:

For Paid Members:Chapters 11 and 12 of Forged in Blood (Guild of Assassins, Book 2) are now live.A new chapter of Hunters, my space Western side project.The latest chapter of Niamh’s Journey (Punks Versus Zombies side story).For Free Members:Prisoner of the Wasteland—a side story set in the world of my Wasteland series.As the Gravity Flipped—a sci-fi tale about a cleaner unwittingly joining a rebellion on a space station. The Perfect Daughter —a brand-new satirical short story about a woman who uses an AI voice clone to call her mother.Cyber Monday Special:

The 70% off offer for your first month on any paid tier ends Monday!
Use the promo code WYVERN to claim this incredible deal and get access to exclusive chapters, audio stories, and more.

Apple Users: To avoid the 30% surcharge in the app, please sign up through a browser.

Join me on Patreon now!

Visit: patreon.com/joncronshawauthor

Thank you for your support, and I can’t wait to share more stories with you!

– Jon

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