The Bloodstrayne

The Story

In a world consumed by the Haze, a corrupting black fog that twists living creatures into monsters, four townships cling to existence under the protection of Hazewalkers. When a ghostblood—one of the creatures of the Haze—kills the Hazewalker of Ether, chaos erupts. Dominic, a blind orphan, discovers an unexpected connection to the mysterious Bloodstrayne lineage amidst the turmoil. Thrust into an ancient conspiracy, he must unravel long-buried secrets as greater forces lurk in the shadows, threatening humanity's survival. With time running out, Dominic races to master his newfound abilities, knowing his choices will either save humanity or seal its fate. In a world where darkness reigns, can a blind orphan become the light that guides mankind's last hope?

Reviews

This book will keep you turning the pages to see what is going to happen next. The concept of the book is fresh and original, yet it feels familiar and interesting as it delves deeply into the human condition. You will find yourself wrapped up in intriguing questions ranging from the geopolitical to the individual, all set within a gripping fantasy tale that is both terrifying and gratifying. This is a book worth reading more than once as it is vividly entertaining, but with some real weight to its characters and the human issues it addresses. Ether8

The Story Behind The Story

The Bloodstrayne was the second full-length novel I ever wrote. As such, compared to my first novel (which I'm still in the process of also re-releasing), it marks a dramatic step forward in terms of storytelling and structure. However, this particular story deals with an in-depth conspiracy, which turned out to be much more complicated to write than I initially gave credit for.

After completing the first draft, I realized the narrative needed substantial work. I spent countless hours rewriting to ensure everything flowed cohesively. At the time, lacking both financial resources and confidence, I opted against professional editing. Although I self-published on Kindle and shared copies with friends and family, the book ultimately languished on my shelf for years.

Marriage reignited my passion for writing. I put together my personal website and built out my own little publishing organization, Seegmiller Publishing. I then began to think about whether The Bloodstrayne had a second life to it. With the advent of "Large Language Model" AI systems, I began looking back at The Bloodstrayne and some of my previous manuscripts that were just collecting dust to see if I could bring them back in a useful way.

After doing lots of experimenting with AI to help with simple editing, I finally created a system to rejuvenate my previous works.

I've always been a fan of stories with dark themes, with monsters and heroic figures who fight back against the forces of evil. In particular, I've always been fascinated with Dracula and tales revolving around vampires and such. One thing that was a direct inspiration for The Bloodstrayne was the popular Castlevania video game series, which I absolutely adored as a kid. I loved the gothic themes and creative heroes and creatures, and I started thinking about how I could create my own Castlevania-esque story.

You can see the influence of Castlevania directly in the story in the form of the "whipblade," which the Hazewalkers wield. It's a whip with a blade on the end. In Castlevania, the vampire hunter, Simon Belmont, wields a whip in his monster-slaying adventure.

One crucial element in the story is the Haze, a corrupting black fog that covers the whole world. If one goes into the Haze, they are turned into pale creatures who begin to crave the taste of blood, but they can't leave the Haze, or else they die. The Haze became a character in and of itself in the story, as an ever-present danger with monsters lurking inside it. The Hazewalkers are an order of an ancient bloodline called the Bloodstrayne, who are given magical relics that allow them to travel through the Haze.

I love fantasy stories, but I find that I have a harder time writing strictly fantasy stories. For some reason, when I'm writing a fantastical story, I'm always trying to find some kind of science fiction explanation for why things are the way they are. As such, many of the stories in my backlog feel like a fantasy-science fiction hybrid, written somewhat like fantasy but with science fiction elements blended together.

Buy Now!

Ready to plunge into a world of darkness, mystery, and heroism? The Bloodstrayne awaits! Immerse yourself in this gripping tale of a blind orphan's journey to save humanity from the encroaching Haze. Experience the thrill of ancient conspiracies, supernatural powers, and a race against time that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

🔥 Available now in Hardcover, Paperback, and Kindle formats – choose your preferred way to join the adventure!

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Thank you for journeying with me through the shadows of The Bloodstrayne—your interest fuels the fires of creativity that keep these stories alive.