Ray Strong's Blog

 A reader asked, whatinspired my heroines: Astria,Diana, Katheryn, Jeannine, Makashti, Meriel.

It was a statue of Joanof Arc in Paris.

Cliché? Maybe.

Everyone knows of Joan,how she led France to victory over the English and helped crown a king . . .

- And they burned her atthe stake for it.

But we know littleabout her inner thoughts, her personal encounters and traumas, how she grew,what she learned, or the virtues that armored her.

That’s a story worthtelling!

Not the superherowith spectacular powers, but the ‘every-man/every-woman,’ the regular personlike all of us without superpowers,  thrown into extraordinary situations.

What do they do? Howdo  they survive? How do they achievetheir goals?

To me, that wasEarth-Sea, Narnia, Ringworld, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings . . .

That’s the story Iwanted to tell through the eyes and hearts of ordinary people, steeled with virtue,wit, and courage, who oppose the injustice thrust upon them.

And I hope theirstories interest you as well.

 

Ray

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! News !

 

Zephyr’s Flight audiobookis liveon Audible for preorder. We’ll have an Amazon preorder and a samplereading available in a few weeks with release on February 24, 2026.

 

And if you can’twait for our new releases, here are some interesting reads for you.

Free Fantasy Reads

Magical Fantasy Giveaways

Science Fiction/Fantasy/LitPRG

Science Fictionand Fantasy

 

... and of course our books in the Dragons's War Series.

 Take a look and leave us a note. I posted the prologue and Chapter 1 a while back.

We’re excited!

Last year, Podium Entertainment struck adeal with Impulse Fiction to produce audiobooks for the Dragons' War Series. The first book in the series, Zephyr’s Flight, is planned forrelease in late February 2026.

* Release Date now set for February 24, 2026 *

 

Podium has produced many fineaudiobooks, such as

·               He Who Fights with Monsters,

·               the Crowns of Nyaxia series, and

·               Spellmonger.

We are thrilled to have , a well-knownactress, narrate the Dragons' Warseries. The audiobooks will be professionally formatted, so the quality will betop-notch. 

Stay tuned, and we will keepyou up to date when the preorders and book launch schedules are firmed up.

 

Ray 

 

The publisher has delayedrelease, but I can’t wait for you to get a taste of the new book in The Dragons' War series. It’s about Katheryn Corvus, the mother of the star of The Book of Chaos: Diana. They don’t have acover yet, but I can tease you with the start.

 

Description: Katheryn - Angel of Death

 

A war fought for one purpose:the love of her sister.

 

When slavers murder herparents and capture her sister, Katheryn Corvus, a fisher girl from a smallvillage, is left homeless, betrayed by the family she trusted.

In a nation that kills itskings, Katheryn is fifth in-line for the Mave, a powerful station she doesn’tcare about. But the neighboring empire, driven by an arcane book of magic, doescare and embroils Katheryn and her sister in a contest between nations: anempire built on slavery, and hers built on freedom.

It is up to Katheryn alone tounite her country with the spirits of the land to defeat the empire and freeher sister.

But even her own countrymen,those she would free from tyranny, want her dead.

 

“Katheryn is Queen Boudicaand Joan of Arc embodied in the same person!” Beta reader.

 

Prologue and Chapter 1:Katheryn – Angel of Death

 

Inthe Holy City of Mokdar, the End of Times began with a scream.

 

EmpressAh-Al gazed upon the scores of ornately dressed opportunists and connivers whofilled the audience chamber at the court of Emperor Quesh Mamout in theImperial Palace, listening for advantage that her station could not provide.

Queshwaved his hand. “Denied,” he said to dismiss the petitioner before he finished.Sulerian Elites in golden armor escorted him across the white marble floor andback into the crowd.

Theemperor turned to his pregnant concubine who sat just behind him to his right.“Set lunch, dear. This is too boring to continue.”

Theconcubine rose, and Quesh prepared to rise when his wife spoke.

“Next,”Ah-Al said, and a stout man in opulent robes approached. “And what do you bringthe emperor, Governor Vorless?”

Vorlessbowed deeply with a flourish of his cape. “Divine Emperor, I most humblybeseech you to accept my petition to—”

Queshstomped his foot. “Get on with it, Governor. Lunch awaits.”

“Ioffer a mission of immense wealth and possibility, a mission  that will make Suleria the most powerfulempire on Juro. Your rule will extend through the South and the North and—”

Theemperor leaned forward. “And how will you accomplish this?”

“Ipropose the conquest of Nordes using the slave trade to corrupt the Lords.”

“TheNorth has proven a formidable bulwark against smuggling and invasion. And whatwill this cost us?”

“Nothing,Your Highness,” Vorless said. “Only an Imperial Charter to protect Kabuna whileI am on this mission. I will pay for any Sulerian troops.”

“Soyou ask that I protect the lands you cannot protect yourself while you go onthis adventure.”

“Thegain will be yours, Your Highness,” Vorless pleaded. “Nordes will give usaccess to Xorellian steel we can use to conquer the world. I have alreadyallied with lords who will give us the capital at Wikkert, and—”

Queshwaved his hand. “No,” he said and stood.

“ButYour Majesty,” Vorless continued, “the gain—”

“Sayanother word, and you will feed the grax in the Garden.” As he turned away, theaudience chamber bowed, while Ah-Al gave him a side-eye.

#

Intheir private dining room, a servant closed the drapes to lessen the middayglare from ice covering the peaks of the Pamir Kush Mountains against which thepalace was built.

Atthe table, Quesh gulped down a half-goblet of wine before dipping a spoon intohis soup. By his side, his concubine sat silent while Ah-Al sat at the oppositeend, sipping her wine.

“TheChaos comes while you play bones with the governors,” Ah-Al said.

Queshtook a bite of the roast cut for him by a servant. “Which keeps them busy andaway from our throats.” He took another bite and spoke with his mouth full.“You should keep your beautiful head out of politics, dear.”

“Vorless’soffer could give us the North.”

“Vorlessis beset by his enemies who are my friends,” Quest said. “I won’t intervene orrisk them turning on us.”

Ah-Alshook her head. “You don’t know what’s coming, Quesh. Your friends will needmore slaves, or their harvests will collapse—”

“Notin our lifetime, and that’s what I care about.”

“Andaccess to weapons with which to conquer the world and shelter for the comingChaos.”

Queshtook another sip of soup. “You think you can see the future with that stupidbook of yours.”

Queshtook another sip of soup. “You should spend more time with the scripture in theChiniferra than with that book of yours. You can’t really believe your bookallows you to see the future.”

Shenodded. “One of many futures. One future lies in Derryh and the South. And forthat we need Xorellian steel.”

“TheNorth and the Spine are in the way. Both have stopped us before. I will notsquander our resources on a futile effort.”

“Theslave trade will finance Vorless’s mission and refresh the slaves in SeAu andAlvez.”

“No,”Quesh said

“Quesh,please. I can manage Vorless and need not trouble—”

Queshslammed an open palm onto the table. “No. I rule here.”

Ah-Altipped her head to a servant who refilled the emperor’s cup. After a deepdrought, Quesh slumped in his chair, but his eyes followed her. A guard cameover and opened his mouth to call the alarm, but a servant stabbed the guard inthe chest again and again.

Ah-Alstood with a dagger in her hand as other servants slaughtered the remainingguards and shed their togas to expose uniforms of the Sulerian Elites.

Theconcubine screamed and stood, but Ah-Al put a hand on her shoulder and sat herback down.

“Timeto end this farce, husband,” Ah-Al said with contempt. “We’ll all die if youremain in charge. I’m the one who brought you Karmulk and Xhosen. I’m the onewho keeps the priests from burning you at the stake. And I’m the one who willdecide who holds the crown when we die . . .”

Withher dagger, Ah-Al slit the throat of the concubine, spraying blood on her gown.

“. .. not some broodmare from Sinefora.”

Whenthe concubine collapsed onto the table, Ah-Al kicked her lifeless body onto thefloor. “Clean up this mess and take his majesty to bed. I need him alive.”

Coveredin blood, Ah-Al walked around the bodies, sat at the table, and ate like astarving wolf. When sated, she leaned back in her chair and snapped her fingersfor an Elite.

“BringVorless here to me,” the empress said.

 

Chapter1: Slavers Harvest

Asthe three moons set and Helios broke the dawn, the fog parted for slavers inhoods and leather armor who beached three longships near the village ofCherwytch.

Threecolumns of thirty men marched double time up the muddy road, past single-mastedskiffs, and fishing nets hung for repair. Armed with sword and trident, eachslaver wore leather armor that extended to the shoulders and knees. One tallman wearing elegant robes, with his hair in a topknot followed with uniformedguards.

Atthe first of the thatched-roofed homes, the outer columns split off to form acordon around the tiny village. The central column broke into each cottage,threw the villagers into the street in their bedclothes, and drove them totheir knees. Those who resisted were clubbed; those who raised weapons werekilled.

Womenand men between twelve and sixty summers and up were bound and joined at theneck by a bronze chain. Those younger were corralled in a shed. Only the oldand crippled were spared unless they complained, whereupon they were silenced.

Whenthe slavers broke down the door of the last and largest home at the end of theroad, they drove the couple to their knees. Between beatings of the residents,the tall man asked only one question:

“Whereis she?”

. . .

More to come soon!

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The special Kindle Deal discount for Zephyr’s Flight isstill available

but only until November 30.

$2.99 to $1.49 – half price!

 

Take advantage of the dealtoday before it runs out!

 

Zephyr’s Flight has won anotheraward!

 

Best Book Awards, Young Adult(American Book Fest)

Winner– Zephyr’s Flight 

Finalist– The Wounded Sky

 

The special Kindle Deal discount for Zephyr's Flight is still available, but

only until November 30.

$2.99 to $1.49 – half price!

 

-------

Take advantage of the dealtoday before it runs out!

 

 

Celebrate with us! More Awards for Zephyr’s Flight … and aDiscount.

 

Gold Medal – Readers’Favorite Book Awards

Gold Medal – Series. GlobalBook Awards

Gold Medal – TheInternational Review of Books

 

And Amazon has offered us a special Kindle Deal.

From November 1 to 30, Amazon is discounting Zephyr’sFlight from

$2.99 to $1.49 – half price!

 

Take advantage of the dealfor Zephyr’s Flight todaybefore it runs out!

 

 

Wednesday through Friday thisweek, Aug 27 to 29, Impulse Fiction is discounting The Wounded Sky from $4.99 to $0.99.

Reviewers are saying this about The Wounded Sky:

 “a fantastically beautiful, brilliantly written story grounded in the most human aspects of Astria: bodily exhaustion, sharp emotion, and quiet acts of courage. I love that Astria’s endurance is as present as her sword, and Strong lets us see her as a character shaped not only by power but also by her limits. ” 5*/5 Reader’s Favorite

  If you are a fan of fantasy, then this book is for you.  5*/5 OnlineBookCLub

 “a heroine worthy of the name . . . an engaging and entertaining fantasy with fine worldbuilding and a cast of delightful, well-developed characters.”  IR Approved IndieReader

  “an inspirational depiction of a strong yet wounded heroine who perseveres despite tragedy and fights to stay true to her values . . . a rich tapestry of plots and subplots with a colorful cast of characters and a compelling sense of mystery”  US Review of Books

 

Description of The Wounded Sky:

 

A cursed bond. A dyingdragon. And a choice that could doom the world.

Astria’s bond with herdragon, Zephyr, is unraveling—poisoned by a curse that is draining theirstrength and killing them slowly. Desperate for a cure, Astria infiltrates thelegendary College of Singers, where ancient songs shape reality itself. But no magiccomes without a price.

Disguised as both performerand spy, she travels from shadowed taverns to gilded courts, aided by anunlikely trio: a secretive giant, a sharp-tongued dwarf, and the hauntingmemory of the warrior-prince who cursed her. Their only lead lies with the barbarianHordes—enemies she once swore to fight—and the cure is a bargain only her enemycan grant. As war brews and time runs out, Astria must decide: betrayeverything she’s fought for to save Zephyr—and herself—or let the curse consumethem both while civilization falls to Darkness.

Book Two of The Dragons’War series, The Wounded Sky is a soaring tale of sacrifice,survival, and the fierce magic of love.

 

Don't wait! Only three daysto get your copy of The Wounded Sky for $0.99, an 80% discount!

 Wow! Zephyr's Flight is a Best Seller in not 1, not 2, but 3 categories. We're going to celebrate!

 

My ebook Zephyr’sFlight is available on BookBub for $0.99 for a limited time! Subscribeto BookBub for free to access amazing ebook deals from your favorite authors.Go to the link below to snag Zephyr’s Flight before the saleis over! Get it HERE.

 

TheBook of Chaos, Book 3 of the Dragon’s War series, is available for Preorder

 

Asher mother dies in her arms, she tells Diana of a dark artifact wieldedby the Emperor of Suleria to spread corruption and conquer nations. To avengeher mother and protect her homeland, Diana sets out to find its only rumoredcounterforce—a rival book of magic lost to legend—The Book of Chaos.

 

Hi,

 

Thisis the third book in The Dragons' War series, that begins with Zephyr's Flight.Though it is part of the series, Diana's adventures can be enjoyed withoutrelying on the first two in the series. It's the same world (Juro) and the sametime as Astrid, so of course ... I can say no more or risk spoiling the story.

 

Thelaunch date is August 11, 2025. I posted Chapter 1 of The Book of Chaosat BookFunnel.

 

Ifyou can’t wait, and want to leave a review, you can download an advanced reviewcopy (ARC) at NetGalley or Edelweiss.

 

Or,if you’re willing to wait, you can preorder The Book of Chaos at Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, Vivlio, Gardners, Fable, Baker & Taylor, OverDrive, Thalia, or Tolino. (Amazon will come inAugust.)

 

Andif you’ve read Zephyr’s Flight or The Wounded Sky, don’t forget to leave arating on Amazon and/or Goodreads.

 

Happyreading,

Ray

 

Andif you’re interested in other fantasy reading, check these out.

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