The Connected Worlds Series (Fountains of Aescalon, The Monad Trap, and the upcoming Bubbles of Creation) are an homage to Zelazny’s Amber, Moorcock’s Tanelorn, and others, what’s generally called portal fantasy.
A network of gates links the Connected Worlds via Aescalon, a central cavern that connects them all – 165 worlds that anyone can see, billions more that only the talented can traverse.
I’m trying to avoid spoilers here – I want you to read the books and be happy with them.
The viewpoint character is Alexan. Alexan began life as sort of a ghost – a piece of someone’s consciousness that was left behind when his principal died. He has the general memory and skills of his original, who was an accomplished wizard from a culture with a large number of accomplished wizards, but not the personal memories.
The love interest is Petra. Petra was inspired by Circe from The Odyssey. Created as an immortal demigoddess in a cursed role, she’s initially a very unhappy character. She was originally supposed to have two cameos, but she stood up and told me she had a better idea, and she was right.
King Edvard I of Treemount is a former mercenary, whom Alexan supported as King after the previous ruler attacked Alexan and was slain for his efforts. His former officers and under-officers form most of the important officers of his court.
Queen Veronia is a minor wizard whom Edvard married because he got along with her better than the other candidates. Originally a rather plain woman, she has become, through studying under Alexan, accomplished enough to make both herself and her husband appear young and attractive, among many other things, but she is still within the lowest tier of wizardly power.
The catalytic action in Bubbles of Creation is an instability in one of the Connected Worlds, an occurrence that leaves Alexan scrambling because he has no idea why or how or how far the effects will go.
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