Book Three Writing Update
What will book 3 of The Chrysillium Saga be about? Plus my timeline & writing process, who's returning, who's new, and what worlds we will visit.
Dear Kingdom of Shadow & Light followers,
The professionally edited, polished version of KOSAL launches in one week! There are a few additional scenes to what you read on here including a final chapter that was intentionally not added on this site. Find the ebook on Amazon Sunday 2/22. But please, make sure you read Star of Shalik first as there are significant spoilers in that final chapter!
So now what to do with this space? I will be using it to discuss the development of book 3, worldbuilding, magic systems, and other fantasy topics.
For today, I’m so excited to announce that the writing of book 3 has begun! I really missed drafting. It is one of my favorite parts of the writing process when a new story arc unfolds and characters—new and old—reveal themselves.
This first draft is currently at 14K words. I attempt an early outline, but I am, by nature, a discovery writer. So I will share with you what I know about the story so far, with the caveat that, of course, it may change!
What is book three about?
Book 3 takes place 19 years after its predecessor, similar to Star of Shalik. A wall separating magic wielders from non-magic wielders was constructed. The Mycellium Forest, Kråshain, and Eod are all east of the wall. The rest of Ulli is to the west. Magic users—the Lumani and the gods—dwell in the east. For either side to cross the wall is an act of war.
The wall, although born of tragedy, brought 19 years of peace to the region. Yet, east of the wall, the Lumani sense a disturbance in the far east—past the Kalim River—in realms that are forbidden and, up to this point in the story, undiscovered.
Meanwhile, west of the wall, a troupe of circus performers travels through Ulli’s countryside. The circus tents go up at night by the light of a full moon, and they perform only at night. People who attend the circus come out… changed, and yet, the mysterious night circus is immensely popular in a land void of much joy and entertainment.
We travel with a new character, Ætheren—who is most certainly more than what he seems—yet he longs to disappear amongst the performers. As we experience more of the inner workings of the circus through his eyes, we wonder if the circus is something else entirely.
The working title for book 3 is The Mycellium Forest. It is a multiple POV story, and so far those POVs include Isaac, Elijwa, Panez, Ætheren, and Isyra.
Timeline & writing process
My writing process is always the same and follows the following structure:
Draft one
Revise - draft two
Alpha Readers
Revise - draft three
Development edits
Revise - draft four
Beta readers
Revise - draft five
Line edits
Revise - draft six
Proofread
Final draft
My timeline for this project is as follows:
June 2026 Draft two to alphas for big-picture feedback such as identifying plot holes, flag pacing issues, react to character arcs, point out confusing worldbuilding, offer brainstorming input, etc.
August 2026 Draft three to developmental editor.
November 2026 Draft four to beta readers to provide feedback on the reader experience such as highlight confusing scenes, track pacing and engagement, catch inconsistencies, note emotional impact, and provide overall enjoyment feedback.
January 2027 Draft five to line editor and proofreading.
February 2027 Final draft to ARC readers to read early and provide honest reviews.
Spring 2027 Book 3 release
I find these goals provide helpful milestones for completing the project. For example, I know that in order to have my first draft completed and revised—to have it ready for alpha readers by June 2026—I need to write 4K words per week. This week I exceeded my goal by writing 5K. Hopefully, I can keep up the good momentum and have it ready for alphas by this summer!
Returning characters
Some other fun things I can share with you is who returns to book 3.
Elijwa POV
Isaac POV
Mæve
Armaiti
Zial
Panez POV
Silmara (and her knives!)
New characters
One thing I enjoy the most about a new book is the new characters introduced, and I can share with you that some amazing new characters are making an arrival for book 3!
Ætheren POV: running from a difficult past, he joins the mysterious night circus. He longs to fly like the aerialist and also longs for the beautiful ringleader who does not seem to know he exists.
Isyra POV: a healer training under Mæve, she flees Eod seeking a desert flower to cure her uncle’s illness. She risks everything and pays a dear price to cross the wall, but once she does, she stumbles upon a mysterious circus where she finds work in the scullery to pay for her travels to find the ahlea flower.
Finn: Ringleader of the circus, he is beautiful, mysterious, and a ruthless leader to the The Seven or seven of the circus’ elite performers.
Korrin: Illusionist in the circus and Finn’s partner. He is reckless and powerful, often going against Finn’s wishes and causing explosive arguments between the two.
Returning worlds
The Mycellium Forest Visited in The Chrysillium Tree, mentioned in Star of Shalik, we spend significantly more time here in book 3 as the gods take a central role in book 3.
Eod Visited in both The Chrysillium Tree and Star of Shalik, our characters east of the wall spend a significant amount of time here, including Isaac, Mæve, Elijwa, and Panez.
Idris Visited in both TCT and SoS. We spend very little time here in book 3.
Thalis We will return to Thalis, and I don’t want to say more at this time because of spoilers!
New worlds
The Night Circus We spend a significant amount of time with our characters west of the wall and meet our entire cast of new characters here. It is a world of wonder and intrigue, beautiful people with unique talents, and many, many secrets.
We will also discover new lands east of the River Kalim, which we are currently calling the Far East. More on this soon, but I hear the old histories speak of ancient winged serpents that once dwelled there and now stir again.
If there’s anything you’d love to see explored here—magic systems, politics, character backstories—tell me. I’m building this space with you.