An Iridescent Light by Marie D - YA epic fantasy - August 2026
▲ 12 r/ARCReaders+2 crossposts

An Iridescent Light by Marie D - YA epic fantasy - August 2026

Blurb:

To repress is natural. To die, divine.

The Saint has been killed twice. His assassins have vanished without a trace, leaving the island of Taisala vulnerable to unnatural influence.

After a period of mourning, Raki, Yunai, and Esera have returned to Taisala to continue scout training. The events surrounding the Saint’s downfall have led them to question the dictate of repressing their emotions. Their bonds are fractured, but they’ll need each other to navigate a Scouthood tightening its control over Taisala. And tensions flare further as a suspected unnatural person is coerced into joining their ranks.

The cadets must come together and confront the Scouthood’s teachings to uncover Taisala’s newest unnatural crisis—the rise of people with dying spirits. As they gather in secret for reasons unknown, their existence threatens everything the Scouthood stands for.

With newfound convictions, the cadets must make a choice. Abandon their emotions and let the spirits surrender to oblivion, or save them by connecting with their humanity—and betraying the Scouthood.

Posts without a list of potential triggers will automatically be deleted, no exceptions. If your book doesn't have any triggering content, please add the line "Triggers: None" under your blurb. Yes, you must still include the trigger line even if there are no triggers in your story!

Triggers:
- mentions of death by suicide
- alcoholism
- mentions of family abuse/domestic violence and torture
- institutionalization and abuse of people perceived as unable to control their emotions
- graphic violence
- graphic descriptions of body, horror of monstrous, animal like creatures, referred to as “zonbi”

Publication date: August 13, 2026

ARCs will be sent week of July 13

Reviews expected August 11

Sign up here! https://forms.gle/CWwTRL4Cbvpd2wnAA

u/writingwithwings — 3 days ago

Looking for Cuban, Samoan, Caddo readers + readers with lived experience of being institutionalized for mental health

I’m seeking sensitivity readers/consultants for a ya fantasy series set in a secondary world. The series features an ensemble cast of characters from said cultures (as well as my own - Sierra Leone). I would especially love to work with a Cuban sensitivity reader with knowledge of their internationalism efforts across the African continent. The book is not about that, but it is inspiration for some of the themes in the series (solidarity to achieve shared goals of liberation etc).

I am also looking to connect with someone with a lived experience of being institutionalized for mental health reasons.

Would appreciate any interest or any connections anyone may have!

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u/writingwithwings — 26 days ago