SPFBO winner Rob J. Hayes has teamed up with Jackson Dickert to put together a comprehensive world guide to The Ties That Bind trilogy for fans who want to experience the gritty, grimdark world of First Earth, now with even greater depravities and horrors. Included are two brand new novellas from Rob! In Sting of the Dragon, Travine squashes a rebellion, paving the way for his future as the Empress’s Dragon Herald. In The Princess Blade, discover the events that took Henry from royalty to a cold-blooded killer… under the guise of a child’s bedtime story. Monsters and gore included, obviously. Plus, a brand new short story, “The Serpent’s Tooth”, written by Jackson Dickert with Rob J. Hayes’ stamp of approval. It doesn’t take long for Harod to betray his old friend, Jezzet Vel’urn, during The Heresy Within. What dark secret was he willing to risk certain death from a blademaster to protect? Alongside these new adventures into the First Earth Saga, explore a worldbuilding companion, complete with more than 115 story extras that detail character backstories and world lore, over 140 exclusive, original artworks, and the ten previously published First Earth Saga short stories, now collected into one book. With over 120,000 words of content, The World of Heresy Within is easily as long as your standard fantasy novel and ten times as dark! Detailed blurbs for Sting of the Dragon, The Princess Blade, and The Serpent’s Tooth are available to read as part of the free sample.

A city-state crumbles into ruins. Ancient values are erased. For clockmaker Clemenza Giudice, once a noble, restoring her family's standing is all that matters—even if it costs her soul. A determined young woman, her ambition could lead to salvation or ruin. Her chance? A daring plan to steal illicit technology for the very man who ruined them. But this isn't just a simple theft; it's a desperate gamble in a labyrinthine game of political maneuvering that could shatter her world and reveal deep-seated betrayals. As Clemenza embarks on a perilous journey into a corrupt capital, she's joined by a rival clockmaker, an ostentatious smuggler, a pleasure house slave, a clever thief, and a mysterious architect. Controlling this disparate crew proves much harder than controlling clocks in this intricate Italian Renaissance-inspired world, where advanced clockwork artistry defines society, yet also poses grave dangers. Amidst the power struggles and impossible choices, Clemenza must confront the darkness within. To protect her family, she may have to become like the man she despises, wrestling with her convictions in a world teetering on the edge of its faith. Will she save her city, or succumb to its shadows? Perfect for readers who enjoy high-stakes fantasy novels that blend intricate world-building with profound moral questions, akin to A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe or Secrets in the Mist by Morgan L. Busse. Discover Of Constellations and Clockwork, where a daring heist sets off a chain of events that could change everything. Part One of The Stelnove Saga.