Adventures in Levena

Trope Time – Immortal and Witch

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A graphic featuring an ebook cover of Phantom and Rook by Aelina Isaacs. Text captions surround the cover describing different tropes. 'Have we met before?' 'Hunt based on the secret' 'Magic Tattoos' 'I won't forget you again.' 'Grumpy Owl' 'Immortal x Hedge Witch' 'Retired Hero, Now What?' 'Found Family'

Phantom and Rook is a queer urban fantasy romance following a retired hedge witch and a mysterious immortal that is cursed to be forgotten by all those who know and love him.

We have found family, magical tattoos, starting over later in life, and lots of healing. It is the first in a series, a toe dip into the magical world of Levena and all of its mysteries.

Phantom and Rook’s ebook is free at (most) of your favorite retailers, and is also available in paperback and audio.

Vampstar 2.0

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A graphic captioned Vampstar. There is an illustration of Proteus Xlato, a smug looking being wearing glasses and a celestial necklace. They have tousled hair, and an arched eyebrow. An excerpt beneath is “The discovery of celestial bodies is a personal favorite of mine.” A warm voice offers instead, along with a healthy dose of suggestion. “I’m afraid that discussion may have to wait until after, however,” the stranger says, breaking me out of my critical fugue. “Unless you need assistance with teaching, as well?”'

The sassy new professor who loves to show skin and has a bit of an attitude problem, Proteus Xlato is unlike any of the love interests we’ve encountered in Levena thus far. I am thoroughly enjoying the catty dynamic between our grumpy vampire, and this new mysterious new professor.

Vampstar

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A graphic captioned Vampstar, featuring an illustration of Archeon Mochizuki illustrated by Crossroad Art. Another caption beneath reads. “I am Dr. Archeon Mochizuki.” I announce to the room at large, marking my name across the chalkboard in a quick and efficient looping script. I underline my name with a harsh slash, then turn. Students watch me, eyes wide and ready to devour.“And if memory serves correctly, you are here to learn astrophysics. Not the nuances of my personal life. If you find yourself in the wrong class, now is the time to leave.”

I am back to indulging myself with this grumpy vampire and his newly appointed rival, my favorite sassy star.

Mochizuki and Xlato is the story of When A Vampire Falls in Love With a Star, and involves an overambitious professor and the mysterious stranger determined to upend his life.

Art by Crossroad Art

Hitting Stretch Goals and Tugging Heartstrings

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The Voice of Wild Places poster illustrated by Benedetta Massaro

Thank you to everyone who has backed the Kickstarter, it is now fully funded ! 

Not only that, but we have hit our first stretch goal, a short story that takes place after The Voice of Wild Places, and there is a chance we may reach the second one, a special edition hardback!

Despite my Big Feelings about all this love for the Kickstarter, I have already set to work on the short story, it feels so good to be with these characters again. Yes, I know we haven’t been separated for that long, but it still feels like coming home.

Speaking of coming home, I wanted to take a moment to talk about the Adventures in Levena books, which some people added to your pledge. It is cozy season after all, which is what these books feel like. There is some angst as characters heal and face the past, but they are overwhelming wholesome and romantic.

Arlo Rook, art by trxxvon_ on IG
Thatch Phantom, art by trxxvon_ on IG
Lindsey and Kitt, illustrated by Benedetta Massaro
Quentin and Elochian, illustrated by Foxglove Faun

There are currently two novels and two novellas out, each book follows a different couple. The first novella has multiple perspectives, and an interesting first half that technically takes place after all the books. It’s an immortal thing, you know?

The third book, Mochizuki and Xlato, comes out in October of next year. Illustrated by Crossroad Art, the same artist who we hopefully will have for the special hardback of The Voice of Wild Places!

Mochizuki and Xlato, illustrated by Crossroad Art
Archeon, illustrated by Crossroad Art
Proteus, illustrated by Crossroad Art

You can find out more about the series here.

I can’t wait to order prints, bookmarks, stickers, and wield my new highlighter and pens to go full historical nerd mode for annotating time. Not to mention signing and/or painting the books themselves.

Paperbacks in the Sun

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A paperback copy of Phantom and Rook held outside in front of a partially green lawn. The book cover of Phantom and Rook by Aelina Isaacs. On a busy market street in a modern town with tudor architecture a warm glow illuminates the crowds & stores that line the road. There is a seasonal festival, which is evident over this hustle because of the decorations of red & gold bunting and flags crisscrossed cross over head, and sunflowers have been pinned on the beams and roof tops. Between all the people, two men have seen each other. A tall brown man, with a mane of curly black hair, wearing a knitted rainbow duster, looks over his shoulder with the confusion of a clouded memory. He has arms full of shopping in paper bag, herbs, flowers and bottles, he has to be on his way and the crowd is moving, but still he lingers as he looks at the other man. The other man is small, thin, freckled and has a shock of red hair that is firey in the dawn light, he is taking the hood of his green jersey like he is going to pull it over his head, but before he does he looks back at the second man. The heaviness of his heart and thin hope are evident in his face.

I have some beautiful paperbacks of the Adventures in Levena books, and of The Rebel Foxes, available in my bookstore! They are signed, and come with art prints. You can find them here.

A paperback copy of Matsdotter and Adrastus held up in front of a partially green lawn. The cover of Matsdotter and Adrastus by Aelina Isaacs. Two men embrace each other in a warmly lit area between bookshelves. They hold each other as if dancing, and stare adoringly into each other's eyes. The man on the left is short, white, and has trim brown hair. He wears glasses and a brilliant red jacket with black lacing. He smiles wide at his companion. The taller man has waist length black hair and translucent dragon fly like wings extending from his back, and brown skin. He dresses in all black, and has golden lines inscribed into his cheekbones. He stares down at fondly at his companion with a quiet smile.

Adventures in Levena is a cozy urban fantasy series that follows a group of friends as they learn how to love and live later on in life.

A paperback copy of The Rebel Foxes held up in front of a partially green lawn. The cover of The Rebel Foxes by Noah Hawthorne. A woman with brown skin and long curly blonde hair stands defiantly in the center. She wears a leather jacket, tight pants, and a gas mask full of plants. She sprays magical green spray paint to the left and right across a stone corridor. She has a determined look on her face.

The Rebel Foxes is a standalone dystopian fantasy with shape-shifting mutants, a trans polyamorous romance, and eating the rich.

Let’s Donate to Advocates for Trans Equality

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He’s a depressed hedge witch who collects family like pokemon, he’s a lonely sunshine immortal with an existential crisis and scone crumbs in his beard.

All itch.io proceeds for March will be donated to Advocates for Trans Equality. They have many different programs aimed to help trans people, and offer many different ways for people to take action as well or become educated on current issues.

You can find Phantom and Rook, and The Rebel Foxes, on itch.io!

A warm photo of bookshelves in the library. Text and ebook cover are overlaid it. The text says, "Get it on itch.io. Support Advocates for Trans Equality." The book cover of Phantom and Rook by Aelina Isaacs. On a busy market street in a modern town with tudor architecture a warm glow illuminates the crowds & stores that line the road. There is a seasonal festival, which is evident over this hustle because of the decorations of red & gold bunting and flags crisscrossed cross over head, and sunflowers have been pinned on the beams and roof tops. Between all the people, two men have seen each other. A tall brown man, with a mane of curly black hair, wearing a knitted rainbow duster, looks over his shoulder with the confusion of a clouded memory. He has arms full of shopping in paper bag, herbs, flowers and bottles, he has to be on his way and the crowd is moving, but still he lingers as he looks at the other man. The other man is small, thin, freckled and has a shock of red hair that is firey in the dawn light, he is taking the hood of his green jersey like he is going to pull it over his head, but before he does he looks back at the second man. The heaviness of his heart and thin hope are evident in his face.

Indie Ink Awards

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Thank you to everyone who voted for Phantom and Rook, who made it as a finalist in the Indie Ink Awards! I’m very grateful, and especially emotional due to the category it came through in. Phantom and Rook’s disability representation is one of the things I’m most proud of, and seeing that recognized is amazing.

Of course, most of you dear readers have already praised Phantom and Rook for this, which means much more than any award ever could. I’m alongside some truly wonderful authors, and books that I’ve personally enjoyed. Which is a win for me!