Gloom

Godstone Saga Book One

Beyond the safety of Haven’s walls, monsters roam the forests and sea. When a child survives an attack on their village by the dreaded herdvaar-shee, a hunter is dispatched to deal with the threat—a man whose power is bound to a silent voice in his mind, and whose very existence is wrapped in rumor and fear. Elsewhere, a scholar steps into the world for the first time, joining an exuberant hunter on a doomed mission to slay a leviathan. As vanishing hunters and unraveling truths pull the four of them closer together, the lines between man and monster begin to blur. In a world ruled by stories no one questions and fears no one understands, the truth may be the most dangerous thing of all.

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Seeds of the Scholar

A Godstone Saga Novella

When Hegaze Galwell, a brilliant but unconventional scholar of the House of Knowledge, sets out to capture a herdvaar-shee—a creature feared for its brutal bloodlust and grotesque form—he knows the risks. Meanwhile, Elion Sunavei, a seasoned teacher at the House, prepares for the arrival of this monstrous captive. Between his lectures on deontology and his steady guidance of students, Elion suspects little of the true danger lurking just out of sight. But as the House braces for the creature’s arrival, a fractured truth begins to emerge—one that binds Hegaze and Elion in ways they could never have foreseen.

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Where Dragons Fall, Stars Cannot Rise

Shadows of the Ryugari Book One

Tatsuo Jinsume is a ryugari—a hunter of creatures made of pure energy, traded like currency in the underbelly of Hikarikiba. Armed with a blade that captures his prey as raw data, he carves out survival in a world split between feudal honor and cybernetic decay. But honor can’t save his dying sister. As the lines blur between duty and desperation, Tatsuo must choose: the code passed down by his father, or the only family he has left. Because in Hikarikiba, where dragons fall, stars cannot rise.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MICHAEL NICOL

Michael Nicol is an author known for crafting dark fantasy novels that balance brutal realism with a glimmer of hope. His works—most notably the Godstone Saga and the Shadows of the Ryugari series—have earned a multitude of glowing reviews for their immersive worlds, layered storytelling, and emotionally resonant characters. What began as a grimdark exploration with his debut novel Gloom transformed into something deeper: a nobledark journey that proves even the bleakest worlds can spark light. Drawing inspiration from authors like Joe Abercrombie, Michael sought to write stories where cynicism meets idealism, and characters fight not just to survive—but to matter.

Originally from Windsor, California, Michael now lives in Texas with his wife, daughter, and two cats. A full-time IT professional by day, he spent years shaping Gloom in the quiet hours of the night. Driven by a deep fascination with systems—economic, political, psychological, and beyond—Michael approaches worldbuilding with the mind of an architect. He doesn’t just imagine settings; he constructs living, breathing societies shaped by their own internal logic. Whether it’s a fragile economy, a volatile political structure, or a belief system under strain, every element in his worlds is built to reflect the unique pressures of the setting. The result: immersive, intricate realms that feel as complex and dynamic as the real world.