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A Grave of Chains #1
A Grave of Chains
Bodies can be broken, but souls can be destroyed.
Kowén is a gifted sculptor whose belief in compassion and love leads him into captivity. Drawn into the orbit of a seductive illusionist who whispers love while leading him into the claws of a devil, Kowén trades freedom for belonging. What begins as protection, creativity, and desire turns into possession. Kowén is reshaped into something owned through manipulation and cruel intimacy, as love is weaponized, and autonomy is stripped away.
Inside his shattered mind, another war unfolds. Avyr, an incubus bound by mysterious purpose, wanders the ruins of Kowén’s psyche. Through frozen memories, fractured timelines, and buried pain, Avyr searches for the man lost beneath the weight of obedience and trauma. Reality fractures with illusion as angels, devils, and Death itself circle what remains of Kowén’s soul, each claiming a different right to him.
A GRAVE OF CHAINS is a queer gothic romantasy about survival when escape isn’t an option—only endurance is. Dark, intimate, and emotionally devastating, it explores brutal power dynamics, manipulation disguised as love, and the slow, agonizing fight to reclaim the self. It is told through a gay protagonist’s perspective, so often erased from stories of abuse and survival. This is a tale for readers who crave ruinous devotion, broken characters, and hope carved from suffering. This is not a tale of rescue, but of survival that refuses to die.
Kowén is a gifted sculptor whose belief in compassion and love leads him into captivity. Drawn into the orbit of a seductive illusionist who whispers love while leading him into the claws of a devil, Kowén trades freedom for belonging. What begins as protection, creativity, and desire turns into possession. Kowén is reshaped into something owned through manipulation and cruel intimacy, as love is weaponized, and autonomy is stripped away.
Inside his shattered mind, another war unfolds. Avyr, an incubus bound by mysterious purpose, wanders the ruins of Kowén’s psyche. Through frozen memories, fractured timelines, and buried pain, Avyr searches for the man lost beneath the weight of obedience and trauma. Reality fractures with illusion as angels, devils, and Death itself circle what remains of Kowén’s soul, each claiming a different right to him.
A GRAVE OF CHAINS is a queer gothic romantasy about survival when escape isn’t an option—only endurance is. Dark, intimate, and emotionally devastating, it explores brutal power dynamics, manipulation disguised as love, and the slow, agonizing fight to reclaim the self. It is told through a gay protagonist’s perspective, so often erased from stories of abuse and survival. This is a tale for readers who crave ruinous devotion, broken characters, and hope carved from suffering. This is not a tale of rescue, but of survival that refuses to die.
650 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2026
About the author
Sarah Vespertine
3 books15 followersSarah Vespertine is a self-published dark fantasy author from Sweden, writing immersive, emotionally charged stories in English. She is the author of Forged in Crimson and A Grave of Chains, novels known for their atmospheric worlds, morally gray characters, and raw explorations of trauma. Drawing from her own real-life experiences, Sarah weaves pain, resilience, and psychological depth into every story she creates.
Her love for all things cute stands in sharp contrast to her passion for heavy metal, a combination that inspires the unique tone and aesthetic of her work. When she isn’t writing, Sarah can often be found daydreaming about her next series, listening to thunderous riffs, or building worlds filled with darkness, hope, and beautifully broken heroes.
Dedicated to crafting dark fantasy for readers who crave emotional depth and vivid storytelling, Sarah continues to expand her body of work—one haunting tale at a time.
Her love for all things cute stands in sharp contrast to her passion for heavy metal, a combination that inspires the unique tone and aesthetic of her work. When she isn’t writing, Sarah can often be found daydreaming about her next series, listening to thunderous riffs, or building worlds filled with darkness, hope, and beautifully broken heroes.
Dedicated to crafting dark fantasy for readers who crave emotional depth and vivid storytelling, Sarah continues to expand her body of work—one haunting tale at a time.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 3, 2026
I’ve never wanted to rip out a books pages so much. This book made me so ANGRY, I’m saying this as a good thing. This story grabbed from its first pages. I instantly fell in love with Kowén and I was so excited to follow his journey, but oh my god it broke my heart.
I really liked how this book told both it’s stories as well. I was a bit confused about Avyr’s part there for a while. But toward the end I understood the entire timeline and how it was told throughout the book and it’s very clever and I really enjoyed it
I really liked how this book told both it’s stories as well. I was a bit confused about Avyr’s part there for a while. But toward the end I understood the entire timeline and how it was told throughout the book and it’s very clever and I really enjoyed it
April 23, 2026
This book is freezer worthy. Engaging through story and characters, you'll find yourself enthralled by what's within. Then crying as you toss the book in the freezer to cool off.
I'm ready for my second read.
I'm ready for my second read.
May 16, 2026
I can't personally relate to the gruesome abuse and mistreatment that is the theme of this book. But it is told in such a genuine and skillful way that despite my lack of understanding, it evoked deep feelings of connection, warmth and despair.
The process of little by little pushing the boundaries of tolerance is how I imagine real manipulation and breaking of a person works in reality. The story of Kowén follows this process and it feels very real and very horrible. The fantasy backdrop is very well built and a great way to tell this story, using characters of heaven and hell to lend distance from the evil cruelty of the book.
A highly recommended read.
But be warned, explicit and disturbing content.
The process of little by little pushing the boundaries of tolerance is how I imagine real manipulation and breaking of a person works in reality. The story of Kowén follows this process and it feels very real and very horrible. The fantasy backdrop is very well built and a great way to tell this story, using characters of heaven and hell to lend distance from the evil cruelty of the book.
A highly recommended read.
But be warned, explicit and disturbing content.
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May 12, 2026This is brutal-gaslighting-epic-dark-fantasy-trauma-romance
And yes! The above GIF is definitely how I worked my way through the story.
This story is NOT for the faint of heart.
But what is it?
The main character is GAY
He gets seduced and coaxed into his first love with a man. As with many relationships, it starts with green flags before turning into red traffic-light signals.
But by then it's too late, and the heart is already bound.
Soon, the entire world collapses for Kowén when devils, magic, and predictions swirl around him.
Why all this trauma?
Trust me, it serves a purpose.
As a survivor of an emotional and sexual abusive relationship, I wanted to shed light on the struggles that men also face in relationships. I support the way that we as a society have spoken up against abusive relationships, but I often feel that the male survivors' POV is still in the shadows. To me, abuse is abuse, no matter what.
Narcessists and abusers don't start with insults. They start with compliments and green flags before their sheep-clothing disappears to reveal a wolf.
BUT! There is light in this story!
While Kowén tries to survive the darkness of PTSD there are people fighting for him in a surreal landscape within his ruined mind. Avyr, an incubus, who feeds of mortals' emotions, tries to piece together who Kowén was before he fell into the hands of a devil.
There's SEX, both good green flag ones and... less so...
and.... less so... Down-right monsterous.
IT'S ABOUT SURVIVING THE DARKNESS
[image error]
So if you want emotional ripping and tearing while bittersweet with violence, gore, BDSM, magic, devils, angels, love and survival? Well, then give my story a read!
Last selling point.... IT'S ILLUSTRATED!!!!!!
And yes! The above GIF is definitely how I worked my way through the story.
This story is NOT for the faint of heart.
But what is it?
The main character is GAY
He gets seduced and coaxed into his first love with a man. As with many relationships, it starts with green flags before turning into red traffic-light signals.
But by then it's too late, and the heart is already bound.
Soon, the entire world collapses for Kowén when devils, magic, and predictions swirl around him.
Why all this trauma?
Trust me, it serves a purpose.
As a survivor of an emotional and sexual abusive relationship, I wanted to shed light on the struggles that men also face in relationships. I support the way that we as a society have spoken up against abusive relationships, but I often feel that the male survivors' POV is still in the shadows. To me, abuse is abuse, no matter what.
Narcessists and abusers don't start with insults. They start with compliments and green flags before their sheep-clothing disappears to reveal a wolf.
BUT! There is light in this story!
While Kowén tries to survive the darkness of PTSD there are people fighting for him in a surreal landscape within his ruined mind. Avyr, an incubus, who feeds of mortals' emotions, tries to piece together who Kowén was before he fell into the hands of a devil.
There's SEX, both good green flag ones and... less so...
and.... less so... Down-right monsterous.
IT'S ABOUT SURVIVING THE DARKNESS
[image error]
So if you want emotional ripping and tearing while bittersweet with violence, gore, BDSM, magic, devils, angels, love and survival? Well, then give my story a read!
Last selling point.... IT'S ILLUSTRATED!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A dark but compelling insight into the nature of abusive relationships mixed with a fantastical grim and dark world that opens up into existential and esoteric horror.
Both the author's words and the artist's images draw back to the early 90s shadow and horror resurgency and feed well into each other and makes for a read that is hard to put down and leaves the reader with a new perspective on what being a survivor actually means.
Both the author's words and the artist's images draw back to the early 90s shadow and horror resurgency and feed well into each other and makes for a read that is hard to put down and leaves the reader with a new perspective on what being a survivor actually means.
June 1, 2026
Sarah Eriksson does an amazing job in writing this book, it had that element that I was expecting from the description. I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed getting to know the characters in this. It was everything that I wanted and was glad I got to read this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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June 7, 2026Read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews