Reader Q&A

About the Story & Themes

What makes your series different from other YA fantasy stories?

This world is built with the basis of "what if we had a planet, a bit kind like ours, but with some extra things and a supernatural power that flows with the practical and is immune to time and technology, and forget about all the destiny stuff, except in ornate words?"

Is this a chosen-one story?

No. This is an anti-chosen-one story. The characters’ actions, not heritage or destiny, determine who gains influence and how the Secret spreads. While we follow a central protagonist, Sagiron, his journey avoids the usual “born special” tropes.

To be exact, Sagiron never becomes the all-knowing muscular hunk superstar - in the end, he will still remain that same somewhat scrawny guy who has learned to trust his comrades in making decisions. Above all, he still feels guilt from being able to cheat with the Secret whenever it can help him. You don't need to be strong when you carry a thunderblade - you can just blow up your problems. But that only works so far. ;)

What is “the Secret,” and how does it work?

The Secret (or Salat Kata, literally Secret Skill) is a learnable mental discipline, a latent power dormant in virtually every mind that is unlocked ("initiated") with a calligraphic cipher through contemplation. The process is basically "snap and you have it". Once learned, it remains a permanent talent till death. It is by no means easy to initiate - one will need to have deep understanding of the calligraphic script it is written in; as the story says, you don't read them, but look into them.

Why is the cipher scroll important if it isn’t magical?

It's but a copy of the cipher, rubbed with a charcoal. The code is what matters, and indeed, nothing prevents making infinite copies of it. The best analogue I've used to describe the concept is "the nuke codes" - if you have them, you can exert significant power and pretty much only someone else with the same capabilites can equal you. Should there be a rogue Secret-Keeper, they could cause major damage in the society through manipulation, as is demonstrated later in the series.

Its true power lies not in the ability to win a duel, but to be able to influence people around, including those in high power. As said in the story, "a sword can win a man his battle, but a word can command a million swords."

What themes does the series explore?

It explores the tension between power and responsibility, showing how knowledge - especially dangerous knowledge - can shape, corrupt, or empower anyone who wields it. It examines human fallibility, ambition, and the consequences of choices, emphasizing that even small decisions can have far-reaching effects. Themes of justice, revenge, and moral ambiguity run alongside courage, resilience, and the struggle to define one’s identity in a complex world. There’s also an undercurrent of social and political awareness: the story looks at how societies function, how laws and traditions constrain or enable action, and how individuals deal with these forces.

Is the story more character-driven or plot-driven?

It definitely leans toward character-driven. The narrator receives little voice beyond describing the events; everything else is dealt on character level. While there is a large superstructure stretching across a globe on empire scale stakes, the heart is Sagiron's journey: how he deals with it all.

How dark or mature is the tone compared to typical YA?

It is definitely not dark depite being realistic. I don't like grim-dark and misery; hence I classify the series as "peak empire fantasy" where things work out and empires thrive with vast resources. I place heavy emphasis on realistic limitations and everything that happens is grounded to realism on at least some plausible or hypothetical level.

But let's face it: we really do not want a story where half of the crew succumb to some basic illnesses over a sea journey.

The tone is grounded and occasionally intense, leaning toward mature themes without being gratuitously graphic. The story doesn’t shy away from real consequences: characters make mistakes, face danger, and sometimes suffer loss. Violence, moral ambiguity, and emotional struggle appear naturally, not for shock value. At the same time, moments of humor, human fallibility, and resilience provide balance. Readers can expect a story that respects their intelligence, explores difficult choices, and treats challenges seriously, while still delivering the excitement, wonder, and adventure common to YA fantasy.

Is there romance, and how prominent is it?

Over time, yes. The seeds of these are planted in the very first book, and it plays a major role in character dynamics over the series. However, needless to say, this is not a romantasy story. :)

About the World

What makes the world of Metorm unique?

Many see fantasy through the generic Anglo-Nordic medieval fantasy setting with Tolkienesque traits and may yell "that didn't exist back then" - well, I have good news: we're not on Earth anymore, but on Antoria. ;) We only follow internal consistency.

I originally approached many genre traits by "if it's already used, invent something else" and went to lengths and burrowed into history, culture, language and habits to reverse engineer them anew to suit this new world.

How does the Roman-inspired influence appear in the society?

From architechtural influence, legions as military unit, ornate military gear and dress code, and employing the nation state legal system and democracy instead of basic medieval kingdoms.

How realistic is the world’s technology?

"What could be possible with the given technology and resources?" - this is the basis I've used when adding detail. Small things we take from granted, like hair bleaching (valanar bioluminescent plants = peroxide) or penicillin mould as antibiotic can make a world of difference. No tech works with magic save the Secret, and every part derives at least some bit from real world mechanics. Some things have added fantasy, like brighter bioluminescent plant extracts, flying beasts with wings that might be too small to actually carry one, and hot air skyships.

Are there traditional fantasy creatures or entirely new ones?

Saginairs! Those sleek, noble, winged felines native to Yanakhon's mountains, sharing the playful, curious and haughty nature of a housecat. From afar, one might mistake it for a griffin, but there are no griffins here. Yanakhon's Saginair Rangers ride them.

Dragons? Yes, winged beasts living only in Hellornia and the Grand Mountains. Vaskitic Dragon Guardians and Hellornian Dragon Riders use them as their steeds.

The Hellornians also come with their leathereans, bat-lizards or "bat-rats", leathery flying beasts with long beaks, the largest of species ridden by Hellornians as well.

Wildbirds and stormbirds, gargantuan avians strong enough to carry a rider. The Norths-folks and the Vaskites ride them.

Atop of them, there is a phletora of creatures, the most harmless but prominent probably the baggat, a goat-like coarse-furred pack animal widely used in place of a horse in Yanakhon.

How political is the story? Do readers need background knowledge to follow it?

The story is political in the sense that characters live inside real institutions: courts, councils, armies, and families shaped by law and tradition. Decisions have consequences, alliances matter, and people wield influence through rhetoric as often as through strength.

But the narrative never requires readers to know history or political theory. Everything is introduced through the characters’ experiences from the POV of someone who has no idea (nor often interest neither) of the systems, so the world’s politics feel natural and easy to follow. Readers who enjoy deeper worldbuilding will notice the underlying structure, while others can simply follow the characters through the conflicts it creates.

About the Magic / Power System

How is the Secret different from magic in other fantasy books?

The Secret is no magic per se, but a psychic power that can manipulate mind, and through ionic energy, matter. It doesn’t rely on spells, elements, or inherited talent, and it obeys psychological and physical logic rather than mystical rules.

Is the Secret accessible to anyone, or only certain people?

Anyone who understands the cipher can unlock the latent power of the mind, which makes it socially volatile: power spreads through knowledge, not bloodlines. The initiation process most often results in a snap in the head and a blackout, followed by massive headache and nausea.

Access can be restricted by guarding the cipher and preventing anyone from making copies of it. Memorizing the cipher could theoretically be possible.

There are known rogue initiations all across Antoria, but only one ever recorded it in tangible form, the Prime Code Slab.

What are the limits and dangers of using the Secret?

Initiating and using the Secret per se has no downsides. Immense mental focus can easily result in loss of consciousness. However, using the Secret during a thunderstorm is a different beast entire. Lightning is so energetic that it always needs a conduit of some kind, usually a bladed weapon, and attempting to manipulate the ionic energy without one will result in severe burns or even loss of arms or worse, with one or two exceptions.

The psychic powers are very local: they have virtually no effect beyond ten paces.

How realistic are the thunder and plasma-like effects in the battles?

Lightning plasma burns as hot as 50 000 degrees, plenty enough to ablate almost anything in its path. A full-powered "charge" of a thunderblade can reach a million joules and can be slung in thunderfists like bolts from a crossbow. A direct hit into a foe leaves little but charred bits and scraps of armor. For the same reason, any bladed weapon used as conduit will quickly heat to fiery red and orange, until noodling or melting altogether.

Does mastering the Secret change a person psychologically?

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

About the Characters

Who is Sagiron, and what makes him a different kind of protagonist?

He is ordinary, with no buts. A Silvonian boy inheriting her mother's eyes and recklessness, he never grew as tall and broad-shouldered as his father. Scrawny as he was, never having much to eat nor appetite for that matter, his ambitions in the Skill Games were received with quite the title: the worst swordfighter in the village.

What motivates Sagiron’s decisions early in the story?

As lightning burns their lodge in the Silwoods, he is told to prove his worth. Going for hunting, he isn't willing to return back without a catch, and he chases a bird across the Silvon Stream, stumbling upon the scroll.

Is Sagiron naturally gifted, or does he rely on the Secret?

His success in combat is virtually exclusively due to the Secret. It highlights how even a physically weak and unskilled one can become a formidable character; with the Secret and a thunderblade, he was sovereign; without them, he was nothing. That's why one thought often arose in his mind: a cheat.

Does the story focus on friendships, rivalries, or mentorship?

The characters' friendships are deep and enduring, and they often find themselves wondering whether their friends are well and longing for their company.

About Genre & Audience

Is this book meant for YA readers or older audiences as well?

Definitely suited for all ages! The basic concepts and plot are easy to understand and a casual reader can enjoy the story, but there are deeper layers in between for a more nuanced reader.

What kind of readers will enjoy this series the most?

Those who enjoy adventure fantasy, fresh takes and non-grim, epic-level storytelling.

How intense are the action scenes?

There definitely is flashy action in the story, but the priority is given to plot points and character development and there are no graphic descriptions of gore, excess violence or shocking scenes.

How much humor is in the story?

Quite a lot. Ordinary people stumble and embarrass themselves, and Sagiron is very ordinary. Where a young street rat may come with his quirks, an older knight will approach matters with rigid formality.

Are the books suitable for younger teens?

Sure! The story is written to be PG-friendly with only mild, daily profanities.

About the Series Structure

Is this the first book in a larger saga?
How many books are planned for the series?
Do you need to read the books in order?
Will later books explore different parts of the world?
Does the scale of the story grow beyond the first book?

About the Writing Process

What inspired you to create the Secret and its discipline-based power?
How did you design the world’s physics and engineering constraints?
Why did you choose to avoid traditional fantasy magic?
Which authors or works influenced the tone or style of the series?
How long did it take to develop the world and its rules?

About Tone, Realism, and Style

Why does the story emphasize human fallibility and mistakes?
How does the humor work without breaking immersion?
Why are the thunder powers portrayed with realistic physics?
How violent or graphic is the story?
Does the narrative lean more toward tragedy or triumph?

For Returning Readers

Will there be more exploration of the Secret’s origins?
Will skyships become important later?
Do the political factions evolve over the series?
Are long-term mysteries seeded early in Book 1?