Behind the Scenes of Fantasy Politics in Shattered Thrones

Shattered Thrones was initially a dream of swords, knights, and epic high fantasy which began to morph into something a little more grounded, and noticeably less noble than the original concept. Life has always been complicated, even in the medieval period and even in a fantasy world where gryphons and vampires walk among normal people.

Me and Jay were heavily inspired by the titans who came before us; Tolkien, Jordan, Martin, and Sanderson were undeniable inspirations upon the work we've spent a long time creating. It's not an exaggeration to say that, as of posting this, October 15th, 2024, we've spent nearly 2 whole years on this project and are more likely than not going to have to spend a decade until we're satisfied with the end result.

In that spirit, let's talk about the politics of Shattered Thrones, trying to avoid too many spoilers for our novels. The setting is the northernmost tip of a country called Borough, and is where the principal action of our stories will be, though it's possible that more of the world will be uncovered the deeper into the series you go. At the start of my first novel "A Rose in the Dark", and slightly after Jay's first novella, "Heart and Blade", the North is a turbulent place with many actors in conflict.

To the south is the crown of Borough, viewed by some as inept and apathetic to their struggles, if not intentionally exacerbating it with their policies. A recent string of outrageous demands from the Mad King Aegel VI has led to the Earl Maegor Fandurm to declare a secession from Borough, sparking a violent rebellion. Meanwhile, off the western coast of the peninsula is Oppen, the last remaining colony of an ancient yet collapsing empire called Camponia. Camponia is currently engulfed in a Civil War which the protagonist of my novel, Isabel de Paladio, is fleeing. All of this sets the stage for a series of political struggles and strifes which will make up my first novel.

Currently, I am aiming for a Summer 2025 release, more blogs to follow detailing my progress as I go.

-Parker Gillett