NEW BOOK RELEASE: Synwyr by C. W. Clayton

Hello readers! I have just released Synwyr, the third book in the Highmoor series. It is available now on Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DCSN2FR5), so you can either buy a copy for £2.99, or read it for free on Kindle Unlimited. Maps for the book are available on my website (cwclaytonauthor.co.uk), where you’ll also find concept art and a page for providing feedback.

For those of you who haven’t read the first two books, the title is a reference to a character with magical powers so revered that they have earned their own name (somewhere in between a Kwisatz Haderach and a mistborn, for those well-versed in fantasy). This is the book where magic transitions from being a useful tool to being an integral part of understanding the world and its history.

Book description (as seen on Amazon):

A great unease has settled upon the world. On the surface, the empire appears to have scored another success, yet the Emperor is increasingly fearful of being undermined. Eddie’s magic powers are growing, drawing threats from all sides, while Joseph, Norbert and Nia are each discovering the extents of their own abilities, only to be faced with difficult decisions over how they should be used. Ever since they stumbled out of the Highmoor forest, the world has been changing. Dragons are returning to the mountains, ancient weapons are being freed from beneath the earth, and plans are being laid to overturn empires. People in the west are talking of trolls, spotted for the first time in hundreds of years. The goblins are roaming further than usual, and the dwarves are claiming that the rocks don’t sing like they used to. The air whispers of impending chaos, but nobody can predict how or when it will arrive. Faced with a long journey home, the Highmoor party can only hope to get back safely, before all hell breaks loose.

How does Synwyr fit into the series?

Synwyr is the third book out of four. The first book, Highmoor, was relatively self-contained, and served to introduce characters and concepts, laying the foundations for the rest of the series. The second book, Sylvre, saw our characters travelling across the world, learning more about its geopolitics and history. In my mind, Sylvre is focussed on the protagonists discovering their place in the wider world, and dealing with the demands of people around them – not always successfully – whereas in Synwyr, the protagonists finally find their feet. No longer are they trying to deflect or absorb the punches that the world throws at them: this is the book where they start fighting back.

What’s new and exciting?

Like the previous instalments in the series, Synwyr is split into four parts, introduced through the perspective of a character who resides outside the personal dramas of the protagonists. This time, we get to see the world through the eyes of Emli, an elf who was displaced from her home by events at the end of the previous book (apologies for minor spoilers). If you thought the first two books were very human-centric, you’ll be happy to know that all seven hallowed species feature in Synwyr, and they’ll all be playing major roles from now on.

Our characters visit new places (dwarvish cities, goblin territories, the sea) and learn more about the world (elvish customs, dragon reproductive cycles, troll life expectancies). The undercurrent of impending doom is growing stronger, and this, of course, is building towards the final entry in the series. The theme might be a little less “epic fantasy” from here on out. We’re wading into something weirder and wilder.

What next?

I will probably release a new edition of Highmoor in the next few months, fixing a number of minor spelling and grammar errors that have been brought to my attention by eagle-eyed readers (thank you). I also want to share some more concept art, especially of the characters – but I won’t dare to put a timeframe on this. I’m about to start a new job, and I anticipate being suddenly very busy. That being said, I will keep working on the first draft of the fourth book whenever I can, and I will share updates when I remember.

Also, there is a free book weekend coming up! That will happen on the August bank holiday in the UK, and I will send out reminders nearer the time. Even if you have bought my books previously, the free book weekend is a good opportunity to get the latest release with spelling errors amended, without paying for my silly mistakes (apologies).

Things you can do to support me:

Buy my books! They are all available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/C.-W.-Clayton/author/B09YZXSQ3D). This is my hobby, not my job, and the money goes towards supporting this website and any future creative endeavours.

Write book reviews! It doesn’t matter if they’re really short. Leaving a little review boosts engagement, and it can be as brief as “really enjoyed this” or “now I know what the Pennines would look like if witches and dragons lived there.” If you can’t write a review, just leave a star rating.

Follow my Amazon Author page! You’ll get updates whenever I publish something new, but this is really just a popularity metric that helps authors navigate the publishing world. There is a button at the end of my page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/C.-W.-Clayton/author/B09YZXSQ3D.

Subscribe to this blog! Then you get can emails whenever I post anything.

Get in touch! My website has a place to provide feedback (https://cwclaytonauthor.co.uk/get-in-touch/). This can be spelling errors from my books, general comments, or ideas for blog posts.

Follow the Facebook page! This is just another way to get notifications for posts. Anything that appears on here also appears on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CWClayton). It’s also another way to get in touch.

In summary…

I have a new book out, and I’d love to hear what you think of it. Make sure that you read the other two first, or it won’t make much sense. Next week I’ll be discussing my recent holiday in Scotland, so look forward to that. Happy reading, and have a lovely week!