SHOP: "For Mist and Tar" by Jinapher J. Hoffman
Reading Order: Wrathos: Era of Awakening 1; Alchemight Duology 1
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Quick Facts: For Mist and Tar by Jinapher J. Hoffman
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“For Mist and Tar” is currently available in eBook, Paperback, and Stamped Hardcover. An audiobook is in production! Please join my mailing list for when it releases if you’d rather read this through your earbuds:
I Need More Convincing…
A realm starved of magic. A blade destined to take heads. An oath bound in poison.
Welcome to Alchemight.
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.
Yet, salvation is short-lived. An assassin's blade threatens her newfound liberty, and Vellene finds herself ensnared in an unbreakable death oath. Forced back into the clutches of her monstrous father, she must wear the mask of the obedient daughter.
A treacherous game of loyalty begins, and a rival risen from the dead, marked in scars and secrets, may be her only way free. But in a realm where everyone is starved for power, is anyone trustworthy?
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?
For Vellene — everything, anything.
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Content Warnings: Dismemberment and Beheadings; Enslavement and Imprisonment; On-Page Hangings; Physical Abuse to a Minor; Domestic Violence; Heavy Imagery Related to Mental Illness, including but not limited to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related to War and Parental Abuse, Anxiety, and Depression; Characters with Suicidal Tendencies; Self-Mutilation; General Gore and Violence; Morally Grey Characters; Murder, and finally, Tragic Backstories and a General Tragic Atmosphere. In a realm starved of magic, power is the ultimate strength. The price? Your soul.
Dedication: To those who understand what it is to be desperate for a home, for safety, and to be treasured.
No matter the cost.
No matter the blood.
No matter the scars.
Because to fight is to live. To live is to fight.
Alchemight is for you.
Where Does FMAT Fall in Wrathos, My Multiverse of Feminine Rage?
Wrathos: Era of Awakening Book 1
Alchemight Duology Book 1
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For Mist and Tar (FMAT) was my debut as an indie author in 2022, though it was completed in 2020. While it doesn’t have major multiverse lore in it (this is sprinkled in as books are published, flourishing as we dive deeper), it is a great introduction to my personal writing style.
FMAT has an intense focus on emotion. The feminine rage in this book is born of quiet resilience with a female main character brought up in abuse. She struggles as many victims often do to claim her voice, to find who she is when she isn’t in pieces. In her meekness, Vellene Winloc can read unlikeable at times, her desperation uncomfortable to read. As readers, we root for her fierceness.
We want her to see the light, but as this is a grimdark, tragic novel with a sequel on the way, her character is slow to realize her strength. Vellene isn’t born a badass. She’s born among tyranny, a human shield for her mother and sister, and has it ingrained in her mind to obey men. Over the course of the novel, we see her find ‘sparks’ of her voice, a rage deeply nestled within her gut. No spoilers here, but based on the conclusion of the novel, you can expect a complete awakening of that rage in the upcoming sequel, For Blood and Flame.
On top of this, Vellene is only seventeen in book one. Most of the main characters are between the ages of 17 and 30. The setting is a realm starved of magic, stricken by poverty and/or war. Most chemi don’t live long, if at all. Vellene’s naivety and innocence certainly comes from her age but also (due to her upbringing among wealth) from the POV of someone blinded into obeying. For Mist and Tar is her first step into true womanhood, shedding that innocence, and finding her voice among the darkness.
Though please note this is certainly an adult novel, despite the character’s ages, due to the grimdark tones and themes.
Keep in mind this is from my perspective as the author. Reading is completely subjective, and I encourage you to read with abandon. Sink yourself into this story. Don’t speed read it. My writing style in this book isn’t meant to be binged. You most certainly can do so if you’d like, but I don’t recommend it. Once you get through a couple of chapters, you’ll find my writing has a cadence, almost like a beat to a song or ‘lyrical’ in nature (at least, this is what my readers have told me). Latch to that beat and follow it through.
The Origins of The Queens of Fury and Death
At its core, For Mist and Tar is an origin story as all books within Wrathos: Era of Awakening will be. The more books of mine you read, the more connections will be made. Many characters in these books have arcs that carry-over not only in their series but across others.
I constantly promote For Mist and Tar as the first taste of both Fury and Death (and I do mean taste). Both queens fully awaken in the sequel, For Blood and Flame, which is also Wrathos Book 5. There is an entire trilogy belonging to the Queen of Fate between these two books, and it is recommended you read For Mist and Tar, Veil of Fate, Heir of Fate, and Wars of Fate prior to For Blood and Flame.
I lay out the reading order each time I publish a new book. I will always label my books with their Wrathos Order and their Series. See, we’ve got 5 queens rising across different realms. Each of them get their own origin stories, but eventually they will all come together in one book. Starting at the end of Wars of Fate, you get your first cameo. In For Blood and Flame, you get multiple.
I know it can feel overwhelming, but I promise, if you follow the reading order, you don’t have to worry. It will all start to unfold and fall into place. I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend subscribing to my newsletter. Each week, I send my readers anything from free books to full guides on magic systems. It’s basically you’re one-stop for all things Wrathos.
Answering Common Alchemight FAQs
The following Wrathos books posts further explore Alchemight. If you’re looking to dig further, then maybe check these out:
If You Enjoy FMAT, please remember to leave a written review on GoodReads and Amazon
While I don’t read my reviews to keep the space as safe and unbiased as possible for my readers, I do keep an eye on how many reviews are left, as well as the overall rating. That number can make a huge difference for me as a small, indie author. Even if it’s only a couple of words left with your star rating, it can truly help! So, if you have a couple minutes after you finish reading, be sure to leave one. That way, I can continue to publish within this multiverse, and we can continue to bring in new readers.
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Video reviews are the best way to support me, especially on BookTok! Word-of-mouth is a free, epic way to spread awareness for a book. If you’re a BookToker or Bookstagrammer, I encourage you to make a video review if you enjoyed the book. You never know when a video could go viral and not only boost my book but also boost your own account.
If you’re looking for a boost in your review to other readers, tagging me is useful if you want me to repost it to my story! When you invite me into your review space, I’m happy to listen. Just please understand I get hundreds of notifications on my social media platforms (especially TikTok) each day, and sometimes I’m unable to sort through all of them in a timely manner. Please be patient with me, and please don’t tag me in any kind of spam, hate, or negativity.
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