The Grimdark Epic Fantasy Book To Destroy Yourself With (In The Best Way)
A realm starved of magic. A blade destined to take heads. An oath bound in poison.
Welcome to the gritty, atmospheric realm of Alchemight and my debut novel in my multiverse of feminine rage.
In 2022, I published my debut in Wrathos, my multiverse of feminine rage. For Mist and Tar is a grimdark, epic fantasy novel. The first book in the Alchemight Duology, you will (or maybe you already have) embark on a painful, tragic journey of freedom and the fight for power.
Today, I hope to convince you to read it before its sequel, For Blood and Flame, releases in 2024. If you've already read it, then I humbly ask you to leave a written review on Amazon. My goal is to reach 100 written reviews before the sequel's release!
"A broken weapon is still a weapon. It may only need to be wielded closer to the chest and with less forgiveness."
— For Mist and Tar
Vellene Winloc, heiress to boundless power, faces a grim choice under her father's oppressive rule: beheading or submission. In a desperate bid for freedom, she flees through impoverished streets, pursued relentlessly until a mysterious and captivating Golem, a man made of clay desperate to free himself of his chains, intervenes.
***All rights reserved to the original copyright owners of the music and clips in this video. Text and voiceover belong to me.
Freedom has a cost. In this realm, it’s in the mist of souls and the blood of tar. Stab yourself and burn, let an enemy take your head and place it on a pedestal, or abide by magic and return to the abyss. How much would you be willing to sacrifice?
"As an avid epic fantasy reader, and as someone who loved both comps for this book (The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue; Mistborn), I was BLOWN AWAY. "
- Review curtesy of RunaReadsBooks on GoodReads
Answering Your Most Common Questions Without Spoilers
You label For Mist and Tar as "grimdark", but I'm unfamiliar with that subgenre. How is it any different from "dark" fantasy?
Grimdark stories have a root in reality. In For Mist and Tar, that root is in the mental health and emotionally devastating consequences of power. Dark fantasy is a broad genre. Sometimes the darkness refers to specific tropes or plot points. With grimdark stories, the subgenre promises a gritty atmospheric quality in every aspect of the story, beginning, middle, and end, which leads well into the next question.
![Quotes From "For Mist and Tar" by Jinapher J. Hoffman](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2138af87-93b0-4720-b240-d6c220a7ce1e_1080x1080.png)
![Quotes From "For Mist and Tar" by Jinapher J. Hoffman](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F313f61cb-3cea-4d58-94a7-8183cf16af8f_1080x1080.png)
![Quotes From "For Mist and Tar" by Jinapher J. Hoffman](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9aec3f6b-d24a-40d8-9bc0-108d238c0197_1080x1080.png)
![Quotes From "For Mist and Tar" by Jinapher J. Hoffman](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F29f6d2df-b876-4264-912c-2f931d34f555_1080x1080.png)
![Quotes From "For Mist and Tar" by Jinapher J. Hoffman](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9b80d38-184b-46c3-a551-7d2c5813cb0c_1080x1080.png)
![Quotes From "For Mist and Tar" by Jinapher J. Hoffman](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7f029a8d-0069-453a-9ba4-54604f05498c_1080x1080.png)
Does For Mist and Tar have a happy ending?
I get this question on nearly every video regarding the painful quality of the duology as a whole. This is very complicated to answer, because the definition of a 'happy ending' is entirely subjective depending on the reader.
What I can say, without spoilers, is the characters technically get what they want by the end of the book. Is it happy? Again, this is a grimdark novel. Nothing about the plot really points toward happy, but that does have a reason.
For Mist and Tar prominently focuses on depression, anxiety, addiction, and PTSD. For me, when it comes to my mental health, surviving isn't about the happiest of endings. It's about finding the calm and happiness in the small moments, no matter how life may turn out. I approach all my stories with a similar perspective.
So, is there a happily ever after? No. But is there happy? Always. You may need to squint to find it, but it's there. In their smiles, their jokes, and their ability to keep moving forward.
Okay, let's do one more big question.
Can you explain why your comp titles are so different?
YES. So, my comp titles for For Mist and Tar are:
The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue - V.E. Schwab has a very lyrical feel to her writing, something I feel my style shares. I use this book as a comp not for the plot, but for the way the writing sits in emotion. It's very character-driven, and For Mist and Tar certainly has that quality.
Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson is a master at creating complex magic systems. Plus, he's a relatively prolific writer building his own multiverse. The comp of Mistborn to For Mist and Tar comes from both of these places. Sanderson is also well-known for having slower novels that tend to snowball in the last pages. I would say that's For Mist and Tar to a tee.
This is the kind of book you want to curl up with. A comfort blanket is required, and please be advised of the content warnings listed on the Amazon summary.
GOODLUCK, friend. You're going to need it. But the real question is: did I convince you to take For Mist and Tar off of your TBR? Tell me in the comments! If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to ask. Maybe I’ll make you an entire, in-depth guide.
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