lcyruswhelchel author

Conquering Shadows by L. Cyrus Whelchel

There is no greater monster than a lack of compassion towards those in need... Still reeling from uncovered secrets that turned his life upside down, Kai Travaldi is given little reprieve when the Grand Duchess tasks his party with a new mission amid Livoria's worsening civil Deliver a formal edict to the vaunted Hunter Corps in Kai's hometown of Havenfall, marshaling them for battle. Along the way, Kai and his friends find themselves tested unlike ever before. Mysterious illnesses, a pompous noble, and the monstrous beast Grimghast harass them at every corner, while the betrayal of a trusted ally leaves a member of the party in dire condition. Further complicating matters are Kai's growing feelings for not one, but two ladies in the party, putting him on a collision course with the vast influence of the Windbringer church. As the demons of his own past loom over him, Kai's resolve is pushed to the limit. Will he fulfill his oath to protect those he holds dear? Or will he lose everything to the shadows of fear that haunt him?

Oaths of Life and Death by L. Cyrus Whelchel

Of the five faumen tribes, the cat-like Norzen are viewed as dangerous outcasts, rejected by many for the sins of their most infamous member: the heretical Cacovis. Kai is a young Norzen apothecary serving as a member of the Hunter Corps, dedicated to culling dangerous beasts which wander into the Grand Duchy of Livoria. After a hunt goes terribly wrong, Kai is left the sole survivor of his squad while a rebel faction within Livoria, the Liberation Army, desires the eradication of all faumen and fans the flames of civil war. Now on the run, Kai finds himself responsible for leading a pair of local women to safety amid the turmoil, one of whom actively mistrusts him. Joined by other outcasts on their journey, it becomes difficult to differentiate friend and foe as the Liberation Army continues its advance. Worse still, Kai remains haunted by Grimghast, the beast that killed his squad, leaving him torn between revenge and protecting his new crew. As centuries-old tensions boil over and shocking truths about his past are revealed, Kai and his rag-tag group fight to not only protect Livoria's future but also save themselves from enslavement or death.