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The Tides That Reign #1
Design of Darkness
The shadow of the great usurper, King Fogosombre, has kept the East in darkness for twelve long years. Made paranoid by a foretelling of his downfall, the king’s indiscriminate violence reaches a new zenith, leaving twins Arsenio and Mariana orphaned and homeless, their village burnt to the ground.
Now, as the dying embers of their rebellion fade into the night, the twins make a promise to find aide for their people in foreign lands. To get out from under the king’s reach, they must venture across the Great Ocean into a world they had only dreamt about through travelers’ stories. From their perilous quest arises a tale of emperors and queens, marauders and mysticism, fortitude and forbidden love.
Meanwhile, King Fogosombre conducts profane rituals driven by his lust for indomitability. Toiling with malign magic that may yield dire consequences for all the known world, he seeks a pact with the shadows, a plan to cement his reign indefinitely: a design of darkness.
Now, as the dying embers of their rebellion fade into the night, the twins make a promise to find aide for their people in foreign lands. To get out from under the king’s reach, they must venture across the Great Ocean into a world they had only dreamt about through travelers’ stories. From their perilous quest arises a tale of emperors and queens, marauders and mysticism, fortitude and forbidden love.
Meanwhile, King Fogosombre conducts profane rituals driven by his lust for indomitability. Toiling with malign magic that may yield dire consequences for all the known world, he seeks a pact with the shadows, a plan to cement his reign indefinitely: a design of darkness.
Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2024
7 people are currently reading
2698 people want to read
About the author
R.D. Pires
7 books110 followersRD Pires has found there's always a story to tell, and so he spends his time writing them down. A writing project is always on his mind, even when there aren't enough hours in a day to work on them.
Author of many genres, he has a special place in his heart for queer fiction. His latest works have been part of The Tides That Reign series with book 1, Design of Darkness out last summer, and book 2, Sparrows Sing of Dying just released!
He lives in California with his husband and their daughter.
Author of many genres, he has a special place in his heart for queer fiction. His latest works have been part of The Tides That Reign series with book 1, Design of Darkness out last summer, and book 2, Sparrows Sing of Dying just released!
He lives in California with his husband and their daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 14, 2025
The world building was so well done. I wanted to live in this book and be a part of the Emperors inner circle. There are different points of view in this book as a tyrant who is so evil that there is no redeeming qualities in the man. A family almost destroyed seeking help and refuge and a new emperor trying to be the leader his people needs and at the same time going against accepted norms and falling in love with a foreigner to the chagrin of his royal advisors and his best friend.
I was so captivated by this book and as I saw the pages almost complete with resolution I knew I needed book 2. I will eagerly be waiting for its release. Lots of drama in this book and a budding romance.
I was so captivated by this book and as I saw the pages almost complete with resolution I knew I needed book 2. I will eagerly be waiting for its release. Lots of drama in this book and a budding romance.
April 26, 2024
This is R.D. Pires’ best work yet! As a fairly new fan of fantasy, I found Design of Darkness to be a perfect balance of intricate world building and effortless storytelling. I’ve found that I can sometimes get lost in the complexities of other fantasy worlds, but Pires made his world of peace vs. war, light vs. dark, and hope vs. destruction so easy to navigate and immerse myself in.
The story is told through multiple perspectives, which I love. It really allows the reader to experience the wide range of emotions that the characters are faced with when making their decisions and how it progresses the series of events.
I am always impressed by Pires ability to tell a compelling story that makes you want to keep reading to find out what happens next, while at the same time making you feel deeply connected to the characters. Design of Darkness is no different. I always wanted to know the next step in the plot, but also found myself wanting to pause and give space for the heartache I felt for certain characters.
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would! I can’t wait for the next book of the series!
The story is told through multiple perspectives, which I love. It really allows the reader to experience the wide range of emotions that the characters are faced with when making their decisions and how it progresses the series of events.
I am always impressed by Pires ability to tell a compelling story that makes you want to keep reading to find out what happens next, while at the same time making you feel deeply connected to the characters. Design of Darkness is no different. I always wanted to know the next step in the plot, but also found myself wanting to pause and give space for the heartache I felt for certain characters.
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would! I can’t wait for the next book of the series!
May 26, 2025
Under the tyrannical rule of King Fogosombre, twins Arsenio and Marianna are left orphaned and homeless. They set out across the Great Ocean to foreign lands seeking help for the rebellion. Their quest leads them to new lands, new mystics, and new love.
I’m the first to admit I only dabble in fantasy series, though I faithfully watched #GameOfThrones and #HouseOfTheDragon. But when I heard of this fantasy series written by a queer author with queer main characters, I knew I HAD to read it. The author does such a phenomenal job building out this new world, complete with different nations, rulers, traditions, and idiosyncrasies. I was hooked from the very beginning, even with the multiple POVs and character development early on. There is so much chemistry between the main queer characters, I found myself swooning over their relationship. In true #EpicFantasy fashion, the book felt like it was building up to something massive as the rebellion was formulating. It leaves on such a great cliffhanger and by the end I couldn’t wait to jump into the second book!
Read if you like:
🌈 queer #romantasy stories
🔥The fantasy book version of "Fire is catching…and if we burn, you burn with us!”
⚔️ Oberyn Martell (aka Pedro Pascal) from #GoT🐉
Reviewed as part of a giveaway from the author; many thanks for the opportunity to read and review.
Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews!
I’m the first to admit I only dabble in fantasy series, though I faithfully watched #GameOfThrones and #HouseOfTheDragon. But when I heard of this fantasy series written by a queer author with queer main characters, I knew I HAD to read it. The author does such a phenomenal job building out this new world, complete with different nations, rulers, traditions, and idiosyncrasies. I was hooked from the very beginning, even with the multiple POVs and character development early on. There is so much chemistry between the main queer characters, I found myself swooning over their relationship. In true #EpicFantasy fashion, the book felt like it was building up to something massive as the rebellion was formulating. It leaves on such a great cliffhanger and by the end I couldn’t wait to jump into the second book!
Read if you like:
🌈 queer #romantasy stories
🔥The fantasy book version of "Fire is catching…and if we burn, you burn with us!”
⚔️ Oberyn Martell (aka Pedro Pascal) from #GoT🐉
Reviewed as part of a giveaway from the author; many thanks for the opportunity to read and review.
Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews!
June 20, 2024
3 words come to mind whenever I think of this book: captivating, expeditious, and allegiance. This is R.D.’s best work so far. He has always had an incredible way of telling his stories but something about this book really stuck with me. I was completely hooked by the first paragraph in the first chapter. The world building part flowed so well that it wasn’t hard to keep up. Another bonus about this book is that R.D. attached a guide on how to pronounce characters names as well as locations which was helpful because who wants to mispronounce anything in books lol. I was on the edge of my seat at times ready for the resistance plans to come into play, I was curled into a ball rooting for the characters and their forbidden love, I was ready to throw down the tyrant myself! It was an incredibly emotional rollercoaster that I was happy to be on (no, seriously).
I honestly couldn’t put this book down. I’m still thinking about it and I am just so excited for the rest of this series and to see how each of these storylines unfold and come together. And before you ask, yes this put me into a book hang over for like a week. So you definitely will not regret reading this book!
I honestly couldn’t put this book down. I’m still thinking about it and I am just so excited for the rest of this series and to see how each of these storylines unfold and come together. And before you ask, yes this put me into a book hang over for like a week. So you definitely will not regret reading this book!
May 30, 2024
I’ll say here what you can see me say on the cover! This book is a bold mosaic of story, rich with different cultures, viewpoints, and characters, painting a compelling tale of collective resistance against a terrifying tyrant.
April 13, 2025
First, I want to say thanks to the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review, and I hope I do it justice because, phew, this was so much more than I expected.
I want to start by just congratulating R.D Pires on writing this book with so much care and love. It honestly shines through in the way the story progresses. The focus on detail is greatly appreciated and done so well. My mind never needed to wonder because it was all lain down perfectly.
The story focuses on so many different characters and personalities. Jumping between so many with the chapters took any opportunity of boredom away. The character development is so finely shown, and I'm a sucker in getting to know them.
I have no idea of the length of creativity because there were so many aspects in this book, things that I never would have been able to think of myself. It was just awesome to read. I loved the experience, and I can honestly not wait for the next book, and I'm hopeful for nothing but success.
To those doubting this read: The story starts off with twins, Mariana and Arsenio, they lose their entire family after the attack on their home village, ordered by a tyrant ruler. As such, they are asked by the rebellion to sail across unkown waters to ask for the neighboring kingdoms' assistance. In another part of the kingdom, we learn of Kaori, a humble student, suddenly turned Emperor trying to come to grips with new leadership roles, and well, let's say other personal parts of himself. In other parts of this world we also have Emilio, who lives a slightly poor life with his parents and brother, but with one cruel act he loses most that he loves and is given the opportunity to find answers with a witch.
There are so many more characters, and many parts of these stories come together to fight an upcoming storm.
By seeing the lack of attention this book has received, I'm actually shocked, and I hope that somehow my small contribution might help to fix this.
Awesome read and adventure!!!
I want to start by just congratulating R.D Pires on writing this book with so much care and love. It honestly shines through in the way the story progresses. The focus on detail is greatly appreciated and done so well. My mind never needed to wonder because it was all lain down perfectly.
The story focuses on so many different characters and personalities. Jumping between so many with the chapters took any opportunity of boredom away. The character development is so finely shown, and I'm a sucker in getting to know them.
I have no idea of the length of creativity because there were so many aspects in this book, things that I never would have been able to think of myself. It was just awesome to read. I loved the experience, and I can honestly not wait for the next book, and I'm hopeful for nothing but success.
To those doubting this read: The story starts off with twins, Mariana and Arsenio, they lose their entire family after the attack on their home village, ordered by a tyrant ruler. As such, they are asked by the rebellion to sail across unkown waters to ask for the neighboring kingdoms' assistance. In another part of the kingdom, we learn of Kaori, a humble student, suddenly turned Emperor trying to come to grips with new leadership roles, and well, let's say other personal parts of himself. In other parts of this world we also have Emilio, who lives a slightly poor life with his parents and brother, but with one cruel act he loses most that he loves and is given the opportunity to find answers with a witch.
There are so many more characters, and many parts of these stories come together to fight an upcoming storm.
By seeing the lack of attention this book has received, I'm actually shocked, and I hope that somehow my small contribution might help to fix this.
Awesome read and adventure!!!
February 26, 2025
Design of Darkness was such an enjoyable fantasy novel. It was well written and the world building was incredible. The story was character driven. We are introduced to the twins, Arsenio and Mariana who are fleeing their land ruled by the tyrant Fogosombre and trying to find allies to help save their people. We meet the newly appointed emperor Kaori who is learning how to rule justly and his friend Taigen. Queen Yiscel is mourning the lost of her friend, the previous empress. As Arsenio and Mariana go on their adventures, they get separated and cross paths with Kaori and Queen Yiscel. They must convince them provide aid in order to defect the king.
This was such a fun adventure and I really enjoyed the storyline of Kaori and Arsenio. I hope that they cross paths again in the second book. I loved how they were able to find themselves with each other. Emilio and Helena had small parts and I hope they have bigger parts in the next. Overall, I was captivated by the world building and character development.
This was such a fun adventure and I really enjoyed the storyline of Kaori and Arsenio. I hope that they cross paths again in the second book. I loved how they were able to find themselves with each other. Emilio and Helena had small parts and I hope they have bigger parts in the next. Overall, I was captivated by the world building and character development.
July 19, 2025
This is a very different book from the more lighthearted queer romances I typically read, but it had me SAT so I cannot deny how good it is. War is rough and I learned not to get attached to anyone (real quick) because they were liable to get bumped off in the next chapter.
I’m really glad I bought Design of Darkness to prepare for my ARC read of Sparrows Sing of Dying because wow. There are a lot of perspectives to keep straight and so much going on, but it is worth the time and effort to read this story. The world building is incredible. I can’t visualize but I still felt like I was present. And ooooh some of the twists!
I can’t wait to find out which shadow will meet shadow and who will get murked as a result! Really thankful the doors opened some and I absolutely love how the intimate scenes were handled after understanding the differences they were conveying. There’s always a method to the madness. On to book 2! 4.5-4.75 stars, no question.
Edit: I came back after finishing Sparrows Sing of Dying to bump this up to a proper 5 stars because it’s been further elevated!
I’m really glad I bought Design of Darkness to prepare for my ARC read of Sparrows Sing of Dying because wow. There are a lot of perspectives to keep straight and so much going on, but it is worth the time and effort to read this story. The world building is incredible. I can’t visualize but I still felt like I was present. And ooooh some of the twists!
I can’t wait to find out which shadow will meet shadow and who will get murked as a result! Really thankful the doors opened some and I absolutely love how the intimate scenes were handled after understanding the differences they were conveying. There’s always a method to the madness. On to book 2! 4.5-4.75 stars, no question.
Edit: I came back after finishing Sparrows Sing of Dying to bump this up to a proper 5 stars because it’s been further elevated!
August 3, 2025
Design of Darkness was such an exciting read, totally reawakening my love for the fantasy genre. While it has elements that are reminiscent of other fantasy series I have enjoyed (A Song of Ice and Fire, the Locked Tomb, Sands of Arawiya), Design of Darkness is uniquely and refreshingly its own. R.D. Pires does such a great job of humanizing the characters, making them relatable despite their exceptional circumstances. The characters’ emotion, decisions, conflicts, and conversations feel believable (something you don’t always get in fantasy). Even Fogosombre, who is delightfully pure evil, feels like what could believably become of a terrible person if given too much power in the world Pires created. This book has such great descriptions of both joy and pain and beauty and destruction, allowing for joyful, even funny moments to surface despite the tumultuous world (as they do in real life). I can’t wait to start the sequel!
November 7, 2025
I am so happy that I already have book 2 of this series! Because I need to see more of this world and its story.
R.D. Pires has done a great job writing Design of Darkness. His prose is excellent, the story is spectacular, the characters are written so well, and the world building is vivid and beautiful. There wasn’t a single POV where I was bored or uninterested. And the touch of queerness was just perfect.
This fantasy novel is a must-read. I promise you will not be disappointed.
R.D. Pires has done a great job writing Design of Darkness. His prose is excellent, the story is spectacular, the characters are written so well, and the world building is vivid and beautiful. There wasn’t a single POV where I was bored or uninterested. And the touch of queerness was just perfect.
This fantasy novel is a must-read. I promise you will not be disappointed.
January 28, 2025
It was tough deciding whether to give this 4 or 5 stars. The writing style is talented and engaging. Excellent pacing and story structure. But it ends on a cliffhanger - this novel was clearly meant to be the first in a series - and it has a fair amount of commom fantasy tropes. But it's still a fun read. Despite the length, I flew through it in just a couple of days.
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July 2, 2025This is a Small Spec Book Awards nominee!
June 21, 2024
What a book! This is the start of an epic fantasy series!
Okay so let's talk about this book and why it has made me a bit obsessed. First of all if you are a lover for multiple POV's, this is a book for you! Even if you are not a big fan of them, you don't get frustrated by the many switches.
So there are a lot of POV's, a lot of characters and a lot where you will fall in love with. Some of them you have no clue why the have a POV, like Emilio, but don't get me started about how his chapters ended because it left me confused and with to many questions!
A lot of small things happen in this book, but they are all necessary for the story. For building the tension, the conflict. This story will leave you with more questions at the end then the beginning. It wants to make you long for the next book, to get those answers that we need!
Last but not least I want to thank the author and midnight meadow for providing me with an earc.
Okay so let's talk about this book and why it has made me a bit obsessed. First of all if you are a lover for multiple POV's, this is a book for you! Even if you are not a big fan of them, you don't get frustrated by the many switches.
So there are a lot of POV's, a lot of characters and a lot where you will fall in love with. Some of them you have no clue why the have a POV, like Emilio, but don't get me started about how his chapters ended because it left me confused and with to many questions!
A lot of small things happen in this book, but they are all necessary for the story. For building the tension, the conflict. This story will leave you with more questions at the end then the beginning. It wants to make you long for the next book, to get those answers that we need!
Last but not least I want to thank the author and midnight meadow for providing me with an earc.
June 30, 2024
I loved this book! The richly imagined world seems to extend far beyond the pages of the book (hopefully future books will reveal even more of the book!) The story is told through multiple subplots/points of view, seamlessly woven together. The characters are relatable without falling into the trap of being "whiny" (not an easy task). I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
November 26, 2024
This book was absolutely incredible! I loved the weaving of stories from the different characters perspectives. R.D. really designed a world that you can envision. I felt like I transported to each location seamlessly. I cannot wait for the rest of the books in the series!
August 18, 2024
R.D. Piers welcomes us into a beautiful fantasy world, filled with captivating characters. Each twist and turn of the plot kept made this book impossible to put down. Looking forward to the sequel!
July 14, 2025
The most immersive fantasy book I've read so far this year.
On my YouTube channel, I exclusively review self-published and indie fantasy books. I ended up giving this book a 9.1/10 overall, and I really can't say enough positive things about it. You can check out the full review here: https://youtu.be/XOiUKv-IGwo
Here is a brief overview of my breakdown:
Immersion (worldbuilding): 10/10 - Truly immersive. Lots of different scene locations, each with their own depth and history. Plenty of varying languages and cultures. Different landscapes and climates and lore. I honestly don't know how he managed to pack so much into this book without making it a burden to the reader. Every page felt like a new experience.
Names (characters): 9.5/10 - The character personalities were all distinct, engaging and realistic, which was also reflected in the dialogue. I don't love romance plots or spice, but this was written well enough that it didn't bother me or take me out of the story. I loved all the POVs.
Da Magic (& creatures): 6.5/10 - Why do all my favorite indie books not have magic systems?? There are some elements of magic, like a soul catching ceremony and some magic trees used for burial preservation, but that's pretty much it. I felt like this was the one area that was lacking, but I still loved the story.
Infrastructure (plot, pacing, prose, etc.): 9.5/10 - I loved the unique structure of the book. It's one of the benefits of indie authors (they can actually take some cool risks). The prose was fantastic, very unique voice and style that is both accessible and beautiful. The plot also was very well paced and kept me turning the pages to learn more.
Enjoyment: 10/10 - The fact that this has a romance plot and it still gets a 10/10 on enjoyment is really saying something. If you told me this was trad published with a team of editors and support behind it, I'd believe it. So well done. And I feel like it will only get better from here, since this book felt like it was setting the foundation of the series.
If you like slow-burn epic fantasy with political undertones, then you have to pick this one up. If you like character-driven narratives, this is a must. I can't recommend it highly enough.
On my YouTube channel, I exclusively review self-published and indie fantasy books. I ended up giving this book a 9.1/10 overall, and I really can't say enough positive things about it. You can check out the full review here: https://youtu.be/XOiUKv-IGwo
Here is a brief overview of my breakdown:
Immersion (worldbuilding): 10/10 - Truly immersive. Lots of different scene locations, each with their own depth and history. Plenty of varying languages and cultures. Different landscapes and climates and lore. I honestly don't know how he managed to pack so much into this book without making it a burden to the reader. Every page felt like a new experience.
Names (characters): 9.5/10 - The character personalities were all distinct, engaging and realistic, which was also reflected in the dialogue. I don't love romance plots or spice, but this was written well enough that it didn't bother me or take me out of the story. I loved all the POVs.
Da Magic (& creatures): 6.5/10 - Why do all my favorite indie books not have magic systems?? There are some elements of magic, like a soul catching ceremony and some magic trees used for burial preservation, but that's pretty much it. I felt like this was the one area that was lacking, but I still loved the story.
Infrastructure (plot, pacing, prose, etc.): 9.5/10 - I loved the unique structure of the book. It's one of the benefits of indie authors (they can actually take some cool risks). The prose was fantastic, very unique voice and style that is both accessible and beautiful. The plot also was very well paced and kept me turning the pages to learn more.
Enjoyment: 10/10 - The fact that this has a romance plot and it still gets a 10/10 on enjoyment is really saying something. If you told me this was trad published with a team of editors and support behind it, I'd believe it. So well done. And I feel like it will only get better from here, since this book felt like it was setting the foundation of the series.
If you like slow-burn epic fantasy with political undertones, then you have to pick this one up. If you like character-driven narratives, this is a must. I can't recommend it highly enough.
June 19, 2024
RD Pires’s Design of Darkness is a masterclass in world building. I could feel the fires as the consumed Corva Sum Rio, smell the exotic foods in the night markets of Black Tide Cove, and taste the salty air whilst sailing across the Endless Ocean. This novel effortlessly switches perspectives between a cast of characters as varies as the settings they inhabit. I quickly found my favorite in the tentative Emperor Kaori and loved to cheer him on as he found his truth amidst the politics of Kingfisher Palace. I’ve never loved to hate a villain as much as King Fogosombre, whose irredeemable nature was solidified during a gruesome introduction that I still can’t get out of my mind. I could sing the praises of RD Pires’s characters to no end – from the tenacious Avilla siblings, to the mysterious Jade Dagger, to the flamboyant Captain Elwin – even the minor characters have meat on their bones and mirth in their laughter. While it was the characters and settings that drew me in, it was the tantalizing plot that kept me turning the pages, eager to discover what would happen next. Design of Darkness is truly the start of an epic fantasy series. While extremely satisfying as a standalone novel, the first entry in the Tides the Reign series left me eager to read what are hopefully its numerous sequels.
June 10, 2025
This enchanting tale weaves a vibrant tapestry of dark lands and emotion, following the journey of two remarkable individuals in a world brimming with mythical creatures and breathtaking landscapes. Their love story unfolds amidst the backdrop of ancient prophecies and looming threats, challenging societal norms and embracing the power of acceptance. The characters are richly developed, their struggles and triumphs resonating deeply with the reader. The intricate plot keeps you captivated, seamlessly blending fantastical elements with relatable human experiences. The author's evocative prose paints vivid imagery, immersing you in a world you won't want to leave. It's a must-read for anyone seeking an escape into a world of wonder and profound connection.
April 29, 2025
I thought the book overall was fun, but as someone who isn't usually a fan of romance scenes I'm surprised those were my favorite parts!
July 18, 2025
“𝘈 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴.”
I truly enjoyed reading this story of tyranny and rebellion. More so, I am grateful for having the opportunity to meet so many vibrant characters!
Kaori is my favorite character throughout this book. At eighteen, he is chosen to become emperor of Nokara. He is humble and thoughtful. His character goes through so much growth during this novel as an emperor, as a friend, and in love. But it’s the world building and character dynamics that will make me pick up the next book in this series!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews