The most important news is that I have about ten chapters left. (AGAIN.)

The goal is to finish this book within the next two weeks, so watch this space!

But since I’ve recently had several questions about this book, I figured it was time to update you again.

Before we get going, a disclaimer. THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS. Big ones.

With that out of the way…

A Curse of Venom & Scales begins moments after A Trial of Sparks & Kindling ends.

In earlier drafts, ACOVAS started a day or more later, but those beginnings didn’t sit right. My alpha team suggested the change.

At this point in the writing process, I’m thoroughly sick of Cara and Sera’s reunion. My cousin Shants and I have read those opening lines so many times we casually quote them to each other in a running inside joke. 🤣 But I wouldn’t change that scene for the world. We deserve to see the sisters happy, if only for a moment.

While that moment lasts. *Insert evil laughter here.*

ACOVAS introduces us to a new viewpoint character.

Sanshouo Katsuro is the emperor’s eldest legitimate son, and my first viewpoint character from the ‘dark side’.

Writing this guy has been incredibly fun. Initially, he was super black-and-white, but he’s developed into someone colourful and intriguing, with loads of heart and complexity.

Also, finally exploring Nishin culture and tradition is great. These are things that I’ve been planning for so long, and finally putting them to paper is one of the best feelings.

ACOVAS allows us to revisit Aelland.

Considering the end of A Trial of Sparks & Kindling, some revisited locations are bittersweet, and my chest hurt while writing them. Returning to others was just too much fun, especially when unexpected things happen in those places. The Crooning Cockerel, the Cutter estate, and the hospital, for example. We also get to visit places that were only mentioned before, that help us better understand the origin of some of the cast.

More than anything, though, I’ve enjoyed filling out the skeleton of Roicester. The different districts and the post-war lay of the land made it such an interesting place to write. Click here if you’d like to check out the work-in-progress map of Roicester.

ACOVAS remains a character-driven story.

Cara’s journey is epic. I’ve never loved a character the way that I love her. It was such a gamble starting her story at the height of her anxiety and only showing how she rises above it in ATOSAK, but I think it pays off.

Her anxiety is still there, but watching her juggle mental illness while rising to power makes me so deeply proud of her. My special cinnamon roll will only fly higher from here on out.

But the others hold their own too.

Pointy is forever my precious baby and I love him more with each page. This book offers us a glimpse into his family life, and it makes him so much more special to me. Also, this dude’s growth is off the charts. Look at me fangirling over my own characters. 😂

Lance is spectacular in ACOVAS, and is another one of my babies who will only fly higher. I would never have guessed that this character, created merely as a tool to show the reader the plight of the slummers, would end up being this huge, undeniable personality who lights up every room he enters.

Varda is extraordinary, too, and arguably the character I’ve most enjoyed developing. Her evolution was one of the few things that came to me early during the writing of A Study of Ash & Smoke and actually stuck (for context, I pantsed ASOAAS and the lack of planning has caused me ENDLESS headaches).

I can’t wait for you to meet the new cast members. Some of these were mentioned in Books One and Two, others are making themselves known for the first time. Louis, Shika, and Fats are among those I’m most excited about, and I just know you’ll love them, too.

ACOVAS is wordier than the other Fall of the Mantle books.

I initially planned for about 20k more words, but the WIP is sitting pretty at 160k words. I’ll probably end with 175k words in total. This means ACOVAS will be around 30k words longer than ATOSAK, and 50k longer than ASOAAS.

ACOVAS features more adult content.

Cara is beyond innocent in ASOAAS. I decided early in the writing process that I wanted the rest of the series to grow as she does.

So, while the swearing in the other books hits a plateau with words like sh*t, cr*p, d*ck, and b*tch, ACOVAS introduces characters with more colourful vocabulary. The f-bombs are few at first but gain frequency as the story unfolds.

ASOAAS is innocent where sex is concerned, too. The book features no on-page sex scenes, only mild jokes and innuendoes.

HIGHLIGHT the text in the next paragraph to read a possibly triggering exception.

{ASOAAS references sexual assault and features one scene with attempted SA, which is discussed throughout Fall of the Mantle books. I always try to handle this topic with extreme care and work with a team of sensitivity readers to ensure I write about these topics in a gentle way. Between us, my sensitivity readers and I have survived every traumatic event that happens in Fall of the Mantle. I talk about these topics because they are important to me. Keeping an open narrative about difficult issues means survivors might not feel as alone, unheard, or unseen.}

If you’d like to know more about sensitivity readers, my Let’s Talk About Sensitivity Readers Post is a great place to start.

ATOSAK continues with sexual jokes and innuendoes and features mild on-page sex scenes, some of which fade to black. Characters also discuss their sexuality and talk about past experiences.

In ACOVAS, the sex scenes are spicier and more descriptive. Some still fade to black, but others play out on the page. I tried to handle these with care, but do note that words like c*ck and cl*t make it onto the page.

The books in this series have grown as I grow as a writer. I’ve made it my mission to keep learning and showing that growth from book to book because stagnation scares the light out of me.

If you’d like to check out Fall of the Mantle, just click here. You’d also make my day if you leave a review. Every star makes a difference, even if it doesn’t feel that way!

Until next time.

Yolandie