I’ve been hard at work on my upcoming gaslamp fantasy, The Chosen One Con, and I’m pleased to announce that we’re releasing it on 1st September, 2026!
You can now preorder The Chosen One Con on Amazon, but we’ll also be launching on Kobo, Itch.io and other online stores.
Thanks to a successful crowdfund campaign on Backerkit and the support of readers, The Chosen One Con is in its final stretch of edits and will be made available for crowdfund backers a month early. Missed the campaign and don’t want to wait until September? Apply for an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy)!
But what’s this new book all about?
The Chosen One Con is the first book in the Lost in the Aether duology—a gaslamp fantasy of industrial magic in a world of designer enchantments and celebrity-branded potions. This is a queer adult book containing strong language and mature themes that some readers may find disturbing. View the full list of content warnings.
Here’s what you can look forward to in The Chosen One Con:
- Industrial magic origins!
- Potions and enchantments with various magical effects!
- Oi mate, you got a loicence for that magic?
- Magical TV shows!
- Celebrity mages who are (mostly) assholes!
- Characters that love to swear!
- An MC that really loves magic (and sex!)
- An MC that really hates magic (and sex?)
- A trans girl POV that is the most sensible character actually.
- A chosen one prophecy… but is it real??
- A contest featuring magical trials that don’t end well.
- Surprising deaths!
- Revolutionary plots!
- Who really killed the most powerful Archon of the city?
- What IS aether? Seems a bit… Eldritch…
- Drug-fuelled hallucinations of an old TV star!
- It’s queer as fuck, naturally!
Sound intriguing? Here’s what beta readers had to say about the book:
“Holy fuck. That was one hell of an intro. I’m hooked, no questions asked.”
“Congrats, I’ve choked on my tea.”
“Max is so dramatic. I love it.”
“FFS, Max you fucking idiot.”
“Lyle is so great. Seriously. You’ve written two brilliant characters. I love how alike and completely different they are.”
“I love how much he hates pineapple.”
“Oh Jesus, shit is escalating rapidly.”
“AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”
I’m proud of this book and can’t wait to invite you into Aefenhold. Don’t forget to preorder The Chosen One Con on Amazon and you can also add it to your Goodreads!
