Beyond The Mark

Ashes of the Hero

Flynn, a once-revered hero of his homeland, awakens after five years of forced slumber only to find himself branded as the infamous "Marked Wraith," a fugitive accused of crimes he doesn’t remember committing. The world he left behind has changed dramatically, filled with new alliances, forbidden magic, and treacherous enemies who want him dead. Alone and hunted, Flynn must uncover the truth behind his lost years, confront those who betrayed him, and find a way to clear his name.

His path crosses with Orion, a mysterious mage looking for her next big score. Reluctantly drawn together, Flynn and Orion must learn to trust one another while facing both their inner demons and the physical dangers lurking in a world filled with deceit and hidden agendas. From blood-soaked battlefields to enigmatic manors harboring dark secrets, the duo must harness forbidden powers to stand a chance against Victor, the ruthless council leader whose ambitions threaten everything Flynn once stood for.

Filled with heart-pounding action, morally complex characters, and a dash of dark humor, Beyond The Mark is a tale of redemption, betrayal, and the fight for freedom in a world where loyalty is fleeting, and the truth can be as deadly as the lies.

Perfect for fans of dark fantasy, anti-heroes, and high-stakes adventure.

Will Flynn reclaim his lost honor, or will the darkness within consume him? Find out in Beyond The Mark, a gripping debut that’s sure to leave you breathless!

Delightful, surprising, and curiously satisfying

The author, Kevin Gallant, reached out to me on Bluesky, promoting Beyond the Mark at a one-day discount, i.e. 100%, to "continue the conversation." Since I view reading as a conversation, having studied classical literature at Georgetown University under the tutelage of some renowned professors, including Robert Ayers, who edited the Oxford Edition of (I think) The Complete Works of John Milton, the idea of a continued conversation resonated with me.

About four decades ago, I took a course under Roger Slakey, wherein I compared different versions of Literary Ballads (I think), Romantic Poets more generally, and some of Wordsworth's and Coleridge's expositions about literary criticism. Coleridge's phrase, "that willing suspension of disbelief which constitutes poetic faith," called out to me as I listened to an amazing AI generated audiobook, steeped in magic, which totally surprised me. I was hooked by a book in the fantasy genre, and found sympathy with characters and dialog that was what I might describe as abstract colloquial?

At 62, I don't read a lot of fiction, as the daily insanity of 2025 feels like a cruel farce. I consume information with a view of preparing for some epic showdown between the forces of truth, love, and justice, and an apocalypse of greed, coupled with militant ignorance. I read strategically. When the author reached out to me I was about to download some Tolstoy, so I could have a conversation about it with my 90 year old mom. I'm not sure about the intended audience, - maybe Young Adult - but I get a sense that it would play to a wider audience as a mini-series on Prime.

The curious thing is how the adventure ended, with a battle between good and dark magic, with unfinished business waiting to be settled over the horizon. I enjoy a good anti-hero, and I can connect with a flawed hero, who has obvious weaknesses. I am ready to continue the conversation.