Ta daa! Cover reveal for Bound By Scale and Blossom, Book Two in the Celestial Throne series.

‘A gripping epic fantasy filled with betrayal, dangerous secrets, assassins, dragons and a disgraced soldier forced to decide whether saving the empire is worth forgiving the man who destroyed his life.’ The Wishing Shelf

Pre-Order your copy of Book Two here

Book Two: Bound by Scale and Blossom releases December 5th, 2026.

Do you love classic epic fantasy sagas? Want to immerse yourself in a new world rife with legends, myths, and dragons? Looking for new characters to tug at your heartstrings? Then Forged by Betrayal and Blood, the first book in my new epic fantasy Celestial Throne series is now available and here is the gorgeous cover for book two designed by Jeff Brown. Isn’t the artwork amazing?

Betrayal comes in all shapes and sizes. It’s how you let them affect you that will forge your path in life.

Artwork by Jeff Brown Graphics

Even the truth looks like madness when your mind is fractured.

Despite the shattering revelations uncovered within the Sanctuary, Vael remains convinced that the voices whispering in his mind are nothing more than the hallucinations of a traumatised man, and no matter how upset they get with him, it did not mean they were real.

But his grip on reality is the least of his worries. Exhausted and starving after a gruelling trek through a seemingly endless tunnel, Vael and his exhausted soldiers finally stumble into the foreign realm of Kintsber. Yet, survival offers no reprieve.

The enigmatic Kints are fiercely unwelcoming, and tensions escalate when their eminent seer unexpectedly names Vael as her chosen consort. As his men watch him slip deeper into strange, inexplicable behaviours, they fear their commander is completely losing his mind.

With Farsolian aggression worsening, and Kint politics barring their way, will Vael and his men ever survive to return home and face the emperor and his generals?

Bound by Scale and Blossom is the gripping second instalment in the Celestial Throne epic fantasy series by Helen Garraway. Perfect for fans of complex characters, rich mythological lore, and gritty, high-stakes conflict.

Book One: Forged By Betrayal and Blood

‘I was enraptured from the first page all the way to the last word. There is a lot of action, adventure, found family, betrayal, magic, A little romance and dragons! The characters are all well written, they all have depth and they are all very engaging. Helen’s world building is stunning and she weaves and blends it brilliantly and beautifully throughout the story. I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend reading it!!! And I can’t wait for the second book to come out!!!’ Raelene, ARC Reader

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

‘Another excellent book by master story teller Helen Garraway. I was quickly hooked and then reeled in to immerse myself in the story. I had to force myself to stop reading at 1 am so I could go to sleep. I kept telling myself: I’ll read just one more chapter.’ Bob, ARC Reader

Vael Tor Arne, commonly known as the Butcher of Leif, has spent the last ten years roaming the wilds of Surosha. Disgraced and outcast, he is not welcome anywhere, not even in his own home.

Never managing to rise above the rank of lieutenant in the Emperor’s army, Vael does his best to protect his men against the taint that follows him. Should the opportunity ever arise, he would gladly kill Emperor Talon Shaleri the Deranged, the man who ruined his life.

The Celestial Throne lacks its dragon, its protector, and the empire is suffering as the new emperor struggles to retain control. The emperor is weak, in power and in health. He needs to right a wrong, now he has the power to do so, before he can focus on saving his empire. But righting that wrong may not be so simple, and the man he needs to forgive him is the one man who hates him.

Dogged by persistent Farsolian warriors, who can’t decide if they want to capture or kill them, Vael and his men battle to survive. With no hope of help, Vael must avoid the war bands and the emperor’s generals long enough to choose a side. Will the Farsolian uprising be his salvation or will the Emperor finally sign his death warrant?

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also a prequel novella from the SoulMist world, Oathsworn and get notified when my next books are published.

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Watch this space for the forthcoming cover reveal for Bound By Scale and Blossom, Book Two in the Celestial Throne series.

Pre-Order your copy of Book Two here

Book Two: Bound by Scale and Blossom releases December 5th, 2026.

Betrayal comes in all shapes and sizes. It’s how you let them affect you that will forge your path in life.

Vael Tor Arne, commonly known as the Butcher of Leif, has spent the last ten years roaming the wilds of Surosha. Disgraced and outcast, he is not welcome anywhere, not even in his own home.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.

Author Event – Come and meet me at Questival

Questival

When: Saturday 3rd October, 2026, 09.45am-4pm

Where: Hulme hall, Port Sunlight, Wirral

Questival is your journey to loot, lore, and legends; a one day festival for the whole family celebrating the infinite worlds of fantasy fiction, comic books, and roleplaying games.

Join us for a day of limitless imagination and engagement meeting authors and artists, discovering new games and adventures, and getting creative with crafts and activities!

Get your ticket here!

Have a booklover in the family? Eager to find a new book to read? Signed by the author?

I’ll have my latest release, Forged By Betrayal and Blood, in paperback, and in a beautiful hardback.

Do your booklovers love dragons? Then I will have a limited number of the most amazing fantasy anthology with foiled cover, sprayed edges, beautiful artwork and 18 dragon-themed stories. The ideal present for your bookdragon hoarder!

Come and meet over twenty indie authors, all with tales to share and books to talk about. Everyone welcome.

Already bought my book and want it signed? Then I’m happy to sign your book for you.

If there is a specific book you want, then please let me know, so I make sure I bring enough copies and can reserve one for you, as now I have 16 books, I am limited by the number of books I can fit in my car!

Hope to see you there.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.

Author Event – Come and meet me at the Marlow Indie Book Fair

Marlow Indie Book Fair

When: Sunday 6th September, 2026, 10am-3pm

Where: Liston Hall, Liston Road, Marlow, SL1 1DD

FREE Entry

Have a booklover in the family? Eager to find a new book to read? Signed by the author?

I’ll have my latest release, Forged By Betrayal and Blood, in paperback, and in a beautiful hardback.

Come and meet over twenty indie authors, all with tales to share and books to talk about. Everyone welcome.

Already bought my book and want it signed? Then I’m happy to sign your book for you.

Hope to see you there.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.

Forged By Betrayal and Blood won a Silver Medal in the Global Book Awards

I am so thrilled to announce that Forged By Betrayal and Blood, the first book in the dark epic fantasy Celestial Throne Series won a SILVER MEDAL in the 2026 Global Book Awards.

If you are looking for a gritty, dark fantasy with themes of betrayal and how that shapes you, then join Vael and Disari on their journey to overcome every obstacle put in their way. Is it worth forgiving the one man who destroyed your life to save the world. Would you?

The 2026 Global Book Awards for Self-Published Authors.

The Global Awards aim to discover new talent as well as recognize fine examples of self-published books. As such, we hope they will give self-published authors the recognition they deserve, whether that is in their writing creativity, or in the way they have marketed their books to attract new readers.

In this modern age of self-publishing, books need to be appraised not only by their content and writing style, but also by the way they present and market themselves to the prospective buyer, whether that is in the good ratings it has on important stores like Amazon, its book cover and description, or the number of reviews it has collected. They must also appeal to new readers so part of the evaluation included a survey asking avid readers to select the top 5 books they enjoyed the most.

The awards are grouped by category (or genre) and divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Award Finalists.

Grab your copy today!

Vael Tor Arne, commonly known as the Butcher of Leif, has spent the last ten years roaming the wilds of Surosha. Disgraced and outcast, he is not welcome anywhere, not even in his own home.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

Forged By Betrayal and Blood is a Finalist in the Global Book Awards

I am so thrilled to announce that Forged By Betrayal and Blood, the first book in the dark epic fantasy Celestial Throne Series is a finalist in the 2026 Global Book Awards.

The 2026 Global Book Awards for Self-Published Authors.

The awards are grouped by category (or genre) and divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Award Finalists.

Grab your copy today!

Vael Tor Arne, commonly known as the Butcher of Leif, has spent the last ten years roaming the wilds of Surosha. Disgraced and outcast, he is not welcome anywhere, not even in his own home.

Author Interview – Mark Piggott

Steampunk Fantasy Author

It’s time to meet Fantasy author, Mark Piggott. I’m excited to talk to Mark about his latest book which is currently on preorder.

Helen: Welcome, Mark. Thank you for joining me today. I am so excited to chat about your new book.

Mark: My latest release is a dark fantasy called A MAKER OF MAGIC. A world divided by light and darkness. In the north, Engressia is a lush, fertile land filled with life. In the south, the Ebon Abyss is a dead zone filled with unimaginable horrors shrouded in total darkness. The only separation between the two is a stretch of land known as the Twilight Crossing. Here, a battle between the living and the dead has been going on for centuries. As forces within Engressia conspire with the Blood Countess to bring down the kingdom from within, a prophecy with the means to end the war comes to pass. From within the heart of Engressia, a destined duo are born, united to lead the fight against the undead horde: the Blademancer and the Enchanter.

Helen: This is quite a different style to your Avalon covers, how did you come up with the cover design?

Mark : The cover shows my love for anime style of art and to focus on the two main characters, the Blademancer and the Enchanter. I thought an anime style of art would fit the story and the styling of the characters. The blood moon represents the undead horde of the Ebon Abyss.

Helen: I like the mix of anime and dark fantasy, though it does have a DnD feel to it as well. What made you write this particular book?

Mark: My father passed away on Christmas Eve of 2023. In the months that followed, I spent every other week in my parents house, taking care of my mother and making necessary arrangements while teleworking my regular job. At night, while I sat in that empty house, I think the combination of grief and the sheer emptiness brought this story to life. I wrote it in the three months I was traveling back and forth. I never wrote horror before but I was a big fan of the classic movie monsters as a kid. I think being back in my old home brought those old feelings to surface. I wrote a strong father and mother in the story to emulate my parents. It was a difficult story to write but I needed to do it.

Helen: I found writing to be cathartic as well after such a loss. You typically write Steampunk but you also have a love of fantasy, don’t you?

Mark: I write both fantasy and steampunk. Fantasy has always been a passion of mine. I played D&D in my youth and my early days as a Navy Sailor. It helped to pass the time on long deployments. I also think the world building and character creation helped me in creating the many worlds found within my books. I also write steampunk because of my love for Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. I’ve always loved seeing modern technology in Victorian times and now I have a chance to create my own stories. I love history and being able to combine historical characters with my own in a steampunk historical fiction is fun to write.

Helen: You were obviously in training to be a writer while you were in the Navy! Who is your favourite character from your book?

Mark: I honestly have to say its Duke Jurgen Richter, the Duke of Stormwind and father of Levi Richter, the Enchanter. I emulated my own father in him, a strong military man whose love and devotion for family and country exceeded all. My father was a 22-year veteran of the Marine Corps who did two tours in Vietnam. He inspired me to my own military career in the Navy. I owe everything to my father and I hoped I instilled some of that into Jurgen and how he raised Levi to be the man he became in my story.

Helen: That is such a wonderful tribute to your father. Thank you so much for joining me today. I wish you all the best with your new release. Just to finish, what is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?

Mark: Talking with young readers who want to be writers is the best thing imaginable. Knowing that my journey as an author and my stories inspired them is the best feeling in the world. I get to talk to these future authors and help them on their journey is an amazing feeling.

About the Author – Mark Piggott

A native of Phillipsburg, N.J., Mark Piggott enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1982, beginning a 23-year career. He served on four aircraft carriers and various duty stations as a Navy Journalist before he attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He retired from active duty in 2006. He currently works as a writer-editor for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mark and his wife, Georgiene, live in Alexandria, Virginia. They have three children.

His first novel, Forever Avalon, was published in 2009. Since then, he has independently published over ten fantasy and steampunk novels, both self-published and through the small press publisher, Curious Corvid Publishing of Geneva, Ohio. Over the years, Mark has won several book awards for his flights of fantasy, including the 2022 AMG Indie Book Awards Grand Prize for Fiction (for The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart), 2024 finalist for the Golden Wizard Children’s Book of the Year and Canadian Book Club Awards (Gwen Iver and Pendragon’s Puzzle), 2025 NYC Big Book Award and Literary Titan Book Award (Corsair and the Sky Pirates), and The BookFest Book Awards, First Place for Fantasy—Magic, Myths, and Legends (The Last Magus: Dragonfire & Steel).

Follow Mark on social:

Preorder Bright One by Mark Piggott

UK: eBook
USA: eBook

As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.

If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.

Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

Book Review Alert: A Dance of Scales by Evelyn Grimald Stone

Reviewed: July 26th, 2026
Released: November 4th, 2025
Genre: Cozy Fantasy

Doctor Ross Rose has trained and worked for years to be the best human doctor to dragonkind that he can be. Now he’s leaving behind the comforts of the city and its society for the backwoods town of Vale’s Keep to be the dragon doctor to its winged residents. But Ross isn’t used to the ways of country life and is pretty sure he doesn’t fit in.

After taking on a crippled dragon to be his assistant, developing a distinct fondness for his housekeeper, Cecily, and running afoul of the most influential people in town when he accuses them of neglecting their dragons, Ross knows he’s in trouble. Everything gets worse when his genius sister runs away from his parents and ends up on his doorstep. He must navigate these new challenges and stand his ground against all those who want him out of the way.

Because Ross didn’t just come to Vale’s Keep to help dragons. He came here to find a magical flower that might just save his sister’s life. And he’s not going to give up that easily.

A Dance of Scales is the next book in the Dragons of Amontyr cozy standalone series. It features found family, standing up for what’s right, and, of course, dragons as far as the eye can see. This series can be read in any order.

Read My Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: The Wing Swept Sky by Evelyn Grimald Stone

Reviewed: July 26th, 2026
Released: May13th, 2025
Genre: Cozy Fantasy

Kayleigh Espinosa wanted nothing so much as to be a courier, running messages through the streets of her home, tracing her maps with her own two feet. But on her first day, her hopes are dashed when the Courier Guild’s newest transport dragon chooses her to be his rider. Only, Zapyros isn’t the usual transport dragon. He’s a wardancer, bred for combat and transferred into the Guild after losing his last rider. Now, Kayleigh must figure out what it means for to be a courier and a dragon rider.

When her training master takes a particular dislike to both Kayleigh and Zapyros, she takes matters into her own hands to be the best courier the Guild has ever seen. Facing dangerous flocks of dragons and lightning-filled storms, being a courier is more perilous than she thought. With new friends and a dragon at her side, Kayleigh takes to the skies in the Great Race, the Guild’s most anticipated competition. And she intends to win.

The Wingswept Sky is the first book in the Dragons of Amontyr cozy fantasy series. It features a neurodivergent main character, found family, and of course, dragons delivering the post.

Read My Thoughts…

Author Event – Come and meet me at the Thornbury Indie Book Fair

Thornbury Indie Book Fair

When: Saturday 1st, August, 2026, 10am-3pm

VIP entry 10-11am

Where: Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Thornbury, BS35 2AQ

FREE Entry after 11am

Bookish Raffle prizes to be won!

Have a booklover in the family? Eager to find a new book to read? Signed by the author?

I’ll have my latest release, Forged By Betrayal and Blood, in paperback, and in a beautiful hardback.

Come and meet over twenty indie authors, all with tales to share and books to talk about. Everyone welcome.

Already bought my book and want it signed? Then I’m happy to sign your book for you.

Hope to see you there.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.