The First Book in the Saga
Releases on April 2nd, 2026!
Weckenstone has always revered the royal Tallmight line as divine. Yet when an enemy force invades, driven by a history Weckenstone tried to forget, the capital burns, and the Tallmight dynasty shatters.
Tiber, heir to the throne, dreams of becoming the hero who saves everyone. But war leaves little room for heroes, only monsters in gilded armour. And after losing control, Tiber’s own destructive magic terrifies him more than his enemies ever could.
Gwynn, Tiber’s twin, knows no such comforts. Scraping by in the lawless underground of a beautiful city, angry at the world, he searches for something—anything—to be proud of. Yet his abrasive nature pushes most away, except for his young tutor, the one person he dares to care for.
Reclaimer Aella, an officer and magic-user in the Phylondras army, has spent years carrying her family’s betrayal. But fighting Weckenstone’s corruption is perilous. The higher she climbs, the more she realises that rising above her treacherous past might require becoming something far worse.
The Tallmights never had a clean past. Their enemy hasn’t forgotten how it was rewritten by the victors. With the war dragging on, Weckenstone’s proud ideals rot into corruption. Now, the twins must decide who to become, how they’ll lead—and whether their name is a legacy, or a curse buried in the echoes of the past.
The First of Many…
“Echoes of the Past is the first spark in a much larger planned saga. One I’ve been working on since I was a young lad, coming up with magic systems instead of doing homework.
What started as a tangle of midnight ideas, chaotic plot twists, and teenage prose has evolved (after many rewrites) into a story worthy of pride. A story about legacy, war, and the complicated people caught between what was and what could be
This book lights the fuse. The ones that follow? They’ll dive deeper, with more characters, more consequences, and more emotional wreckage (in the best ways).
I’m in this for the long haul. My goal is to release each instalment steadily, without losing my sleep, sanity, or your patience. Should be doable, right?
Thanks for being here. It’s been a long time coming, and the journey’s only just begun.
Ready to join in?”
But don’t take my word for it… Here’s what others have to say about ‘Echoes of the Past’
"Too good to put down, with so much world, story and characters to dive into. This is not your run of the mill fantasy story but much, much more."
— Lukas ten Dam
“The book that ended my long reading hiatus. Gripping, immersive and right out beautiful!”
— Jennifer Liu
“I really liked how descriptive it was, it read like a movie that I could easily envision in my mind. I’m invested in the characters and story, and interested in the arcs and conclusions.”
— Sophia Gutierrez
“A love letter to Classic Fantasy with diverse themes, that is gripping and easy to read.”
— E.K.
“A great piece of literary work which promises great and expansive entertainment for years to come with its future instalments”
— F. S.
Echoes of the Past got a 4.5 out of 5 stars by Beta readers! That is before even further editorial improvement!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Most certainly! Echoes of the Past is the first installment in the King’s Pride Saga. It’s the start of a much larger story filled with war, legacy, magic, and characters who don’t always make great decisions (but mean well... mostly).
While I can’t promise the exact number of books in the series, expect quite a few more!
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April 2nd, 2026 marks the official release date of Echoes of the Past!
From the end of January to early February there will be many possibilities to sign up as an ARC reader! Pre-orders should come up in March—but more on that when that time draws close.
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Adult epic fantasy! Expect high fantasy magic in a realistic world. While elements of grimdark find itself in the world, it is not quite as depressing as that. The story follows growing characters, so young adults with a love for high fantasy might like this too! That being said, do expect swearing and graphic moments.
You will most certainly get: magic, politics, morally complex characters, and a deep, lived-in world. No chosen ones, but definitely legacy and bloodlines. I hope to make you laugh, cry, and cheer over this course of this series.
While parts at first glance might seem like traditional fantasy, I seek to take these tropes we know and twist them to make something recognisable yet different and unique.
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It’s written for adult readers, though mature teens might enjoy it too. There’s war, trauma, and tough themes; furthermore there is swearing and graphic moments. Still, while taking inspiration from grimdark, there is also hope, humour, and heart.
Part of this book follows the protagonists as they are coming of age. This is to connect you further to them, most of the story outside that deals with mature themes and characters.
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A mix of historical stories on collapse and complex kingdoms at war, political philosophies reflected on our real world, fantasy tropes I love but want to twist, and one very persistent idea that wouldn’t leave me alone since I was a teenager.
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Certainly! Reviews of my book are always welcome! You can contact me personally for it, leave a review on this website, or any platforms I sell my book on.
I’m always open for interviews and talks in case I’m able. Head to the contact page and send me an email (or a polite digital raven)
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By joining my newsletter!
Don’t worry, you won’t be spammed. I will sent a bi-monthly letter with some general updates, thoughts and reflections, and sometimes a tip or two. You’ll get a lot of info and updates here.
If that’s not enough, joining my newsletter and participating in various events can also get you cool gifts or choices. Think of free chapters, potentially free copies, and namings of side characters in a later book!
Finally, if you want to see more of my face, consider following me on Instagram @jbjwrites for regular posts!
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