Bentos and Delwyn were alone in the sky, only the silent stars to keep Them company. They created an earth and creatures to fill it, for Their entertainment. Their seven daughters, the muses of Lesenti, watch over the continent of Tessagonia. This land has four kingdoms—Vernissia, Arania, Kether, and Senatin—surrounding an inland sea. Tessagonia is ringed by the Outer Isles, where the old gods have been banished.

You may hear echoes of familiar stories from our own land. Curses, romance, magical gifts, and gods both light and dark.

​A series of fairy-tale novellas set in the world of Tessagonia.

Tales of Tessagonia: Books 1-6

Available in print and ebook

Tales of Tessagonia: Books 1-6 is a compilation of the first six titles in the Tales of Tessagonia series.

Same stories, but new content! Read my Author’s Notes on each tale with my inspiration and behind the scene info.

Books 1-6 of The Tales of Tessagonia

The Blazing Princess

When the muses bicker about whose gift is greatest, it’s the mortals who suffer.

Aurelia is cursed to die after eighteen years, with the caveat that true love can follow her into the spirit world and bring her back. To ensure her the best chance, Aurelia’s parents betroth her to one of the neighboring prince twins. But what happens when she falls in love with the wrong prince? Who will save her?

Book One of The Tales of Tessagonia

Mirror

“I see all. I know all. I cannot tell a lie.”

A magic mirror that speaks only truth. A girl unwanted by her mother. Seven muses watching over the land. And a dark ritual that calls on the old gods.

Korina idolizes the mother she rarely sees. What she doesn’t realize is that her mother’s attention is far more dangerous than her neglect. Korina must survive in order to find her own happily ever after.

Book Two of Tales of Tessagonia

Princess Test

Three wedding events. Three magical dresses. Three princess tests.

When a prince brings home a foreign peasant girl for his bride, his family doubts her worthiness. They present a series of secret tests to ensure she won’t be an embarrassment to the royal family. Can Zuleika live up to their expectations and become the queen her prince believes she can be?

Book Three of The Tales of Tessagonia

Venom and Shadow

Rumors are you can find anything at Aloka-pasar, the Shadow Market. But what will find you?

When Fatinah’s husband is bit by a venomous snake, she learns he has seven days to live. The Shadow Market may have a remedy, if she can get there in time. What will she be willing to do to save the man she loves?

Book Four of The Tales of Tessagonia

The Gloaming Realm

With the Sun God’s sorrow, the sun continues to rise each day, but it is hot and angry, bringing drought to the land.

Long ago, when the sky gods still mingled with mortals, the young muses fell mysteriously ill. As the sisters grew weaker, their parents became more desperate, seeking aid from scholars, warriors, and healers alike. With each failure, the sun grew hotter, and the nights colder.

Amidst this turmoil, Michael, a humble incense farmer, struggles to provide for his orphaned sisters. Saving the muses not only promises to restore divine favor but also offers a boon that could transform his family’s fortunes. Yet, whispers of vanished volunteers haunt the air, casting a shadow of doubt over Michael’s resolve. Will Michael be able to save both the muses and his farm, or succumb to the same mysterious fate of those before him?

Book Five of The Tales of Tessagonia

The Moon Prince

Five suitors, five impossible tasks–who will win the heart of the Moon Prince?

In the enchanting kingdom of Moshotan, a childless bamboo cutter and his wife discover a glowing infant inside a bamboo shoot. Named Akihiko, the boy’s ethereal glow and prophetic visions set him apart, earning him the title of the Moon Prince. Five persistent suitors vie for his love, each tasked with retrieving an extraordinary object to present on his twentieth birthday.

Embark on a magical journey where mythical creatures, divine secrets, and human hearts intertwine. Who will succeed in their quest and win the heart of the Moon Prince? “The Moon Prince” is a captivating tale of love, destiny, and the extraordinary lengths we go to for those we cherish.

Book Six of The Tales of Tessagonia

Jack and the Midnight Cloak

A Daring Adventure into the Realm of Immortals

Jack, an ordinary boy from a struggling village, discovers a magical cloak that can make him invisible. With Tessagonia still healing from civil war, his discovery may be the key to saving his ailing mother. But magic comes with a price. Can Jack outsmart immortals and save his family, or will he lose everything?

Coming June 2025

Book Seven of The Tales of Tessagonia

The Drowned Song

She traded her tail for legs and a voice for silence. But even on land, the sea’s song haunts her still.

Kailani has always yearned for more than the endless tides of the sea. Fascinated by the world of humans, she strikes a dangerous bargain to walk among them. With no voice and cast into a realm ruled by coin and secrets, she discovers that wonder comes hand in hand with hardship—and that love above the waves is no simple thing.

As she navigates bustling markets, ship decks, and stormy emotions, Kailani must cling to her identity in a world where she can’t speak for herself. But the sea does not forget its daughters, and some songs cannot be silenced.

Told in two haunting halves, The Drowned Song is a darkly enchanting tale of mermaids, motherhood, and the power of reclaiming your voice—even if it means becoming something entirely new.

Book Eight of The Tales of Tessagonia

The Unwelcome Guest

They say you should never turn away someone in need — but they forgot to mention what happens when a visitor refuses to leave.

When a wandering bard seeks shelter at the Thessarin estate, Tavia welcomes him in with open curiosity—and her brother Dorian with weary caution. But as the days stretch into weeks, strange things take root: silver grows in the garden, music lingers after the last note fades, and something ancient stirs in the shadows.

Halen Cade spins tales that blur the line between truth and enchantment, and Tavia begins to see the threads of her own life woven through his stories. Yet every song has its secret, and every guest his price.

A romantasy of hidden identities, forbidden magic, and the perilous power of true names—from the enchanted world of Tessagonia.
Loosely inspired by a storyteller from our own world who once overstayed his welcome at Charles Dickens’s home.

Book Nine of The Tales of Tessagonia