Realms in Ruin

Nimbria is a land torn apart by a brutal war of magic and bloodlines. The five realms—Redelvtum, Ammord, The Silliands, Ithia, and Locdragoon—are fractured by violence, prejudice, and the pursuit of power. The pure-blooded aristocracy, desperate to maintain control, have begun a purge of Travelers and those with "Greater Magic," driving the realms into chaos. The gods are silent, the old prophecies speak of a child savior, and hope is a memory. The story opens with a scribe's desperate account of atrocities, setting the stage for a tale of survival, resistance, and the search for truth in a world built on lies.

Orphaned by War

Hyacinth ("Cin"), a girl with no memory of her past, is left at the gates of a fortress academy in Redelvtum. Raised among orphans, she forms a deep bond with Ata, her fierce, loyal friend. The academy, run by the legendary war general Asrai, is both a haven and a crucible, training children to survive in a world that despises their kind. Asrai secretly teaches Cin to wield forbidden shadow magic, risking her own life. The trauma of war, the ache of lost family, and the longing for belonging shape Cin's identity as she grows into a young woman on the cusp of adulthood.

Choice Day's Burden

On Choice Day, those of age may leave their realm forever, becoming Travelers—once honored, now reviled. Cin faces the agony of leaving the only home she's known, torn between the safety of the academy and the need to discover her origins. Her relationships with Ata, the protective but controlling Taft, and the brotherly Ardan and Wren, are tested as she prepares to step into the unknown. The world outside is perilous, and the act of leaving is both an act of courage and a sentence of exile.

Bonds of Sisterhood

Ata and Cin's relationship is the emotional core of the story. Their sisterhood, forged in hardship, is a source of strength and vulnerability. Ata, secretly a pureblood Hanth witch, hides her true nature even from Cin, while Cin's own magic is a secret that could get them both killed. Their mutual support, teasing, and fierce loyalty are a bulwark against the cruelty of the world. The academy's found family—Ardan, Wren, Taft, and others—form a surrogate kinship, but secrets and unspoken pain threaten to fracture these bonds.

Shadows Unleashed

When Redelvtum is attacked, Cin is forced to use her forbidden shadow magic to protect the academy's children. The unleashing of her power is both awe-inspiring and terrifying, drawing the attention of enemies and marking her as a target. The attack is brutal—monstrous Tragi, betrayal from within, and the collapse of sanctuary. Asrai's sacrifice and the intervention of mysterious allies (Landers, Pri, Andrues) allow Cin and her friends to escape, but at a terrible price. The trauma of violence, the guilt of survival, and the burden of power weigh heavily on Cin.

The Gathering Storm

The survivors flee through haunted forests and hostile realms, pursued by enemies and haunted by their own fears. Landers, a Traveler of immense power and secret lineage, becomes both protector and challenger to Cin. The journey is fraught with danger—monsters, magical traps, and the ever-present threat of betrayal. The group's unity is tested by secrets, jealousy, and the trauma of loss. Training with Landers, Cin learns to control her shadows, but the cost is physical and emotional pain. The world outside the academy is more brutal and beautiful than she ever imagined.

Betrayal and Sacrifice

The group's safety is repeatedly compromised by betrayal—most painfully, by Taft, whose possessiveness and jealousy lead him to betray Cin to their enemies. Ata is captured and tortured; Pri is gravely wounded. Cin, wracked by guilt and desperate to save her friend, makes a deal with the enemy, sacrificing herself to secure Ata's freedom. The theme of sacrifice—of self, of love, of innocence—runs through the story, as does the question of who is worthy of trust. The cost of survival is high, and the wounds are both physical and psychic.

The Price of Power

Held captive by the High Priest of The Silliands, Cin is paraded as a prize and forced to confront the nature of her power. The cruelty of her captors, the suffering of innocents, and the trauma of her own abuse push her to the brink. In a moment of rage and desperation, she unleashes her full magic, killing her captors and escaping with the help of two servant girls and a dragon, Nithra. The revelation that her magic is not just forbidden, but godlike, changes everything. The price of power is isolation, guilt, and the knowledge that she is both weapon and hope.

Into the Maw

Gravely wounded, Cin is saved by her dragon and the intervention of her friends. In Ithia, the healers cannot cure her—her wound is poisoned by magic. As she hovers between life and death, she is visited by visions of her mother and the gods. The truth of her parentage is revealed: she is the child of a god and a mortal, the prophesied savior. The trauma of her past, the loss of Ardan, and the burden of destiny threaten to break her, but the love of her found family and the memory of those lost give her the strength to rise.

The Dragon's Pact

Cin's bond with Nithra, the dragon, is a symbol of her acceptance of her power and her role as a leader. The survivors gather in Locdragoon, the last sanctuary, where Landers is revealed as king. The group is battered but not broken—Ata, Pri, Wren, Andrues, Asrai, and others form the core of a new resistance. The truth of the realms' history, the corruption of their leaders, and the nature of Greater Magic are laid bare. Cin's godblood is both a blessing and a curse, and she must decide how to wield it.

Death and Rebirth

The loss of Ardan devastates the group, especially Ata and Cin. Grief is a crucible, burning away illusions and forging new strength. The survivors confront their pain, their guilt, and their love for one another. Landers and Cin's relationship deepens, built on mutual respect, honesty, and the willingness to bear each other's scars. Ata and Cin's sisterhood is reaffirmed, and the group begins to heal. The theme of rebirth—of self, of family, of hope—emerges as the survivors prepare for the final battle.

The Godblood Revelation

Asrai reveals the truth: Cin is the daughter of a god and a mortal, the child prophesied to unite the realms and bring peace. Her necklace is a relic of divine power, and her magic is the key to salvation or destruction. The trauma of abandonment, the longing for belonging, and the fear of her own power are confronted. Cin must choose whether to embrace her destiny or flee from it. The support of her friends, the memory of her mother, and the love of Landers give her the strength to accept who she is.

The Queen Ascends

In Locdragoon, Cin is crowned queen, not by blood but by the will of her people and the power of her magic. The traitors are unmasked, the enemies are named, and the survivors prepare for war. The themes of leadership, sacrifice, and the forging of a new order are central. Cin's journey from orphan to queen is complete, but the cost has been immense. The story ends with a vow: if war is what the enemy wants, then war is what they will get. The Book of Cin is open, and its first words are written in blood and hope.

The Traitor's Face

Taft's betrayal is revealed in full—his jealousy, his manipulation, and his willingness to sacrifice Cin and her friends for his own ends. The confrontation is brutal, and Cin's rejection of him is absolute. The theme of abuse—physical, emotional, and psychological—is confronted head-on. Cin's refusal to be defined by her trauma, her willingness to fight for herself and her family, and her demand for justice are acts of reclamation. The traitors are cast down, and the survivors stand together, forged by pain and love.

Forged in Grief

The survivors mourn their dead, confront their pain, and begin to heal. Ata and Cin's friendship is reaffirmed, Pri and Wren find solace in each other, and Landers and Cin's love becomes a source of strength. The theme of chosen family—of bonds forged in hardship and love—is central. The survivors are not unscarred, but they are unbroken. The story ends with a sense of hope, a belief that even in a world of darkness, light can be found in the love we give and receive.

The Last Sanctuary

Locdragoon stands as the last sanctuary, a place of hope and resistance. The survivors gather, the children are saved, and the new order is forged. But the threat of war looms, and the cost of peace is high. Cin, now queen and godblood, stands ready to lead her people into the storm. The Book of Cin is not just a record of suffering, but a testament to resilience, love, and the refusal to be broken. The story ends with a vow: if the enemy wants war, then let them come. The queen is ready.

Characters

Hyacinth "Cin"

Cin is the heart of the story—a girl orphaned by war, raised in an academy, and marked by trauma and longing. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she moves from lost child to powerful leader. Her shadow magic, at first a secret and a curse, becomes the key to her identity and destiny. Cin's relationships—with Ata, Taft, Ardan, Wren, Asrai, Landers, and others—are the crucible in which her character is forged. She is defined by her empathy, her courage, and her refusal to be broken by abuse or betrayal. Her arc is one of reclamation: of power, of self, of hope.

Ata

Ata is Cin's best friend and surrogate sister, a pureblood Hanth witch who hides her true nature to survive. Her relationship with Cin is the emotional anchor of the story—protective, teasing, and deeply loving. Ata's own trauma—her fear of her magic, her self-harm, her struggle to accept love—mirrors Cin's journey. Her romance with Ardan is a slow-burning, tragic love, and her grief at his loss is devastating. Ata's arc is one of self-acceptance, healing, and the willingness to fight for those she loves.

Landers

Landers is a Traveler, a king in hiding, and a man marked by centuries of war and loss. His relationship with Cin is built on mutual respect, honesty, and the willingness to bear each other's scars. He challenges Cin, supports her, and ultimately loves her for who she is. Landers's own trauma—his abusive father, the loss of his family, the burden of leadership—shapes his character. His arc is one of vulnerability, the willingness to love again, and the acceptance of his own worth.

Taft

Taft is a complex figure—at first a protector and lover, but ultimately revealed as abusive, jealous, and willing to betray Cin and her friends for his own ends. His arc is a cautionary tale about the dangers of possessiveness, the corrosive nature of jealousy, and the need to break cycles of abuse. His confrontation with Cin is a moment of reclamation for her, and his downfall is both tragic and necessary.

Ardan

Ardan is the "glue" of the found family—a healer, a warrior, and a brother in all but blood. His love for Ata is deep and unspoken, and his death is a shattering loss for the group. Ardan's arc is one of selfless love, the willingness to sacrifice for others, and the quiet strength that holds families together. His memory is a source of healing and hope for those left behind.

Wren

Wren is Ardan's brother, an intelligence officer, and a man marked by loss and longing. His relationship with Pri is a source of solace and healing, and his loyalty to his friends is unwavering. Wren's arc is one of grief, recovery, and the willingness to fight for a better world.

Pri

Pri is an intelligence officer, a survivor of torture and betrayal, and a woman who has learned to love again after unimaginable pain. Her relationship with Wren is a testament to the power of vulnerability and the possibility of healing. Pri's arc is one of reclaiming agency, forging new bonds, and refusing to be defined by her trauma.

Andrues

Andrues is a necromancer, healer, and Landers's right hand. He is the steady presence in the group, offering wisdom, healing, and a quiet strength. His loyalty to Landers and the group is unwavering, and his arc is one of service, sacrifice, and the willingness to bear the burdens of others.

Asrai

Asrai is the war general, matron of the academy, and Cin's surrogate mother. Her own trauma—the loss of her lover, the burden of leadership, the pain of sending children into war—shapes her character. Asrai's arc is one of resilience, the willingness to love and lose, and the hope that the next generation can do better.

Dukovich (High Priest of The Silliands)

Dukovich is at first the story's primary antagonist—a captor, torturer, and symbol of the realms' corruption. But his true motives are more complex: he seeks hope, redemption, and the possibility of a better world. His arc is one of deception, revelation, and the possibility of change.

Plot Devices

Found Family and Chosen Kin

The story's emotional core is the found family—orphans, outcasts, and survivors who choose each other in a world that rejects them. The bonds between Cin, Ata, Ardan, Wren, Pri, Landers, Andrues, and others are forged in trauma, tested by betrayal, and ultimately become the source of their strength. The theme of chosen family is contrasted with the cruelty of bloodlines and the failure of traditional kinship.

Trauma, Abuse, and Reclamation

The story does not shy away from the realities of abuse—physical, emotional, and psychological. Cin's journey is one of reclaiming agency, breaking the cycle of trauma, and refusing to be defined by her abusers. The confrontation with Taft is a moment of catharsis, and the healing that follows is hard-won and incomplete. The story is unflinching in its depiction of pain, but also in its belief in the possibility of healing.

Magic as Metaphor

Magic in Nimbria is both literal and symbolic—a source of wonder, fear, and oppression. The persecution of those with Greater Magic is a metaphor for prejudice, and Cin's journey is one of accepting her difference and learning to wield it responsibly. The revelation of her godblood is both a blessing and a curse, and the story interrogates the cost of power and the burden of destiny.

Betrayal, Sacrifice, and Forgiveness

Betrayal is a recurring motif—by friends, lovers, and leaders. The story explores the pain of betrayal, the cost of sacrifice, and the possibility (or impossibility) of forgiveness. The willingness to sacrifice for others is both a source of strength and a source of pain, and the story asks what is worth dying for—and what is worth living for.

Narrative Structure and Foreshadowing

The Book of Cin is framed as a "true account" within the world, a record of suffering and hope. The use of prophecy, scribe's accounts, and the motif of "The Stories" creates a sense of inevitability and weight. Foreshadowing is used to build tension—the prophecy of a child savior, the hints of betrayal, the looming threat of war. The narrative is cyclical, with themes and motifs returning in new forms.

Analysis

The Book of Cin is a sweeping, emotionally charged fantasy that explores the trauma of war, the pain of abuse, and the redemptive power of chosen family. At its heart, it is a story about reclaiming agency in a world determined to break you—about the courage to love, to trust, and to hope in the face of overwhelming darkness. The novel interrogates the cost of power, the burden of destiny, and the possibility of healing after unimaginable loss. Its depiction of abuse is unflinching, but its belief in the possibility of recovery is profound. In a world built on lies and violence, Cin's journey—from orphan to queen, from victim to leader—is a testament to resilience, empathy, and the refusal to be defined by the worst things that happen to us. The Book of Cin is ultimately a story about the power of stories: to wound, to heal, and to forge a new future from the ashes of the old.

Last updated: July 9, 2025