The Heretic's Reflection: A Duology

Two Dusk and Dawn Novels by James D. Mills

HOW DO YOU RISE WHEN ALL IS LOST?

After her husband’s murder, Neryth and her brother Iason seek refuge in a cathedral on the edge of haunted forest—only to find themselves trapped in a deadly web of restless spirits, undead knights, and a sinister church conspiracy. Forced to confront dark powers and their own shattered pasts, they must unite to reclaim what was lost. THE HERETIC'S REFLECTION is an intimate epic fantasy where only the resolute endure the night.

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For Readers

The Old Empire of Kaldea. As she stands in the one-hundred and thirty years after Arrival.

Illustrated by Eden Louisa, my wonderful wife and creative partner.

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THE HERETIC'S REFLECTION is composed of two books: What Lies Below and Those Left Behind.

After her husband’s murder and the destruction of her ancestral home, Neryth flees alongside her brother Iason, a grave-tender and war-weary veteran. Though she once rejected her mother’s mystical teachings, fell circumstance tempts her to embrace the very darkness she sought to abandon in order to survive.

Granted unlikely refuge in a stunning cathedral on the edge of a haunted forest, Neryth and Iason fear they might have fallen deeper into the hands of conspiracy—their sanctuary was arranged by the ever-plotting High Vicar Agustin. Haunted by restless spirits, undead knights, and buried secrets, the siblings find themselves trapped in a paranormal nightmare.

To protect their home and reclaim their fractured lives, Neryth and Iason must face their grief, set aside old wounds, and stand united against an oppressive church intent on erasing their culture. WHAT LIES BELOW is an intimate gothic fantasy where only the resolute will survive the night.

Fans of Steven Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen and Guy Gavriel Kay’s The Lions of Al-Rassan will appreciate Mills’s deep psychological insight and richly grounded worldbuilding. Prepare to be captivated by the gripping opening of The Heretic’s Reflection duology!

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FAQ

Question 1: Do I need to read Ashen Rider to understand What Lies Below?

Ashen Rider was written as a standalone book. While I intended for it to be the preface to my following books, it is not required reading to enjoy What Lies Below.

Likewise, The Heretic's Reflection Duology (What Lies Below and Those Left Behind) is written to stand on its own while providing a window to further stories told in the world of Dusk and Dawn.

This being said, I highly recommend reading Ashen Rider first. It is a short novel, just above novella length and free to read online.

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Question 2: Will the Dusk and Dawn Books Be Interconnected?

I'm tired of endless fantasy series. I think a lot of readers are too. The Heretic's Reflection is the intended start point for my main spread of novels set in the world of Dusk and Dawn, but every book that follows will stand on their own.

That being said, my books reward reading the entire spread. Those who read the short stories and other books will find nods and easter eggs in unexpected places. I enjoy books that reward rereading while not gatekeeping entry.

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Question 3: What sets Dusk and Dawn apart from other Fantasy?

Psychology. While studying writing in college, I elected to minor in psych. I fell in love with the science of the human mind, a passion I share with my late mother. I began writing WLB after she passed away from brain cancer. That experience, watching someone I love wither away so entirely, left a permanent mark on me.

The lessons I learned through my grief, through rebuilding my life in the aftermath of previously unimaginable pain, are all present in my fantasy—and that begins with WLB. The characters of Dusk and Dawn are people first. They care about their families. They fail. Miserably. They pick themselves back up and try again.

If you want grounded fantasy that gives a shit about humanity, you're in the right place.

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Details and Metadata

ISBN (Paperback):

ISBN (Hardcover):

ISBN (eBook):

Page count: 170 (What Lies Below), 220 (Those Left Behind)

Series: The Heretic's Reflection: A Duology, Dusk & Dawn.

Size: 5.5" x 8.5"

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Gothic Fantasy

BISAC Categories: FIC009070 FICTION/Fantasy/Dark Fantasy; FIC009020 FICTION/Fantasy/Epic

Tropes: war-torn world, heroic despair, moral ambiguity, brutal violence & consequence, reluctant caregiver, grieving widow, secret legacy, tragic mentor, post-imperial politics, religious factions and political intrigue, regulated magic, old magic, forbidden knowledge, ritualistic death magic, slave rebellions, civil unrest, gothic horror, road-to-ruin, broken but unbowed heroine, nobledark