An “expansive magical adventure” – Publishers Weekly on Tinderbox, Book 1 of ‘Tales from the Riven Isles’
In the epic conclusion of the Tales from the Riven Isles series, Ursa, a once selfish princess turned bitter exile, and Lucea, a determined chronomancer, must unite to stop the Rot threatening their world. Tasked with recovering the Steel Driver’s Hammer, a powerful relic, they face internal demons and external threats. Their journey through a world teetering on the brink of destruction reveals secrets that could save or doom the Riven Isles. Steelbound is a gripping tale of redemption, resilience, and the power of unity in the face of overwhelming darkness.
Tales from the Riven Isles is a dark fantasy series set in a world outside of our own, where the characters of myth and fairy-tales exist, and their legends live on. Featuring the novels: Tinderbox, Tarotmancer, The Hatter's Daughter and Steelbound.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to excellent original writing in horror, science fiction and fantasy. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress. Awarded independent publisher of 2024 by the British Fantasy Society.
Wendy A. Simpson is an award‑winning author of fantasy and science fiction whose work blends emotional resonance with genre‑defying imagination. She began writing at five and completed her first novel by fourteen, starting with mysteries before discovering speculative fiction through the influence of Ray Bradbury. Her contemporary, character‑driven style often centers strong, complex female protagonists navigating richly built worlds.
Her debut novel, Tinderbox, and its sequel, Tarotmancer, launched the Tales from the Riven Isles series with Flame Tree Press. Tinderbox reached the Top 100 on Amazon’s Best Sellers List in Black & African American Fantasy Fiction and won the 2022 Foreword INDIES Gold Award for Fantasy. The third installment, The Hatter’s Daughter, released in April 2025, and the final volume, Steelbound, arrives June 9, 2026. Critics have compared her work to N. K. Jemisin, L. Penelope, and Sarah J. Maas.
Wendy is currently developing several new projects for her readers, including The Girl of Morning Glory (MG contemporary fantasy), The Last Storyteller (grimdark fantasy), The Good Guys (AU contemporary fantasy), and Immortal Stream (science‑fantasy).
A proud Delaware native, she lives with her older brother — fondly known as Big Brother — and two diva cats. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, gardening, gaming, and streaming on Twitch as Runic Nightshade. Visit her at www.authorwasimpson.com to explore her works‑in‑progress and connect.
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