This Isn’t Your Grandfather’s Fantasy
Once a war hero, now a weary knife sharpener, old Vedd lives a quiet and solitary life in the capital of the kingdom. It’s been over forty years since the great war, and he’s done his best to leave that life behind. But when tragedy strikes, Vedd is thrust into an unexpected journey—one that could alter not only his destiny, but the fate of the entire world. Grumpy, sharp-tongued, and anything but noble, Vedd becomes entangled in a series of bizarre events he can’t fully comprehend.
As the mystery unfolds, so does a dark and fantastical world brimming with strange creatures, unpredictable twists, and unsettling magic. This is not your typical fantasy tale. There are no chosen ones, no love triangles, no damsels in distress—and definitely no guaranteed happy endings. Instead, you’ll find dark humor, razor-sharp dialogue, and a refreshing take on the genre that gleefully breaks all the genre rules.
“A grumpy old war hero seeking a quiet life finds himself on an epic, rule-breaking adventure that will redefine his destiny—and the fate of a world steeped in dark magic and chaos.”
Step into a world where heroism wears a scowl and destiny is a dirty word.
Our newest release, The Old Man and the Soul Devourer by Charles Hawkmoon, is more than a fantasy novel—it’s an experience that subverts expectations and rewrites the rules of the genre.
Forget everything you think you know about epic quests and noble heroes.
This tale centers on Vedd, an aged and cynical knife sharpener whose only wish is to be left in peace.
Life in the capital city of Tedris has settled into a quiet—if lonely—routine. Vedd sharpens blades, raises his unusual Han’jacus birds, and shares his humble meals with his loyal, half-blind dog, Crumbs. His days are filled with the comforting scent of the hearth and the silence of his home—an island of stillness amid the city’s noise. But beneath this tranquil surface, old wounds still bleed. Memories of a brutal war, of green flames, and a monstrous bone demon haunt his solitude. These aren’t the gilded recollections of a decorated hero—they’re the raw, unshakable echoes of a past he’s long tried to bury.
But as any seasoned fantasy reader knows, peace is often an illusion.
When black dragons descend upon Tedris, raining fire and destruction, Vedd’s solitary life is shattered. In a moment of profound loss, driven by grief and a refusal to die screaming, he’s dragged into an adventure he never asked for.
What follows is a journey far removed from the worn paths of traditional fantasy.
There are no ancient prophecies. No grand declarations of a chosen one.
Instead, Vedd finds himself reluctantly aligned with an unlikely trio:
Eriana, a powerful but burdened sorceress,
Renkiou, a charming knight with a talent for embellishment, and
Motoku, a hulking, good-natured warrior.
Their dynamic crackles with sharp dialogue and dark humor, injecting much-needed levity into a story drenched in shadow.
As they travel together, Vedd rediscovers the meaning of companionship. He begins to cook for the group—a skill inherited from years of watching his late wife—proving his worth beyond sword and flame. Their path leads to the enigmatic city of Guin’uji, unlike any place Vedd has known, and introduces the mysterious Noruks, a seemingly gentle race hiding a chilling secret.
The Old Man and the Soul Devourer deftly dismantles fantasy clichés. There are no easy answers. No clear lines between good and evil. Instead, the story explores loss, resilience, and the chaos of fate. It reminds us that even in old age, transformation is possible—and that even the most jaded heart can rediscover purpose, even if it must be dragged into the fire to do so.
Prepare yourself for unpredictable twists, a hearty dose of gallows humor, and a protagonist who is anything but heroic. Vedd’s journey is gritty, grounded, and refreshingly human—a tale where flaws are embraced and fairy tale endings are optional at best.
Intrigued?
Step into the world of The Old Man and the Soul Devourer and discover a fantasy that breaks every rule.
Available now at Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.