Finding Wildfire

by Babs Rudlin

Every night, a nameless man burns in Elara’s nightmares, his ecstatic smile haunting her sleep. But the true terror begins when the fire from her dreams starts breaking into the waking world.

In the oppressive confines of Blackwood Manor, Elara lives under the iron fist of her tyrannical uncle, Julian, who rules the family and the village through fear and control. Like the rest of her clan, Elara possesses a magical bond with a loyal canine familiar and an aura that shifts with her deepest emotions. Yet lately, the vibrant light of her beloved grandmother is dangerously fading, matching a sinister decay creeping through their home.

Driven by an inescapable dread, Elara searches for answers and uncovers an ancient, leather-bound book with no title. To her horror, the blank pages ignite with living wildfire, spelling out secrets in charred letters that reveal Julian is ritualistically draining her grandmother’s life force. When her impulsive younger brother Zack vanishes into the treacherous lands beyond the village to track a mysterious stranger, Elara has no choice but to venture into the unknown to save him.

Julian’s dark, ash-binding magic is reaching its devastating peak, and he will stop at nothing to secure total submission from the clan. As Elara and Zack are drawn into the path of Mace—a legendary protector with secrets of his own—the family is thrust into a desperate fight for survival. Julian's guards are closing in, and the stolen power humming in the air is primed for a final, catastrophic ritual that requires the Blackwood children as its ultimate fuel.

If Elara cannot master her own hidden power and break the magical cage surrounding her family, Julian will extinguish her grandmother’s soul, claim the wildfire for himself, and plunge the entire realm into permanent shadow.

Finding Wildfire is the gripping first book in Chronicles of Ascendia, a detailed fantasy world featuring strong emotional stakes, magical animal familiars, and a dark, low-spice mystery perfect for readers who love deep world-building and character-driven suspense.

395 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 30, 2026

About the author

Babs Rudlin is an award-winning fantasy author (small awards, but awards nonetheless) dedicated to crafting immersive, low-spice worlds filled with deep mystery, captivating mythical creatures, and rich, character-driven stakes. She is the author of the ebook The Weaver's Gambit and of her highly anticipated debut fantasy novel, Finding Wildfire, scheduled for release on 30 July 2026.

Babs’s short fiction has achieved critical acclaim, earning third place in the Station Books Writing Contest and first place in the PING Anthology, where she was incredibly proud to win ARC reader accolades for 'Creepiest Story' and 'Personal Favourite' for Early Access. Her work is also featured in the upcoming autumn 2026 anthology, The Queen Arrayed in Gold and Other Myths and Legends.

When she isn't weaving intricate plots or building fantastical worlds, Babs can be found writing from her home in Essex, UK, usually accompanied by her two miniature schnauzers, who serve as excellent (if occasionally distracting) writing assistants.

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Reviews

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a story of familial love, the trials that come with coming of age, and overcoming abuse and cruelty at the hands of those who should care for you.

I loved the dog familiars, a really unique twist on the usual magic familiar, and the characters felt real and relatable. The writing is rich with beautiful prose and vivid description.

[J. S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pacts made. The lives of babies traded. Secrets hidden and revealed. Although this fantasy novel is seemingly aimed at a YA audience, it does dip into darker territory, with an antagonist who is thoroughly amoral and unpleasant - and, in classic storytelling fashion, also the female protagonist’s uncle. Elara, together with her brother, a pack of canine familiars, and her clan, must stand against his utterly vile machinations. Add in a few surprises, including the true origin of the main characters, and you end up with an interesting fantasy yarn. Unlike many other fantasy books, the conflict does not span kingdoms or continents. It begins in a village and ends in the same village, though along the way the curtains are gradually drawn back on the mysteries of the world of Ascendia. And amid the larger heroic story, there is also a welcome touch of humour when Elara finally meets her pompous little spirit guardian. That one probably deserves a story of its own.

[Elizabeth King · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you @ ashley indie house for the arc 🩷

okay, this wasn’t bad. it had great bones and good ideas; however, it needs another couple rounds of edits and a quick lesson in show vs. tell. overall, i could get through it and i was rooting for zack and elara, so that’s what really matters