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Red Sun Rising
Red Sun Rising
A Novel by Allen Lyle
A world shattered by the wars of gods. A land rebuilt under the watchful eye of the Church of the Divine Inheritance. A throne of bones waiting for a ruler strong enough to seize it. Ducaine de Bordeaux was never meant to inherit power. A bastard son of a disgraced house, he should have been forgotten—a shadow in the halls of Burjean. But war, betrayal, and blood have a way of rearranging destiny. Through cunning and ruthless ambition, Ducaine rises from the ashes of his fallen family, forging alliances in the dark and setting his sights on something far greater than a mere county. Yet the lords of Yuropa do not bow easily. The Church watches with wary eyes. The kings play their endless games.
And in the depths of the ruined world, something stirs—something older than empires, older than men.
To seize power, Ducaine must be willing to risk everything. His honor. His soul. His very humanity.
Because in the end, all that matters is Will he conquer the world before the world consumes him? Or is the rise of Ducaine de Bordeaux destined to end in ruin, like the countless rulers before him?
The sun is rising—and it burns red.
A Novel by Allen Lyle
A world shattered by the wars of gods. A land rebuilt under the watchful eye of the Church of the Divine Inheritance. A throne of bones waiting for a ruler strong enough to seize it. Ducaine de Bordeaux was never meant to inherit power. A bastard son of a disgraced house, he should have been forgotten—a shadow in the halls of Burjean. But war, betrayal, and blood have a way of rearranging destiny. Through cunning and ruthless ambition, Ducaine rises from the ashes of his fallen family, forging alliances in the dark and setting his sights on something far greater than a mere county. Yet the lords of Yuropa do not bow easily. The Church watches with wary eyes. The kings play their endless games.
And in the depths of the ruined world, something stirs—something older than empires, older than men.
To seize power, Ducaine must be willing to risk everything. His honor. His soul. His very humanity.
Because in the end, all that matters is Will he conquer the world before the world consumes him? Or is the rise of Ducaine de Bordeaux destined to end in ruin, like the countless rulers before him?
The sun is rising—and it burns red.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2025
5 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Allen Lyle
1 book7 followersAllen Lyle lives in Athens, Georgia, (GO DAWGS!) where he shares his home with his wife, four cats, a sweet pup, and several hundred books. A lifelong devotee of science fiction and fantasy, he fell under their spell at a young age and never looked back. Allen considers himself a lifelong devotee of science fiction and fantasy, He has always been drawn to the intersection of history and the speculative, asking questions like, “What if the Byzantine Empire had rockets?” or “What if Tolkien’s world had taken place in the Golden Age of Piracy?”
An avid gamer, Allen has spent countless hours orchestrating dynastic dramas in Crusader Kings III, an inspiration for his debut novel. His fascination with history extends beyond pixels and pages—he’s an enthusiastic collector of antiques, a lover of travel, and a devoted fan of minor league baseball. When he’s not writing, Allen can be found painting miniatures or reading. His debut novel takes readers thousands of years into a post-apocalyptic future where the kings and queens of Europe, now called Yuropa, rule once more. It's sure to hit the sweet spot for fantasy, scifi, and history lovers alike...just like Allen.
An avid gamer, Allen has spent countless hours orchestrating dynastic dramas in Crusader Kings III, an inspiration for his debut novel. His fascination with history extends beyond pixels and pages—he’s an enthusiastic collector of antiques, a lover of travel, and a devoted fan of minor league baseball. When he’s not writing, Allen can be found painting miniatures or reading. His debut novel takes readers thousands of years into a post-apocalyptic future where the kings and queens of Europe, now called Yuropa, rule once more. It's sure to hit the sweet spot for fantasy, scifi, and history lovers alike...just like Allen.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 10, 2025
I first got this book when the author, Adam Lyle, spoke at a bookstore event. I was not a fan of stories told through the present tense but I think this has changed my mind on the matter. Sevatari was my fav :)
PRAISE:
The story hooked me in nearly instantly. I found myself rooting for Ducaine quite a lot despite his war criminal-ish behaviors. God forbid a girl (Ducaine) has hobbies! I liked how Ducaine's decisions aren't all good and he gets consequences for them, like when his daughter Lucia blows up on him during Sevatari's funeral. I was at first put off by the way the story was told from the perspective of a vague narrator separated from the story but I later came to find this very cool (imo). The chapters that were memories of our narrator were some of my favorite. I am very interested to see where Lyle takes the story.
CRITICISMS:
There were a few grammar (i.e. lack of commas or sentence fragments) and spelling mistakes I noticed while reading. Some of the dialogue felt too same-ish amongst characters (they kinda sound the same? but thats just imo, who am i to say whether that is good or not!).
TL;DR:
A few grammar mistakes and a present tense aside, I loved the story and its characters. ALLEN LYLE, BRING BACK SEVATARI AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!!
PRAISE:
The story hooked me in nearly instantly. I found myself rooting for Ducaine quite a lot despite his war criminal-ish behaviors. God forbid a girl (Ducaine) has hobbies! I liked how Ducaine's decisions aren't all good and he gets consequences for them, like when his daughter Lucia blows up on him during Sevatari's funeral. I was at first put off by the way the story was told from the perspective of a vague narrator separated from the story but I later came to find this very cool (imo). The chapters that were memories of our narrator were some of my favorite. I am very interested to see where Lyle takes the story.
CRITICISMS:
There were a few grammar (i.e. lack of commas or sentence fragments) and spelling mistakes I noticed while reading. Some of the dialogue felt too same-ish amongst characters (they kinda sound the same? but thats just imo, who am i to say whether that is good or not!).
TL;DR:
A few grammar mistakes and a present tense aside, I loved the story and its characters. ALLEN LYLE, BRING BACK SEVATARI AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2025
Thank you to Moon Pub and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
Red Sun Rising by Allen Lyle is a masterclass in immersive storytelling. From the very first page, Lyle’s prose is sharp, evocative, and cinematic; it balances poetic flair with clarity, making even the smallest moments feel urgent and alive. There’s a rhythm to his writing that mirrors the tension of the world he’s built that’s elegant and edged with grit.
The story is both intimate and epic, weaving political intrigue, rebellion, and personal reckoning into a tightly paced narrative. The author doesn’t just build a world; he breathes life into it. The lore is rich without becoming overwhelming, and the settings are vivid without falling into over-description. It feels lived-in, real, and dangerously volatile.
But it’s the characters that truly shine. Every arc feels earned. The protagonist’s journey from reluctant observer to active force is both compelling and emotionally resonant. Even the supporting cast are fleshed out with surprising depth, each carrying their own scars, secrets, and motivations.
By the final chapter, I was left wanting more! Red Sun Rising is not just a book; it’s an experience. Allen Lyle is one to watch.
Red Sun Rising by Allen Lyle is a masterclass in immersive storytelling. From the very first page, Lyle’s prose is sharp, evocative, and cinematic; it balances poetic flair with clarity, making even the smallest moments feel urgent and alive. There’s a rhythm to his writing that mirrors the tension of the world he’s built that’s elegant and edged with grit.
The story is both intimate and epic, weaving political intrigue, rebellion, and personal reckoning into a tightly paced narrative. The author doesn’t just build a world; he breathes life into it. The lore is rich without becoming overwhelming, and the settings are vivid without falling into over-description. It feels lived-in, real, and dangerously volatile.
But it’s the characters that truly shine. Every arc feels earned. The protagonist’s journey from reluctant observer to active force is both compelling and emotionally resonant. Even the supporting cast are fleshed out with surprising depth, each carrying their own scars, secrets, and motivations.
By the final chapter, I was left wanting more! Red Sun Rising is not just a book; it’s an experience. Allen Lyle is one to watch.
October 8, 2025
There are some fantasy worlds I would love to exist within...this is not one of them. A direct reflection of the greed of our own world, but with even more war, violence, and cutthroat politics.
I love a flawed protagonist, and that's exactly what you get with Ducaine. He's not the hero he believes himself to be, and we often see him face the consequences of his delusions. Whether he learns from them is a different story entirely. I also really enjoyed the dual timelines, and the ever-growing mystery of the narrator's identity, and what his true purpose is.
Sevatari was a standout character for me. A spymaster both cunning and cunty. I'd read a whole book about him.
Matthias - Ducaine's Marshall Castellan, and my son. Also deserves his own story (with you-know-who 🤭)
Aymeric - Ducaine's only son - I really liked him and wanted to see more of him. I have the feeling I'll be getting my wish.
Very excited for book 2!!
I love a flawed protagonist, and that's exactly what you get with Ducaine. He's not the hero he believes himself to be, and we often see him face the consequences of his delusions. Whether he learns from them is a different story entirely. I also really enjoyed the dual timelines, and the ever-growing mystery of the narrator's identity, and what his true purpose is.
Sevatari was a standout character for me. A spymaster both cunning and cunty. I'd read a whole book about him.
Matthias - Ducaine's Marshall Castellan, and my son. Also deserves his own story (with you-know-who 🤭)
Aymeric - Ducaine's only son - I really liked him and wanted to see more of him. I have the feeling I'll be getting my wish.
Very excited for book 2!!
July 22, 2025
What an epic adventure! Lots of twists and turns that kept me riveted! I love the characters and how dimensional and unique they were. The futuristic setting with well written descriptions of the various cultures was fascinating. The inventive augmentations of the human form are just what I expect from the future. A fun immersive experience that I enjoyed from start to finish!
September 9, 2025
GWENDOLINE NATION RISE UP!!!!!
my god did i love this book!!!! it made me cry!! it made me laugh!! it made me deeply upset about war!! it made me want desperately to know more about this world!!!!!! i can’t wait for book 2!!!
my god did i love this book!!!! it made me cry!! it made me laugh!! it made me deeply upset about war!! it made me want desperately to know more about this world!!!!!! i can’t wait for book 2!!!
September 19, 2025
A world shattered by a war of gods. An enthralling throne waiting for a ruler to take it. A family driven into darkness. A church watching a waiting in the wings. A heavy devotion to a god of death.
But this chronicle is not about them.
What was this chronicle about? I couldn’t truly tell you. I was too distracted by the style of writing to even begin to care about the characters or the plot. It was…. ambitious, to say the least. But it was also incredibly frustrating that it prevented me from actually enjoying the story. What was it specifically? The format of a tale told about days that are obviously past, by an ambiguous narrator who was not present for these events, using present verb tenses willy-nilly to give a historical account of deeds gone by in passive tones more suited to a history textbook.
Was it engaging? No. Did I care about any of the characters? No. Did I realize that this was set in our post-apocalyptic future world until I read the author’s bio? No. Did I feel bad for the spellchecker of the author? Yes. Did I think spelling iron as “yron” was interesting? Sure, maybe the first time. After the 119th time, did it add anything to the experience? Nope.
Honestly, this was a miss for me. But will I keep this author on my list for future reads? Yes. The framework is there. I look forward to how his craft will grow and develop with time.
But this chronicle is not about them.
What was this chronicle about? I couldn’t truly tell you. I was too distracted by the style of writing to even begin to care about the characters or the plot. It was…. ambitious, to say the least. But it was also incredibly frustrating that it prevented me from actually enjoying the story. What was it specifically? The format of a tale told about days that are obviously past, by an ambiguous narrator who was not present for these events, using present verb tenses willy-nilly to give a historical account of deeds gone by in passive tones more suited to a history textbook.
Was it engaging? No. Did I care about any of the characters? No. Did I realize that this was set in our post-apocalyptic future world until I read the author’s bio? No. Did I feel bad for the spellchecker of the author? Yes. Did I think spelling iron as “yron” was interesting? Sure, maybe the first time. After the 119th time, did it add anything to the experience? Nope.
Honestly, this was a miss for me. But will I keep this author on my list for future reads? Yes. The framework is there. I look forward to how his craft will grow and develop with time.
June 23, 2025
the first book in series - worth checking it out!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews