7 ways Cursed Mage entwines with the Renegades Epic
Cursed Mage is the outlying series in the Renegades Epic. But it still boasts a ton of similarities, so it fits in with the shared universe.
Cursed Mage might be the most dangerous book in the Renegades Epic — not because it breaks the rules of the shared universe, but that it bends them until they snap.
When you check out some of my other works in the Epic, then swing back around to Cursed Mage? Once you read between the lines, you’ll find more than just the seven common denominators listed below.
1 – The Huotaja’s ominous presence
While I only call them the Huotaja in Cursed Mage and the Catenarian Chronicles, they appear a few times in earlier series. You’ll spot them in Liza Fury: Catch 22, where they’re Mercenaries. Ditto for Civil War. In Spirit and Fire, they’re Merks, a shortened name for Mercenaries.
2 – There are nine elements
As far as the Epic goes, there are nine elements. If you check out my Arcane Elemental Academy series, which isn’t in the Epic but still lives in the Elementals Universe, there are five.
Beyond your classic air, water, earth, fire, and spirit elements, you also got metal, blood, wood, and smoke. And no, smoke’s no joke, even if it might sound like it.
3 – Familiar faces from other series do appear
If you read all of my books from the Renegades Epic in order, you’ll see familiar faces in the Catenarian Chronicles series. Even if those characters have their own arcs here and aren’t just making cameos, you’ll know who some of them are the second I give you visual cues.
Oh, and just a fun fact: Did you know Kaija Jokiharju appears in one other book in the Epic?
Invest some hard-earned money in Sentrys of Terrene (no, not a typo), and you’ll catch a glimpse of Kaija as the events of Cursed Mage unfold.
4 – Mage Masters carry around special swords
If you’ve read my other books in the Epic and you like that Elementals, or in this case, Mages, carry swords that can better control fire, water, the works, you’re in luck. They’re in Cursed Mage and its sequels.
Even back when I wrote drafts of what became Wind Wielder, Book I in Elementals of Nordica, those swords were a mainstay. And I’m glad, here in the back half of 2025, little has changed in that regard.
5 – Cinematic, mind-blowing battles
If you love cinematic-style writing, I’ll tell you right now, Cursed Mage is where it’s at. On the surface, this one looks like a dark paranormal fantasy set in an alternate world.
But it’s also dystopian fiction that, at times, gets militaristic. If that’s your cup of tea and you like it strong, I ain’t gonna disappoint you. This one leans less on gore, but the intensity, stakes, and adrenaline? Still off the charts.
6 – 50-plus shades of gray (but everyone keeps their clothes on)
No, don’t worry, no one’s taking their clothes off in Cursed Mage or the Renegades Epic. And if they do, the scene or chapter ends. We don’t need anything erotic here.
We just have a lot of morally gray characters, from the protagonists to the antagonists, to even supporting characters. Nobody in any of my work is purely light, and very few are purely evil. That said, you’re not getting a classic good vs. evil tale here.
7 – Readers with a below-average IQ won’t understand the plot
Every time I read a one or two-star review, it’s almost always from readers who didn’t understand the work or found it confusing. Hey, that just means they weren’t smart enough to understand it, and there’s no shame in admitting that.
Now, the upside is this: If you boast at least an average IQ and you can’t stand dumbed-down fiction that plagues traditional publishers these days, you’ll love Cursed Mage, the Catenarian Chronicles, and the entire Renegades Epic. Bonus points if you’re libertarian — you’ll catch more of the subtext.
If you need your fiction spoon-fed, you’ll get lost in Cursed Mage. But if you can keep up and thrive on complexity, you’ll find yourself in good company.
So, are you up for the challenge? Check out Cursed Mage today from my personal store, get a discount that you won’t end up with at the ‘Zon, and enjoy a dark paranormal fantasy with dystopian elements. I dare you.
