Writing a series like Dragon’s Oath is an adventure in itself. As I wrap up Book 3, I can’t help but reflect on the twists, turns, and challenges that have come with bringing this world to life. Behind every dragon, every moment of time travel, and every word written, there’s a whole lot of magic (and sometimes a bit of chaos) that goes into crafting the story. But everything has a purpose. Whether it's pushing the story forward, creating a question in the reader’s mind, or maybe a bit of misdirection.

Sometimes, I even have to cut scenes I loved because they aren’t necessary or add too much complexity to an already multifaceted story. Those decisions are tough, but they’re part of the process.

So, in celebration of finishing Sages of Tachnir (Dragon’s Oath Book 3), I thought I’d take you behind the scenes of Dragon’s Oath. I’ll share a bit about the Book Darkmore, which plays an antagonist role throughout the series, as well as some of the creative struggles and moments that shaped this book.

The Complexity and History of the Book Darkmore

To start, let me share a quote from Shadowalkers (Dragon’s Oath Book 2), where the dragon Marganth offers a brief explanation of the book:

“The mad mage, Darkmore, used her [the Thornose Dragon Zaylan] blood mingled with his own to ink the pages of a book... The cursed Book of Binding Fire. The source of the fire be a Tryx. A fire spirit escaped from its prison in the Pyre. It captured the resentment the dragon held against the man, and when Darkmore mingled her blood with his, the Tryx used that hatred to empower the dark magic, giving life to the book. The Book Darkmore.”

In the Dragon’s Oath universe dragons initially play a more distant role. They aren’t involved with humans on a personal level. But everything changes when the Tryx fire spirits escape the underworld of the Pyre. After wreaking havoc, they’re sent back by Zaylan, a high-ranking dragon of the Thornose clan. However, one fire spirit hides within a human—Kragon Darkmore.

This combined entity captures and tortures Zaylan, but she escapes, leaving behind a pool of her blood. Darkmore uses this blood to pen the Book of Binding Fire, later known as the Book Darkmore. It’s filled with dark magic, fueled by the power of the dragon blood, and promises Darkmore eternal life—but not eternal youth.

The book gives him power, but with a heavy price: he can’t stray far from it, or it siphons away his health and energy. As Darkmore grows older and weaker, he’s tormented by the reality that his immortality doesn’t keep him young.

The Evolution of the Book Darkmore

Crafting how the Book Darkmore works has been an evolving process. Early on, I planned to have Darkmore dominate each new host. But as I developed the concept, the book’s magic evolved into something much more sinister: a form of possession, with multiple voices inhabiting the host. It’s loosely inspired by demonic possession, but with unique twists.

Here’s how the book works:

• The book is crafted using dark fire spirit magic, penned in corrupted dragon’s blood mixed with Darkmore’s own.
• Darkmore and the book are linked, granting him access to the fire spirits’ dark magic.
• He can’t be far from the book, or it drains his life force.
• Though promised eternal life, Darkmore’s misunderstanding of immortality means he ages, becoming decrepit as time passes.
• A new host must place their hand on the bloody palm print in the book to accept possession.
• The fire spirit instructs Darkmore to choose a new host—someone young and strong, but only if they agree by placing their hand on the bloody palm print. Things don’t go according to plan… (But I’ll leave the rest of that story for later!)

By the time Book 3 opens, the book holds three human spirits waiting for the next host. This twist added complexity, and I ultimately decided to explore the book’s possession aspect more deeply, with multiple voices vying for control of the host. The spirit of the book isn’t just a singular entity—it’s a chorus of dark, twisted forces.

Good vs. Evil: The Struggle for the Future

The central premise of Dragon’s Oath is that the evil of the book has the potential to take over the world if left unchecked. Using her prophetic abilities, Zaylan devises a plan to defeat the Evil—a plan that requires careful implementation over time, including the use of time travel. The dragons are determined to follow the plan, but some realize they need the help of humans—specifically, humans with pure hearts. Not all dragons agree with working alongside humans, adding an extra layer of tension to the story. 

As the story progresses, those humans who accept the opportunity to fight alongside the dragons are imbued with dragon powers. They become Drake Ascendants, or Drakeborn, and are given the strength to face the evil of the book. The ultimate goal? Separate the host from the book, and then hide the book where it can never be found. (The book can’t be destroyed.)

Crafting the story is a balance between letting the book’s influence grow and ensuring the reader understands the rules. The challenges of writing this world and the power of the book’s evil have kept me on my toes. And in Sages of Tachnir, the book’s influence grows even stronger. There was a particularly harrowing moment where the book took over a child in the original draft. It bothered me. I had to make a tough decision. I scraped a few chapters and rewrote it to make the character older. Not every dark twist is easy to write.

What’s been tricky—and rewarding—has been ensuring that the rules of the book are clear (or at least implied), even as they get bent to further the evil it represents. There’s a careful balance between what the hosts can do and what they should never do. And of course, the spirits inside the book are unsavory sorts filled with ambition, greed, and such things—and the spirits are not getting along. This plays a huge role in how things unfold.

Looking Ahead: A Sneak Peek at Rise of the Ariel (Book 4)

As I wrap up Sages of Tachnir, I’ve already started working with my rough outline, fleshing out Book 4, titled Rise of the Ariel. This next book will push the boundaries of the series in exciting new ways, including the introduction of the Kutoettus—the dragon riders who will be pivotal to the upcoming battles, and the Variel (represented by the woman with the dragon's head on the Cup of Epochs. Creating this dragon army is no small task, and I can’t wait to share more about them in the future!

But that’s a story for another day...

Writing Dragon’s Oath has been an incredibly fulfilling journey, and finishing Sages of Tachnir is both an accomplishment and an invitation to keep pushing the story further. Thank you for being part of this adventure. Whether you’ve been with me since the first book or are just now joining in, your support means the world. I can’t wait to share what’s coming next!

What’s Your Favorite Part of Dragon’s Oath So Far?

Are you a fan of the dragons, the time travel, or the dark magic of the Book Darkmore? Let me know your thoughts by using the contact link at the top of the page or contact me on social media! (Select the button at the top of the page and it will take you to my page.) And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for sneak peeks and updates on what’s to come.

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