One real-world shocker my dark paranormal fantasy reveals
My dark paranormal fantasy series reveals shock therapy to people who fall for the “us vs. them” mentality in mainstream American politics.
Astray Mage is the second book in Catenarian Chronicles, and it shares a connection and the same theme with my freebie prequel, Deceived Mage. You could read Deceived Mage, skip Cursed Mage, Book I in the series, go right into Astray Mage, and barely miss a beat for the overarching storyline.
Granted, you’d miss Kaija Jokiharju’s character development. But if you wanted to keep things “local,” finishing Deceived and moving to Astray’s not a crime. Especially if you’re a libertarian who loves dark fantasy, but cares less about nuances and more about theme.
And boy, does Astray Mage pack a punch.
We’re a school of sheep
It won’t take the reader long to realize one thing: The dominant party, the only party, at the Mage school Linna Yliopisto (Castle University), is always right and the opposing party’s always wrong.
Sounds familiar, yeah? Go to any right-wing area, and it’s impossible for the Left to do anything right. The same goes for any left-wing area.
And that “us vs. them” dogma don’t let up, either. It’s the primary fuel to the fire, even when it’s clear neither side are the good guys, something Cursed Mage also shows us.
👉 Get Cursed Mage and see how many “dogmas” I critique
The Mage school’s dirty little secrets
To drown out spoilers, I’ll be vague, but I’ll give you a little context. Here are disturbing secrets lingering at Linna Yliopisto:
- A bizarre medical ward hidden in a secret bunker
- Students whisked away for insubordination who return docile and obedient
- As for the darkest secret? It’s submerged in a lake near the school
Not to mention the hierarchy, where political leaders and their “inner circle” run the place alongside their heirs.
The monsters in this dark paranormal fantasy…
Monsters and violent creatures run amok in dark fantasy. But in Astray Mage, and even in Deceived and Cursed Mage, those monsters aren’t bloodthirsty, scary, and grotesque creatures.
They wear fancy cloaks, suits, and have a clean-cut, professional, public relations-friendly appearance. In front of the cameras, they speak in calm, collected, and reassuring voices, pretending to care for the people they represent.
But, in reality, these people are con artists who view the masses as ants on a hill. Waiting to smash them when it’s convenient.
Astray Mage drives that point to paydirt. And if you want to meet Kaija Jokiharju and see how she ends up at Linna Yliopisto, check out Book I, Cursed Mage. If you’re into theme-first fiction that pushes cookie-cutter genres to the limits, you’ll fall in love with it. Get Cursed Mage Now
