A Key for a Key

The Espa Chronicle #1

by Kerry Stinnet

Epic Fantasy. A bit of Grimdark. A touch of romance. Deep characters, big plots, and sword & sorcery. Welcome to the Espa Chronicle! Espa Chronicle 1 will stay at .99c to attract new readers to the massive series!

In this gripping prelude to the Espa Chronicle, Peela, a fiery witch from the unforgiving wastes of the Val E Naa, sets out on a perilous quest to retrieve a key that unlocks the path to her people’s lost legacy. Her journey leads her to Bordertown, a chaotic Raakonian settlement teeming with danger, intrigue, and those who view her kind as savages.

There, Peela forges a fragile alliance with a cunning pawnbroker and a deadly, enigmatic swordsman. Together, they conspire to outwit a Grimm Knight—a soldier of the empire that destroyed her people—into relinquishing an artifact of immense power that he doesn’t even realize he possesses.

Blending high-stakes adventure, gripping fantasy, forbidden romance, and visceral conflict, A Key for a Key is a thrilling tale of survival, deception, and reclaiming what was lost.

This is the first book of the nine book series, The Espa Chronicle.

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 27, 2025

About the author

I started writing back in 2006, and under my real name I have several traditionally published nonfiction works. I took the leap onto eBooks in 2017. I write for fun, and to put my kids through college. If you like epic fantasy, elements of low, romantic, high, dark, grimdark fantasy, and rich world building, I think my writing has something to offer! I hope people will enjoy my stories. This is 100% a pseudonym, and I don't want my real life to intersect with my writing. The two are *very* separate.

--The World of the Thinlands—
This is my Low Fantasy, Grimdark world that is characterized by one main race, with a few smaller more mysterious races, magic that is rare and not understood, nations that rise and fall as Kings and Queens die in wars that ravage the land. In this world I also write more in 1st POV, and it can be a little spicier, and bloodier. This is my preferred world to write in post 2025. The main work of this world is The Ashfyre Quintet, five longform epic fantasy books that serve as the foundation for the world, weighing in at 1.5 million words. By 2028 I plan to have around a dozen books released in this world.

--The World of Espa--
This is my High Fantasy world that is characterized by multiple races, magic that is interwoven into everyday life, sword and sorcery, thousands of years of history spanning multiple nations. In this world I write predominantly in 3rd POV, and all of the series are interlocking and build upon each other. The first series of this world is The Espa Chronicle, and the largest series of this world is The Freebooters which details the lives of a mercenary company. There are 30 books as of 2025 in the World of Espa.

All of my work is available on Amazon KDP and you can also find me on Royal Road!

Reviews

[Kason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the series on Reddit and I must say it was a real gym in the Kindle dust bin of books. What I liked most about it was it had a really strong female protagonist a compelling plot and it wanted to me to read the next eight books in the series and I did and it was worth it.

[Madison Lattimore]

There is a calmness in the writing that I appreciated right away—the author doesn't rush anything or try too much at once. Whenever personal experience was mentioned as guidance instead of prescription, those parts echoed my own feelings most honestly.

[Melany Teets]

Starts off seeming simple then gradually resonates—I found myself pausing between paragraphs just to soak in certain lines since their meaning grew over time. Left feeling hopeful once I finished turning pages before bed one evening last month.

[Rita Lasky]

I read this over a quiet weekend and finished with no notes needed—just small actions worth repeating next week! And while there isn’t much novelty here if you’ve read other similar authors before, sometimes steadiness wins.

[Asia Richman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The strongest parts are the small practical moments tucked near everyday situations—in some ways reserved compared with louder self-help guides I've come across—but ultimately warm-hearted support shines through where it's needed.

[Barbara Gale]

Reading bits here and there during coffee breaks worked well since short stories got right to the point without wasting words. Practical examples made it surprisingly useful even with little time between tasks.

[Shihab Khan]

Some chapters worked better for me than others; mostly practical tips cut through quicker than broader ideas did. Still finished with new reasons not to give up on routines I'm already trying day-to-day—so that's always worthwhile in my opinion.

[Alura Jensen]

The advice lands best when it stays simple, which reminded me of lessons I've tried (and failed) to keep up with during busy weeks. One thing stood out: small changes here genuinely feel manageable without any hint of grandiosity.

[TF_001 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fun prelude to the Espa Chronicle. Must read series

[Jeana Parsons]

Message isn’t complicated; reading sessions slipped seamlessly between errands—which probably helped certain routines finally seem doable in real-time even when energy was running low.

[Leesa Crew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The message is not complicated, and that is mostly a strength because sometimes direct encouragement lands better without too many twists or metaphors woven through every page—a few bits did feel repetitive by halfway though never enough to distract from what landed well overall.

[Tom Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable first book. A little shorter than I’m used to for fantasy. Found the author on RR. The story itself is pretty straightforward, not a lot of twists or turns- but it’s a fun read and the characters are dynamic. Intresting enough to go to the second book of 9- which is a lot.

[Viva Ortegon · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, the value was in the reminders more than the surprises. After reading at night before bed, it’s clear this sits longer in memory because it doesn’t shout or insist on being clever—and sometimes that's its strength.