Low Fantasy, Greek Mythology & Legend, and Dark Fantasy
Date Published: May 19, 2026
When the gods went to war, they shattered the world.
Kingdoms burned. Ancient powers fell. And in the ruins they left behind, the
shadow of Coruk-Azul the one-eyed god of death still lingers.
Hidden among the remnants of that forgotten age lies the Scepter of Selene, a
divine relic once capable of maintaining balance between gods and mortals. Now
broken into scattered fragments, the scepter has become the center of a brutal
race that could reshape the fate of the world.
Endymion, a healer from distant Miletus, never sought glory or war. But after
arriving in the Greek colony of Phanagoria at the edge of civilization, he is
drawn into a deadly conflict alongside warriors, exiles, and survivors bound
together by prophecy, secrets, and survival.
Because something ancient is rising.
Vädumir.
Undying conqueror. Cursed warlord. A tyrant who has outlived kingdoms and
buried entire empires beneath blood and ash. For centuries, Vädumir has
hunted the fragments of the scepter, and he will destroy anyone standing in
his path.
If the relic is restored, balance may return to a dying world.
If it fails, something far worse may awaken beneath the ruins of the gods.
Blending dark fantasy, Greek mythology, celestial magic, vampires, giants, and
ancient Black Sea civilizations, The Shadow and Scepter is a fast-paced
historical fantasy epic perfect for readers of John Gwynne, Joe Abercrombie,
and Jay Kristoff.
About the Authors
Long before they began writing epic fantasy together, Timothy Manley and Shawn
McMichael were Navy brats growing up on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay.
They filled their youth with adventures, imagination, and late nights lost in
role-playing and strategy games where heroes, monsters, and distant worlds
first took shape. Decades later, that shared love of storytelling became The
Shadow and the Scepter, the first novel set in the mythic world of
Méhns Móri: a realm forged from ancient history, forgotten
legends, and the sweeping traditions of heroic fantasy.
Shawn McMichael is a storyteller who draws inspiration from history,
mythology, and a lifelong hunger for discovery, having traveled to over thirty
countries. With degrees in communications and history education and a long
career spanning the software and gaming industries, he has spent decades in
pursuit of the stories only the past can tell. Shawn lives in Washington State
with his wife and family.
Timothy Manley is the author of multiple science fiction and fantasy
works, including the Earthborn Saga. A veteran of the software and gaming
industries, he brings deep experience in world-building and narrative design
to everything he writes. Tim holds a BA in English from San Francisco State
University and an MBA from Western Governors University, and lives in Oregon
with his wife and two of his five children.
IN 1939, A DEADLY CONFRONTATION IN THE CANADIAN WILDERNESS shatters
young Albert Pingree's life and leaves him the keeper of a truth so staggering
it could tear apart mankind's understanding of itself. Sixty years later, his
granddaughter Mallory - a small-town veterinarian in rural New Hampshire,
inherits more than his fortune; she inherits his secret. When Albert is found
dead behind his remote British Columbia cabin, Mallory is drawn into a world
of deception, lost identity, and scientific obsession. Inside a locked candle
box, she uncovers a horrific relic - a severed hand too large to be human -
and a note that beckons her toward the impossible.
Mallory recruits Dr. George Avery, the world's leading field zoologist to help
her identify what she has found. At first, he is reluctant, unaware of the
magnitude of what she has brought to him. As the puzzle begins to take shape,
he is confronted by what the answers they find, reveal.
Exploring deeper, their growing affection ignites a sense of purpose, even as
they face the shadows of the past and the dangers of their pursuit. In the
haunting wilds of the Pacific Northwest, nature's grandeur and brutality are
ever-present. Tangled forests and untamed rivers, bears, wolves, and the
ancient reverence of Indigenous traditions surround them, blurring the lines
between myth and reality. Their quest becomes a journey not only to solve a
mystery, but to reconcile love, loneliness, and the immortal question of our
place in a world still ruled by secrets.
Sasq'et delivers an intriguing mix of suspense, folklore, and storytelling.
While reading, the reader is drawn deeper into the mystery while also exploring many different deeper themes. I love the way the author is able to combine so many genres and plot points effortlessly. It's a balanced read with a lot going on and surprises the entire way through.
About the Author
Maxim Langstaff is a Grammy-and Emmy-nominated writer, producer, and
author whose creative and editorial work has reached millions of people
worldwide. He is recognized for his innovative vision and exceptional
versatility and reach, crafting narratives that reflect powerful insight into
the natural world and our relationship to it.
His debut novel, SASQ’ET will be released on April 7, 2026.
Max holds an honorary doctorate from Connecticut College and a degree in
Anthropology. He is a member of The Writer’s Guild and past participant
at the Breadloaf Writer’s Conference. His editorial and creative writing
has been published by The New York Times, Philadelphia Enquirer, Gannett,
Wildlife Conservation Magazine, PBS, Disney, and the Wildlife Conservation
Society.
Max produced the multi-media Making of Sgt. Pepper with Sir George Martin,
featuring Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Phil Collins.
He wrote and produced the most complete filmed history of the Beatles through
the eyes of Sir George who signed them, produced their work, and played on
many of their recordings. A part Max’s film became the award-winning PBS
series Soundbreaking.
Many of the greatest pop culture icons of the 20th century have collaborated
with Max on projects he has created, written, and produced including Herbie
Hancock, Brian Wilson, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, B.B. King, Tony Bennett,
Vince Gill, Burt Bacharach, Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler, Michael Tilson
Thomas, Gordon Lightfoot, Smokey Robinson, Jack White, Dave Grohl, Run-DMC,
and Willie Nelson. A more complete listing of artists he has worked with can
be found at: www.maximlangstaff.com
Known for his work with John Denver, Max created and produced the acclaimed
television event, the Wildlife Concert, spawning the highest rated music
program in cable TV history upon broadcast, two multi-platinum CD sets, and
one of the best-selling music video programs ever released by SONY.
Working with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Max helped lead the largest
fundraising effort ($100mm) ever undertaken for wildlife conservation, seeding
the first integrated global conservation initiative to save endangered tigers.
On any given day you will likely find him on a wilderness river or mountain
trail. A three-time Boston Marathoner, he lives in North Carolina.
SASQ’ET is his first novel.
A child of man treads the path of Hel. The sun blackens, stars fall into
the sea, and as fire licks the life-giving tree, the heavens themselves shall
cleave.
Following an ominous prophecy from the world tree herself, rivalling species
come together to form a treaty. In order to stop an outbreak of war, they
agree to a mutual hostage exchange, sending their most promising children to
grow up amongst potential enemies.
An insecure þórr is brought to live amongst the rough giants of
Jǫtunheimr, granting Ásgarðr the cunning Loki in his stead, whilst
a proud elven empress sends her uncontrollable heir to be hidden away amongst
the Vanir gods in exchange for the arguably more valuable twins Freyr and
Freyja.
Meanwhile in Miðgarðr, where humanity resides far away from the lives
of gods, a young girl's nightly hunting trip is interrupted by the arrival of
a mysterious divine child.
In an intricate tale where numerous life-strings collide in an interwoven
search for family, identity, and purpose, can the smallest of mortal actions
alter the destiny of even the greatest of gods?
After a decade long deep-dive into ancient mythology, Viktor Rydberg wrote one
of our world's earliest fantasy epics in 1887. Reimagined today by C. Beskow
and E.P.W. Tell, his tales of the Old Norse World come to life once more.
About the Author
Born in Southern Sweden, not far from where his debut novel Birds of
Ásgarðr begins, E.P.W. Tell developed a keen interest in history.
His article "The Curmsun Disc: Harald Bluetooth's Golden Bull?" then sparked a
fascination for Norse Mythology, leading him into Viktor Rydberg's extensive
research on the subject. Thereafter, the Old Norse Saga began taking shape.
Recognising the need for a strong literary partner, Weman Tell initiated a
collaboration with C. Beskow, who turned out to be the ideal co-author for the
ambitious project. After five years of working together, Birds of
Ásgarðr emerged as the first of four books in the Old Norse Saga
series.
Weman Tell's professional career is just as notable. He holds a Master's in
Economics and a Bachelor of Laws. For ten years, he worked as Chief Financial
Officer at Svenska Bio (Swedish Cinema chain) for the legendary manager Peter
Fornstam, with whom he continues to maintain a close relation. He's also fond
of sports, serving as Strength & Conditioning coach for Swedish fencing
and acting as General Secretary of the Swedish Multisport Federation.
His varied experiences, combined with his deep passion for history and Norse
Mythology, has shaped the foundation of the Old Norse Saga, granting Birds of
Ásgarðr a distinctive new voice in historical fantasy literature.
Growing up in the company of books, C. Beskow spent a large chunk of her
childhood roaming the forests in search of adventures, huddling up each night
with a bedtime story. As she reached adulthood alongside an ever-growing
collection of cluttered notebooks, she decided to turn her extensive
imagination into a career worth pursuing.
Fascinated by the visual aspect of storytelling, Beskow was initially drawn to
film and television, and hence began her writing journey on the island of
Gotland, learning how to write for the screen. In 2016, she started her own
company, working on everything from translations and transcriptions to
tv-pilots and ghostwrites.
When first approached by E.P.W. Tell, ancient mythology was but a fascinating
childhood interest, but as the Old Norse Saga called for a deep dive into the
subject, Beskow found herself falling in love with its wild world and intense
characters. What more, the extensive research led to some rather intriguing
ties to her own family history as C. Beskow does not only have ties to the
renowned children's book author Elsa Beskow and the once equally popular
author Elisabeth Beskow.
IN 1939, A DEADLY CONFRONTATION IN THE CANADIAN WILDERNESS shatters
young Albert Pingree's life and leaves him the keeper of a truth so staggering
it could tear apart mankind's understanding of itself. Sixty years later, his
granddaughter Mallory - a small-town veterinarian in rural New Hampshire,
inherits more than his fortune; she inherits his secret. When Albert is found
dead behind his remote British Columbia cabin, Mallory is drawn into a world
of deception, lost identity, and scientific obsession. Inside a locked candle
box, she uncovers a horrific relic - a severed hand too large to be human -
and a note that beckons her toward the impossible.
Mallory recruits Dr. George Avery, the world's leading field zoologist to help
her identify what she has found. At first, he is reluctant, unaware of the
magnitude of what she has brought to him. As the puzzle begins to take shape,
he is confronted by what the answers they find, reveal.
Exploring deeper, their growing affection ignites a sense of purpose, even as
they face the shadows of the past and the dangers of their pursuit. In the
haunting wilds of the Pacific Northwest, nature's grandeur and brutality are
ever-present. Tangled forests and untamed rivers, bears, wolves, and the
ancient reverence of Indigenous traditions surround them, blurring the lines
between myth and reality. Their quest becomes a journey not only to solve a
mystery, but to reconcile love, loneliness, and the immortal question of our
place in a world still ruled by secrets.
Maxim Langstaff is a Grammy-and Emmy-nominated writer, producer, and
author whose creative and editorial work has reached millions of people
worldwide. He is recognized for his innovative vision and exceptional
versatility and reach, crafting narratives that reflect powerful insight into
the natural world and our relationship to it.
His debut novel, SASQ’ET will be released on April 7, 2026.
Max holds an honorary doctorate from Connecticut College and a degree in
Anthropology. He is a member of The Writer’s Guild and past participant
at the Breadloaf Writer’s Conference. His editorial and creative writing
has been published by The New York Times, Philadelphia Enquirer, Gannett,
Wildlife Conservation Magazine, PBS, Disney, and the Wildlife Conservation
Society.
Max produced the multi-media Making of Sgt. Pepper with Sir George Martin,
featuring Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Phil Collins.
He wrote and produced the most complete filmed history of the Beatles through
the eyes of Sir George who signed them, produced their work, and played on
many of their recordings. A part Max’s film became the award-winning PBS
series Soundbreaking.
Many of the greatest pop culture icons of the 20th century have collaborated
with Max on projects he has created, written, and produced including Herbie
Hancock, Brian Wilson, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, B.B. King, Tony Bennett,
Vince Gill, Burt Bacharach, Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler, Michael Tilson
Thomas, Gordon Lightfoot, Smokey Robinson, Jack White, Dave Grohl, Run-DMC,
and Willie Nelson. A more complete listing of artists he has worked with can
be found at: www.maximlangstaff.com
Known for his work with John Denver, Max created and produced the acclaimed
television event, the Wildlife Concert, spawning the highest rated music
program in cable TV history upon broadcast, two multi-platinum CD sets, and
one of the best-selling music video programs ever released by SONY.
Working with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Max helped lead the largest
fundraising effort ($100mm) ever undertaken for wildlife conservation, seeding
the first integrated global conservation initiative to save endangered tigers.
On any given day you will likely find him on a wilderness river or mountain
trail. A three-time Boston Marathoner, he lives in North Carolina.
SASQ’ET is his first novel.
A world once whole, now split in two. The flower patch painted a deep crimson
hue. Eyes of flame gaze on red lock and key. For the brothers' misfortune, he
is set free.
Anthony and Andrew Redson live an ordinary life on the outskirts of
civilization. But their estranged father is anything but ordinary. When his
most ancient and dangerous enemy attacks their childhood home, the twins are
thrust into a world unlike any they've known. A world of gods, monsters,
knights, and magic. Trapped upon paths of bloodshed and tragedy, the brothers'
can rely upon no one. Not even each other.
About the Author
Jonah Hunt is the author of Father of Monsters. Since he was little, he's been
enamored with dragons, magic, and storytelling. After ten years of washing
dishes and housekeeping, he aims to make his dream of writing full-time
finally come true.
He lives in one of Florida's reasonably sane neighborhoods with his two dogs.
June 04, 2026
