It's exciting to see my work go out to the broader market! I'd appreciate any Amazon reviews people feel like giving, since those really help the story gain visibility.
I first started writing because I couldn’t find the exact story I wanted to read. It was an itch - I wanted an isekai story with a big mysterious world and cool, science-inspired magic. That's what Ends of Magic was supposed to be. But I'd read dozens of stories where the main character is isekaid into a fantasy world, then uses their scientific knowledge to break magic. I wanted to subvert that trope, and landed on antimagic. When I started, I really had three pillars to the story.
-Worldbuilding. I wanted a world with history far older than our own, where the deep secrets of the past are a source of tension and excitement. The best example of what I mean is The Wandering Inn.
-Isekai. My introduction to LitRPG was He Who Fights With Monsters, and I’ll never forget how the first fifty chapters of that story grabbed me.
-Science as the cheat. My favorite trope is when scientific knowledge can be used to gain power - like Ar’Kendrithyst. I built my power system from the ground up to reward deep understanding of the world, far beyond just magic.
Since then, I've been surprised at both where the story has gone and the reception it's gotten. The characters took on lives of their own, influencing the story in directions I didn't anticipate. I've really appreciated the feedback I've gotten from all of you, and I think the story and my writing in general has gotten a lot better thanks to the thoughtful advice and criticism I've received here on Royal Road.
Here’s the updated blurb for Amazon:
A scientist from another world. A mage seeking deadly knowledge. A power that could topple an empire.
Nathan's life was defined by labs and lectures until an Archmage yanked him into Davrar and made him a tantalizing offer: master magic in exchange for Earth's scientific secrets. Yet, Nathan can't shake off the feeling that darker truths lurk beneath such promises.
The world of Davrar is a dangerous place teeming with dungeons and monsters – ruled by levels, Talents, and a near-infinite progression of power. Nathan will need to rely on himself to survive, forging alliances and taking every advantage he can get against those that seek to control him.
His unique capacity to counteract magic gives him an unprecedented edge, making him a beacon of resistance against those who wield magic as a weapon of control.
Armed with intellect and an emerging power that could dismantle the very foundations of Davrar's society, Nathan emerges not as a mere student of magic, but as its ultimate adversary: the Antimage.
The cover art is by miblart. They do great work, and were so patient with me as I tweaked every little thing.
Once more, please consider leaving an Amazon review if you're so minded!