Blutmunth

Now it's more than just a domain name. It is the first book in the Mageslayer fantasy series, with work having already commenced on books 2 to 4 as well. The primary character Ceaucescu Turner, who is in his early twenties living in the north-western city of Unsworth in the Shaunovan Empire. Centuries ago, it used to be a collection of separate, independent states, but went through a unification war, becoming the empire that it is when this series starts in the year of 1891. Shaunova is a southern hemisphere realm, roughly the size of New South Wales, and shares the large island with several other nations, including the belligerent Zapalans to their north, neutral Regavim to the south and the indifferent Central Kingdoms to the west. Mostly living in country areas are two other races, the Xur, an elven race who have been there longer than anybody else, and the Urienwohners, a dark-skinned human race that migrated from the north thousands of years ago across a land bridge.

Whilst this world has such luxuries as electricity, audio/visual entertainment and refrigeration with significant advances in science and medicine; it does not have items that we take for granted, such as automobiles, mobile telecommunication, computers, modern automatic firearms, etc. Transport, in most built up areas, apart from walking, is mainly trams, bicycles, horses and carts. Inter-city travel can be made on steam trains, WW1 era airships and paddle steamers. However, there is magic, quite a lot of it. Not everybody can use it but there are quite a few who can. Ceau is very talented, who can not only heal but cast offensive fire and metal spells as well as having mind abilities. He has had a troubled upbringing but has now found some sort of stability with service in the militia, which acts as a third-line (part-time) defensive formation.

However, things are about to change rather rapidly. The malcontent of the area, along with disenfranchised Xur and Urienwohners, are planning an uprising. There is also a 750 year-old curse which is about to rear it's ugly head once again. Ceau is going to find out the hard way what he can actually do with his special gifts.

Whilst this is Ceau's series, the first volume shall be told through multiple eyes and not just limited to Ceau and the circles he revolves in. District leaders, local and empire military officers and even the underclass shall all be featured. Readers shall be introduced to Ceau's family and friends, learn how the empire is organised, what threats there are to it and how particular government agencies work, including the secretive intelligence bureaus.

Currently, Blutmunth: A Trial by Combat, is available through Drive Thru Fiction for $4, though I do plan to put it up on Amazon Kindle as well. Whilst this series is set in a similar world to Feudball, the Blutmunth narrative is quite different and is more serious and darker. There are themes that may make readers uncomfortable, such as forced intercourse, child molestation, rape, suicide and mental illness. Combat is vicious, magic is used often, various creatures are summoned and used for various activities and the dead are not left alone either. It is not just the mortal world that gets featured in this volume, the afterlife is explored as well as the elemental planes. Becuase of all this, I felt I had to label it as having Adult Content. To access the shop page where this volume is located, you'll need a DTF account that has adult content enabled.

This book took 32 years to write and I'm glad that it finally sees the light of day. I hope you enjoy it.

21 Dec, 2025