A ruler betrayed by those closest to her. A young warrior with fearsome powers. A ruthless matriarchal land on the brink of destruction.
Legendary warrior Ramya has successfully ruled as Melokai for longer than most. Prosperous, peaceful, and happy, her people love her. Or so she thinks.
Ramya's time is up. Bracing herself for the gruesome sentence imposed on all Melokais who have served their purpose, she hears instead a shocking prophecy.
Is the abrupt appearance of a mysterious, eastern cave creature the prophesied danger? Or is it something darker, more evil? And what of the wolves? Will the ferocious war with their kind oust her from power?
Suddenly Ramya must fight threats from all sides to save her mountain realm. But while her back is turned, a conspiracy within her inner circle is festering. Ramya and her female warriors must crush an epic rebellion before it can destroy her and devastate her beloved nation.
She thinks it's the end, but it's just the beginning...
Melokai is a grimdark epic fantasy packed with unique creatures and beings, blood-soaked action and brutal battles. It's a sweeping tale of dark intrigue and conspiracy, forbidden love and sex, powerful magic and hardened warriors.
With intricate worldbuilding, a diverse cast of complex characters, and a richly detailed plot told from multiple narratives, this gritty adult fantasy will appeal to readers of George R. R. Martin, Mark Lawrence, Anna Stephens and Joe Abercrombie.
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"One meaty tale of love, betrayal, and death. Undoubtedly an interesting read. Kelly's worldbuilding is lovely to devour. The world is lavish and full of intrigue. The tone, whilst dark, wonderfully adds to the grittiness of Kelly's writing. I look forward to the next instalment." - Grimdark Magazine
"A solid piece of grimdark." - C.T. Phipps, Author
"I appreciate fantasy which isn't afraid to create dark situations with no clear good guy or no good guys whatsoever." - Booknest
"Epic fantasy read, great details, well written, an addictive page turner from start to finish." - Me and My Books
"Grimdark fantasy on a par with Game of Thrones and Godblind. Kelly has an impressive flair for world-building and crafts multiple kingdoms in great detail, each with its own culture and quirks." - Simon Fairbanks, Author
"Kelly's action scenes were on point, being both gruesome and well-choreographed. I would most recommend this book for Grimdark Fantasy Fans." - Booknest
"Wonderful writing, exciting plot, interesting characters and amazing worlds." - Goodreads Reviewer
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Longlisted for the Booknest 2018 Fantasy Awards - Best Self-Published Fantasy
Semi-Finalist in Mark Lawrence's SPFBO 2018
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For more from Rosalyn Kelly, check out:
Stories set in The Known World, the same universe as Melokai (In the Heart of the Mountains, Book One)
The Sand Scuttler
The Fall of Vaasar
The Tunnel Runner
The Clash at Jagged Canyon
Peonhood
Ruby's Return
