Campfire has released their next special edition eBook: The World of Heresy Within, an illustrated guide to Rob J. Hayes’ grimdark epic fantasy trilogy, The Ties That Bind, co-created with Jackson Dickert!
Released in 2013, The Ties That Bind was Rob’s debut trilogy as an author. Now, they’re returning to First Earth, the setting in which the story takes place, with brand-new, never-before-seen stories, artwork, and an epic fantasy novel’s length worth of world lore to lean into.
About The Ties That Bind Trilogy
Starting with The Heresy Within, The Ties That Bind is a gritty, grimdark fantasy trilogy set in a brutal world with loose morals, even looser loyalties, and characters you hate to love and love to hate. Taking place amidst an Inquisition brought forth by an alien god, it’s every person for themselves in First Earth, and there are no exceptions to that rule.
The trilogy centers on three main characters—Betrim Thorn, a thief and murderer; Thanquil Darkheart, a witch hunter for the Inquisition; and Jezzet Vel’urn, a preternatural swordswoman—whose fates force them into an uneasy alliance to challenge the truth behind the Inquisition.
What’s in The World of Heresy Within?
The World of Heresy Within includes newly written stories, more than 115 story extras detailing character backstories and world lore, and over 140 original artworks.
- Stories that expand upon the narrative: Read two brand new novellas from Rob, Sting of the Dragon and The Princess Blade! Plus, a new companion story by Jackson Dickert, “The Serpent’s Tooth”, as well as ten previously published short stories from across the First Earth universe and the Bound Folio anthology.
- Character art and profiles: Get to know the characters of The Ties That Bind in greater detail, from the paranoid mercenary, Betrim Thorn, to the perceptive and controlled witch hunter, Tranquil Darkheart, to the snarky and resourceful swordswoman, Jezzet Vel’urn.
- Interactive maps and world lore: Explore every major locale on First Earth, from the Void to the Free Cities to the Great Barrier Desert. Learn about the guilds and Dread Lords, dragons and demons, and study heretical magic, too (we won’t tell)!
The following artists were a huge help in bringing this book together:
- Joe Requeza, who illustrated the book’s epic cover.
- Bebeto Daroz, who illustrated all the characters + stunning full-scene artwork.
- Julianna Draga, who illustrated paintings for the trilogy’s most important locations in her signature style.
- Cole Field, who created illustrations for several lore articles and interior sketches.
- Jack Shepherd, who designed the world map.
Plus, the book also includes previously commissioned artwork from Felix Ortiz, Julio Real, Alex Raspad, Jason Deem, Signbjorn Pederson, and Tim Paul! This is truly a must-have companion to all things The Ties That Bind.
Read a Short Excerpt from Sting of the Dragon
Sting of the Dragon tells the story of Travine, the Dragon Knight who would squash a rebellion and become the Dragon Herald, the empress’ personal bodyguard and commander of the Dragon Empire’s forces.
They were on a new barge, one better suited to travelling the Emerald Sea than the waterways of Soromo, come the first rays of morning light. The waves were still rough, but the storm had passed on to vent its windy rage on the lands to the south.
Alarm bells rang out across the city. Their crime had been discovered. It would be hours at most before his part in it was revealed. Would anyone even care? He had no friends to miss him and no brothers to curse his name, only a father who despised him and a wife who would likely be glad he was gone.
They rowed hard for land. They were out of reach of any pursuit for the moment, but with the storm passed, the dragons would return to Soromo soon. No ship survived the Emerald Sea if the dragons decided to sink it. They needed to be on land and lost amidst the trees and mountains as quickly as possible.
There were horses and carts waiting for them on land, and twenty-nine and one men with them. They loaded the cargo quickly and, with their new guard around them, set off towards the mountains. Travine spotted dragons in the distance, their huge, brutish shapes soaring through the sky, but they were too late. The rebels, along with their priceless loot, disappeared beneath the forest canopy where even dragons couldn’t track them.
About the Author
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually, his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of multiple award-winning series, including The First Earth Saga, The Mortal Techniques, The War Eternal, and the God Eater Saga.
Visit Rob’s website to learn more about him and his work!
Read The World of Heresy Within on Campfire
Ready to brave the Wilds and uncover the Inquisition’s darkest secrets with Betrim, Thanquil, and Jezzet? Read The World of Heresy Within on Campfire! If you’re unfamiliar with Campfire’s reading app, it’s free to download on the Google Play and Apple App Store!
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