A Third Kind of Madness

Stories of the Eleriannan #3

by Christiane Knight

When Denny isn’t working as a photographer, they spend their time at the local coffee shop mooning over one of the regulars, the mysterious and beautiful Peri. No one’s more surprised than Denny when she asks them out on a date.What happens that night throws the couple into a world where nothing is as it appears and everyone wants to get their hands on Peri and her powers to inspire artists – especially Joolie, the controlling and egotistical leader of Denny’s art collective.If that wasn’t enough, the powerful, capricious water elementals known as Nyxen have inexplicably taken an interest in Denny. They warn that Peri’s gifts bring nothing but trouble to those around her. It’s hard to argue with them when the magic starts to go wrong; paintings greedily come alive with grasping tentacles, an obsessed ex-lover returns to threatenthe couple, and Denny begins to wonder if their grip on reality is beginning to slip…

343 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Christiane Knight is an artist, poet, writer, and author of the Stories of the Eleriannan series.

A former club and FM radio DJ, Christiane’s love of dark subculture and music infuses her stories and characters. Her latest novel is set in the Fae infused version of her already quirky hometown, Baltimore MD.

She is a lifelong enthusiast of faerie, folktales, forests and fauna, especially combined in copious amounts with all-black clothing and some Joy Division or Bauhaus playing in the headphones.

Reviews

[Tim Paggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whimsical, intriguing, and mad in more than a couple ways! “A Third Kind of Madness” tells the tale of Denny, a non-binary photographer on the fringe of Baltimore’s social and arts scenes. Their routine unravels after an encounter with a coffeeshop crush and things get intriguing from there. This book suggests magic is real in Baltimore’s warehouse arts scene, and having lived in/around the copycat throughout my twenties, I concur. Pair this book with records by Switchblade Symphony or Babes in Toyland.

[Janea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Third Kind of Madness is the third contemporary fantasy novel in author Christiane Knight's Stories of the Eleriannan series.

In this novel, the protagonist is a non-binary character named Denny, who, after art school, ended up being part of a coterie of artists led by a painter from a wealthy family. Denny is a photographer, and their job in this art cadre was to take pictures of events and artworks from other people in the group. Soon, they realize they're hiding themselves and their true passions because sometimes it's easier to go along with powerful and manipulative people.

Ultimately, A Third Kind of Madness is the story of Denny's self-discovery, as well as their appalling realization that the head of the artist collective is greedy and jealous and willing to steal others' magic in the service of her own artistic goals.

As a non-binary person myself, reading a book with a protagonist who is like me on some very fundamental levels (not just the non-binary thing but the hiding your light under a bushel and manipulation/gaslighting by people who are supposed to be your friends) practically brought me to tears. It's the first time I've ever read a book where my true self is represented, in 50+ years of reading all kinds of books ... and IT MATTERS.

I don't want to go into the story too deeply, but I will say that while I loved Christiane's other Eleriannan books, this one is by far my favorite. It's well written, well plotted, and it blends the intricacies of human behavior with the elements of the supernatural in very creative ways. Buy this book!

[Robert Waldbauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book Christiane Knight has written concerning the "Eleriannan". it continues -- or rather, expands -- the contemporary urban fantasy setting that incorporates the City of Baltimore, Maryland with coalitions of Fae creatures and personalities. This book focuses on a new character as the protagonist, exploring their adventures and their interactions with characters introduced in her previous novels. Entertaining, subjectively enlightening, and a welcome addition to the series Ms Knight has given us to enjoy. Highly recommended, as well as her two previous novels. Read them all!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful third installment of the Stories of the Eleriannon. Its intense in spots, intriguing, and interesting enough to make it hard to put down! You don’t have to read the first two before this one, but I recommend reading them because they’re also really good reads.