Author Interview – Rebecca Harding

It’s time to meet Epic Fantasy author, Rebecca Harding,

Helen: Welcome to my blog, Rebecca. I’m very excited to chat to you about your book The Element of Gold which released in January of this year. Tell us a little about your book.

Rebecca: My current book is called The Element of Gold which is book 1 in the Goldstone series. It’s an epic fantasy about the quest for gold and what people are willing to sacrifice for power and wealth. However, it’s ultimately about finding our inner power and magic that exists within all of us – we all have an innate power to heal, grow and be conscious of the amazing life that we all are. The Element of Gold was inspired by The Lord of the Rings, A Game of Thrones, and there are also some elements of Gulliver’s Travels that appear in some chapters as well, so it’s a blend of epic fantasy with some extraordinary, whimsical moments that keep things interesting!

Helen: And your cover? Navy and gold go so well together. What were your thoughts behind the design?

Rebecca: I knew early on that I wanted the cover to be simple and that the Golden Egg would be the focus of the cover. I suppose the Golden Egg is sort of the main character — although there are multiple characters all with their own POVs, all the events unfold around the Golden Egg. So I wanted the Golden Egg to be the star of the cover!

Helen: Writing can be a bit addictive, I know I’m always plotting new stories. What are you currently working on?

Rebecca: My current WIP is the next book in the Goldstone series, so please keep a look out for its release probably sometime next year (although as writers, we know that the release date is often a large dose of wishful thinking!)

Helen: Best laid plans and all that! At least being Independently published we can set our own deadlines. I know this is a difficult question, but who is the favourite character you have written?

Rebecca: My favourite — don’t tell my other characters because they’ll probably give me insufferable writer’s block for the next book — but it’s probably Kyra.

Helen: So if your main character could tell us why to read your book, what would they say?

Rebecca: It’s hard to pinpoint a ‘main’ character in The Element of Gold, as I enjoyed creating several characters with their own spirits and journeys, but Kyra would say ‘read this book if you’re on a journey of reclaiming your power – in whatever way that looks like to you, this book will remind you about your incredible strength!’

Helen: Thank you so much for spending time with me today. I wish you all the best with your books. Just to finish, what is the most useful piece of writing advice you’ve received that you would share with other writers?

Rebecca: However you need to write your book — if that means writing at 2am, writing in a notebook, or writing upside down while riding a bicycle! — it doesn’t matter, just write the book! Put your perfectionist mind to the side and just allow the creativity to flow without judging it. The critic can return later when it’s time to edit, but don’t allow it to stop you from finishing your book — because it’s not just words on a page, it’s your voice and your unique journey.

About the Author – Rebecca Harding

Rebecca Harding is a fantasy author whose writing blends a deep love for the natural world with ancient philosophy and rich spirituality. Born in Hertfordshire, England, she spent her formative years exploring local woodlands and questioning the mysteries of existence — passions that naturally wove themselves into her storytelling.

Her debut novel, The Element of Gold, marks the beginning of her journey as a world-builder, exploring complex themes of inner power, elemental forces, and the unseen threads that connect all living things. When she isn’t writing or getting lost in philosophical debates, Rebecca can usually be found hiking, meditating, or looking for magic in the everyday.

Follow Rebecca on social:

Website

Instagram

Purchase The Element of Gold by Rebecca Harding

UK: eBook | Paperback
USA: eBook | Paperback

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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.

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An early view of the initial sketch for the cover design for Bound By Scale and Blossom

Book Two, Bound by Scale and Blossom is on pre order. Tentative release date, December 2026.

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

Book Review Alert: Sailing with the Storm Sorcerer by R.S.S Rodrigues

Reviewed: July 3rd, 2026
Released: April 11th, 2026
Genre: Cozy Fantasy

Sometimes, the world doesn’t need a hero. Sometimes it needs a caretaker.

Despite being called the Cloud-Maker, Nuvem’s rain spells almost never work. He lives quietly on a garden-raft along the Whisperbend River, helping where he can, and trying not to believe the whispers that say he simply isn’t very good at magic.
Then the rain begins.

After Nuvem uncovers an ancient relic in the marshlands, the river rises. Strange winged Watchers take to the skies, and secrets buried beneath the bog begin to stir. The people of Silverfern Hollow adapt with cheer and warmth, but something old has awakened, and it seems to be following him.
Why does the rain answer Nuvem now, when it never did before?
Why do the spirits of the river watch his every step?
And why do forgotten voices call him Keeper?

At his side are Ludovic, a merchant and scholar who sees worth where Nuvem sees only doubt, and Andy, his sharp-tongued axolotl familiar. Together, they set out into the marshlands in search of answers. There, among mushroom circles and lost villages caught between moments, he understands that magic does not always come from power.
Sometimes, it comes from care.

Read My Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: My Brother’s Keeper by Ben Schenkman

Reviewed: June 27th, 2026
Released: March 30th, 2026
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Magic is real, demons walk the earth, and Max’s brother is dead.

Max Asher, Jewish mystic and private-eye, never thought he’d be coming back to his home town to bury his twin brother, Solomon. He definitely never thought the funeral would turn into a case, but when Sol’s widow Gabby asks him to investigate the cause of death, “Uncle Max” is on the job.

When Max kicks the demon’s nest, he uncovers a conspiracy that forces him to reevaluate everything he thought he knew about his brother. Unfamiliar local politics blur the line between the supernatural and the mundane, and soon, fighting for justice becomes dangerously literal. If Max can uncover the murderer, he might just save his brother’s soul—but if he can’t, he’ll fall victim to the same deadly fate.

Putting the past to rest is going to take more than a shovel full of dirt.

Read My Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: Archaeology of the Stars by Estelle Tudor

Reviewed: June 16th, 2026
Released: July 15th, 2025
Genre: Steampunk Fantasy

Following her parents’ disappearance, Gwyndolyn Carstairs dreams of joining the hallowed halls of the Astro-Archaeology Guild just like they did. But when the map she painstakingly and diligently plotted goes missing-and with it all hopes of presenting to the Guild-she sees everything she longed for evaporate.

Realising there is someone with the temerity to enter her locked office, she follows her erstwhile colleague, Dr Nicodemus Aster, to the airship dock. There, a sudden storm thrusts her into an unwanted quest, and far away from everything she has ever known.

When adventure and academia collide, fuelled by secrets and lies, Gwyndolyn will need to rely on her deepest instincts and inner strength. Only then will she discover who to trust-and uncover the mystery of her parents’ vanishing-if she is to obtain what her heart desires the most.

Read My Thoughts…

Readers’ Favorite Awards Five Star Review for Forged by Betrayal and Blood

Reviewed by Ruﬃna Oserio for Readers’ Favorite

Forged by Betrayal and Blood by Helen Garraway opens the Celestial Throne series, a fantasy that brims with ancient magic, political intrigue, and a gritty redemptive journey. Vael Tor Arne, also known as the Butcher of Leif, is a disgraced soldier who has lived on the fringes of the empire, banished and haunted by a betrayal that destroyed not only his reputation but his family.

Farsolian warbands hunt Vael and his soldiers. His path leads to a lethal assassin, Disari, Sister of the Moon Blossom, whose mission to murder Emperor Talonm instead turns into an oath to destroy the oppressive sisterhood. When prophecies about the celestial dragons destined to protect the realm surface, Vael becomes the target of a sadistic warlord. Can he survive what is coming for him, protect his men, and find redemption?

Helen Garraway is a great entertainer, and her epic fantasy had me invested in her characters and how she explores their psychological wounds. Vael festers with survivor’s guilt and resentment, yet he is fond of his newfound family to whom he shows loyalty, especially Mort, the healer, and the protective Lars. Disari is another character who is grounded, struggling with the indoctrination by the Sisterhood and her desire for freedom. The setting is written with atmospheric detail, from the sanctuary’s stone archives to the Farsolian peaks and the snow that covers them. Forged by Betrayal and Blood is filled with action and scenes that test the human will.

Fans of Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing and The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon will find familiar thrills in the elements of military fantasy and dragon mythology; however, Garraway distinguishes her work through its examination of the cost of honor and the haunting question of whether a man broken by bloodshed can ever be free.

Book Two, Bound by Scale and Blossom is on pre order. Tentative release date, December 2026.

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 Oathsworn, the prequel novella to the SoulMist series, and get notified when my next books are published.

It’s Launch Day for Forged by Betrayal and Blood

‘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

Order your copy here

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.

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

‘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

‘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 Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.

Only Five days to the launch of Forged by Betrayal and Blood

Have you preordered yet? I can’t wait to share my new world with you: WWW.Books2Read.com/FBBB.

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 there is only five days to go and Forged by Betrayal and Blood, the first book in my new epic fantasy Celestial Throne series will be available.

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.

The Wishing Shelf Book Awards Five Star Review for Forged by Betrayal and Blood

21st May 2026
TITLE: FORGED BY BETRAYAL AND BLOOD, CELESTIAL THRONE,
BOOK 1
AUTHOR: HELEN GARRAWAY
Star Rating: 5

REVIEW
Helen Garraway throws readers straight into the action with Forged By Betrayal and Blood, and it doesn’t take long to get hooked. From the opening pages, the world feels dangerous, gritty and full of tension, with battles, political unrest and long-buried secrets all colliding at once. Vael is exactly the kind of fantasy lead that’s easy to root for — scarred by his past, carrying a terrible reputation, yet fiercely loyal to the men who stand beside him. The banter and loyalty within his group adds a lot of heart to
the story and keeps the darker moments balanced perfectly.

One of the strongest parts of the book is the character work. Vael and Emperor Talon are far more layered than they first appear, and watching their complicated history slowly unfold keeps the story compelling. Disari was another standout character for me. Her storyline brings a completely different perspective to the world, and her struggle between duty and freedom gives the book an emotional edge that works really well. None of the characters feel flat or predictable, which makes the shifting alliances and betrayals even more interesting.

The worldbuilding is rich without becoming overwhelming. Dragons, assassins, ancient gods and political power struggles all weave together naturally, and Garraway reveals details at a pace that keeps you wanting more. There’s a strong classic fantasy feel to the story, but it still feels fresh thanks to the character dynamics and the mystery surrounding the Celestial Throne and the missing dragons. The atmosphere throughout the book is fantastic — whether it’s brutal battles in the wilderness or tense
conversations in palace corridors.

Overall, Forged By Betrayal and Blood is a really enjoyable start to what feels like an epic fantasy series. It has action, intrigue, emotional moments and just enough mystery to keep the pages turning. If you enjoy character-driven fantasy with flawed heroes, dangerous politics and slow-burning secrets, this is definitely one to pick up. I’ll absolutely be reading the next book.

‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
http://www.thewsa.co.uk

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 – MCM Comic Con, London is a wrap!

MCM Comic Con London

When: Friday-Sunday, 22-24 May, 2026

Where: Writers Block, South Hall, Excel, London

I can’t believe the Comic con is over. It went so fast! I didn’t have time to explore as Writer’s Block was busy, but we saw all the amazing cosplay. Considering how hot it was over the weekend, there were some brave cosplayers.

In writers Block, top left is fantasy author, C.K Andersson, next is LL. Macrae, in the middle is Royalty Sky and at the bottom, Michael R. Miller.

Forged by Betrayal and Blood made its debut and drew quite a bit of attention, and was very well recieved. Launches on June 1st, 2026.

As was the Reign of Dragons. The foiled hard cover and sprayed edges catch the eye and then you still have 18 stories and all the interior artwork to enjnoy. Someone even said they need two, so they can display the dust jacket and the foiled cover!

If you had tickets, then I hope you enjoyed the day and survived the heat. Hope to see you all again in October.

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.