joncronshawauthor

[joncronshawauthor]

🏰 Nearing the End of The Ravenglass Throne & Adjusting My Schedule | Author Diary – February 14, 2025 📚✨

This week has been a lighter one, as I’ve mostly been resting after a big push on Book 11 of The Ravenglass Throne over the weekend. Now, I’m onto the final novella in the series—the last stretch is in sight! I’ve also been reading The 10 Cent Plague, a fascinating history of comic books in America. It’s been a great read, full of insight into the cultural impact and controversies surrounding…

[joncronshawauthor]

Colonial Themes in Fantasy: A Deeper Look

Fantasy has long engaged with themes of conquest and resistance, from Tolkien’s hobbits facing industrialisation to modern works exploring the complexities of empire and colonisation. As I wrote The Knight and the Rebel, I became deeply immersed in these themes, examining both the machinery of conquest and the human cost of resistance. The Colonial Narrative in Fantasy Colonial narratives in…

[joncronshawauthor]

Magic, Strategy, and War in The Ravenglass Throne

A kingdom isn’t just built on steel and magic. It thrives—or falls—on the relationships that bind it together. In The Ravenglass Throne, this plays out through military might, political intrigue, and the mystical bonds that shape the future of Ostreich. The Ravenglass Network: Strength and Fragility At the centre of Ostreich’s power lies the ravenglass network. This isn’t just a tool of…

[joncronshawauthor]

Claim Your Free Copy of Shattered Kingdom – The Ravenglass Throne: Part One

The kingdom stands on the edge of ruin. The king is dead, and his daughters must fight to uncover the truth before everything crumbles. If you love epic fantasy filled with political intrigue, deadly secrets, and wyvern-riding princesses, then you won’t want to miss Shattered Kingdom—the first part of The Ravenglass Throne saga. And the best part? You can start the adventure for free…

[joncronshawauthor]

Why Dark Fantasy Heroes Maintain Their Humanity

The best dark fantasy understands that even in shadow, some lights still flicker. Characters who deal death, who walk morally grey paths, who compromise their principles – they still carry fragments of their original humanity. These remnants often manifest not in what they do, but in what they refuse to do. Soren’s Moral Anchors in Guild of Assassins My novel Guild of Assassins explores this…

[joncronshawauthor]

Beyond Magic and Swords: The Political and Academic Power in The Ravenglass Throne

Hello from Morecambe! I wanted to take a moment to share why I wrote The Ravenglass Throne. For me, this story started with a desire to see myself—and the complexities of power I’ve observed throughout my career—reflected in fantasy. Having spent time in both academia and political journalism, I’ve seen how different types of authority clash, compete, and sometimes complement each other. That…

[joncronshawauthor]

How The Ravenglass Throne Balances Magic, Politics, and Military Power

The strength of a fantasy kingdom lies not just in its armies or magic, but in the intricate web of relationships that bind it together. In The Ravenglass Throne, this is illustrated through the complex interplay of military might, political manoeuvring, and mystical bonds that form the foundation of Ostreich. The Ravenglass Network: Power and Fragility At the heart of the kingdom’s power…

[joncronshawauthor]

Epic Fantasy Bargain: The Ravenglass Chronicles Omnibus for 99c/99p or Free on Kindle Unlimited!

Kat is heir to a brutal empire… …but the last thing she wants to do is rule. On the day she’s been dreading, she faces an impossible choice—accept an arranged marriage to a man three times her age or risk war by following her heart. Torn between duty and destiny, Kat sets out on a journey to uncover the truth behind her growing magic, her father’s murder, and the empire’s buried secrets. With…

[joncronshawauthor]

🏰 Finishing The Ravenglass Throne Book 10 & What’s Next | Author Diary – February 7, 2025 📚✨

This week, I’ve finished drafting Book 10 of The Ravenglass Throne and even started on the first chapter of Book 11! With the series nearing its conclusion, I’ve also been working through edits on Book 2, which I’ll start posting on Patreon soon. As The Ravenglass Throne wraps up, I’m starting to think about what comes next. Possible projects include: Guild of Assassins, book 4 Dawn of…

[joncronshawauthor]

Exploring Moral Ambiguity in Fantasy: Why Shades of Grey Make for Better Stories

When I first discovered fantasy through works like The Hobbit and The Chronicles of Narnia, the moral lines were clearly drawn. Good characters wore white (or at least earth tones), villains wore black, and you always knew who to root for. As I’ve grown as both a reader and a writer, I’ve become increasingly drawn to stories that explore the murkier territories of morality. In The Knight and…

[joncronshawauthor]

Why We Love Reluctant Assassins in Dark Fantasy

There’s something deeply compelling about watching someone become what they once despised. The reluctant assassin – forced into darkness rather than born to it – speaks to our fears about what circumstances might make of us. Perhaps this is why these characters grip us so powerfully. They show us how anyone might walk darker paths, given the right push. Soren’s Reluctant Transformation in…

[joncronshawauthor]

🏰 Closing in on The Ravenglass Throne Book 9 & A New Idea for Guild of Assassins | Author Diary – January 31, 2025 📚✨

This week, I’ve been pushing forward with Book 9 of The Ravenglass Throne—I’m just three chapters away from finishing my first draft! The end is in sight, and I’m excited to bring this part of the story to a close. Despite my focus on The Ravenglass Throne, inspiration struck for Guild of Assassins book 4, and I couldn’t resist writing the first chapter. But for now, I need to rein myself in…

[joncronshawauthor]

Loyalty and Survival: Friendships in Dark Fantasy

Dark fantasy shows us the worst of humanity. Violence, betrayal, corruption. Yet paradoxically, these shadows often illuminate the strongest friendships. Perhaps because when the world strips everything else away, genuine connection becomes not just precious but necessary for survival. Soren and Alaric’s Unbreakable Friendship Guild of Assassins demonstrates this perfectly through Soren and…

[joncronshawauthor]

🏰 Progress on The Ravenglass Throne & Launching The Knight and the Rebel | Author Diary – January 24, 2025 📚✨

This week, I’ve made significant progress on The Ravenglass Throne series—I’m halfway through drafting Book 8, and the story is shaping up to be an intense and exciting continuation of the series. I’m also thrilled to announce the launch of The Knight and the Rebel (Ravenglass Legends, Book 3). This new release is now available, and I can’t wait for readers to dive into this thrilling tale set…

[joncronshawauthor]

Announcing the Release of The Knight and the Rebel: Ravenglass Legends Book 3!

Hello from Morecambe! The wait is over! I’m thrilled to announce the release of The Knight and the Rebel, the third instalment in the Ravenglass Legends series. In this chapter of Ragnar and Maja’s journey, the stakes have never been higher. The world teeters on the edge of chaos, as brother and sister take opposing sides in a battle that will determine the fate of their homeland. Ragnar, now…

[joncronshawauthor]

Bravery vs. Desperation: A Look at Dark Fantasy Protagonists

Traditional fantasy celebrates heroic courage, choosing to face danger for noble causes. But dark fantasy understands that sometimes what looks like bravery is really desperation. That choices made with knives at our throats aren’t really choices at all. This distinction creates protagonists who feel real precisely because their actions stem from necessity rather than nobility. Soren’s…

[joncronshawauthor]

The Ravenglass Throne (Part One) - I. Irmin

Irmin adjusted her grip on Berthold’s reins, the worn leather familiar against her calloused palms. Below, the Imperial courtyard teemed with nobles in finery, jewels catching the light amid a sea of emerald and jade. Beneath her, Berthold shifted, his muscles bunching as his scarred wings stretched wide, their black scales edged with red like cooling embers. Through their bond, she felt his…