The Blurb, and Other Project Updates

Above: A red fox striking a pose against a snowy forested backdrop. Perhaps it was Kizunae (and Kiara, there were two of them) paying me a visit. Or maybe it was Inari’s messengers after we visited their shrine in Kyoto. Either way, they were beautiful.

February 6, 2026

I usually offer updates at the start of my blog posts, but I’m going to switch it up today.

The Blurb

Early last week, I announced that the title of The Way of the Wielder, book four is After the Awakening. It was so freeing to finally reveal that to the world, after keeping it close to my chest for two years. Today, I want to offer you another glimpse into that book—by sharing the blurb!

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The Great Wielders have succeeded.

The Idol is gone, the Goddess of Connection has returned, and magic is restored. Every living being now has a bond with an Elemental God. All is as it should be, but not all are pleased.

Aggressors are terrorizing the kingdom, spreading lies, instilling fear, and criminalizing the use of magic. But a resistance is forming. One that’s stronger, and wider-reaching, than the aggressor’s know.

The Great Wielders work with the crown to secure allies and support the resistance. Everyone has a part to play, but Jaslan’s strange new ability adds more questions to the mix. While Jack embraces his new role, he supports her need to return to the Forgotten Mountain. There, they seek out answers to their questions—and get a hint to ending the aggression for good.

The aggressor’s leadership will stop at nothing to get the justice they desire, even if it means ripping families apart. Even if it means holding an entire city captive. But when factions collide, truths are revealed—and justice is finally served.

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I’m so excited to share this book with you! We’re less than seven weeks away from its release, on March 24, 2026. Stay tuned for the cover reveal, the preorder link, and a bonus illustration just in time for release day!

Updates

Okay, now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to some updates.

After the Awakening: Cover art and professional editing are currently underway, and I expect to get both back by the end of February. I got some concept sketches for the cover, and I’m already in love with it. I can’t wait to show you all.

While I wait for those, I’ll continue preparing the book for publication. Front and back matter (dedication, acknowledgements, etc.) need to be developed, and with this being the last book in the series, I expect it to be a tearjerker for me. But that’s nothing new.

Rise of Iron: With The Way of the Wielder series coming to an end, I’ll be moving on to my next series, The Tredania Chronicles. Rise of Iron is the first book in that series, which is planned to be eight books. Yes, you read that right. Eight books. Get excited.

Fortunately, the first draft of Rise of Iron is already written. I’ll begin my self-editing process next week, which I expect will take a couple of months. If all goes well, I anticipate publishing that book in early-November. Stay tuned for more on that.

Standalone Cozy Fantasy: A couple of years ago, I got an idea for a story. A magic system that revolved around flowers, with environmental justice vibes, and a grumpy/sunshine dynamic where the woman is the grumpy one. At first, I didn’t have much detail, but it quickly grew legs. Knowing that I needed to focus on The Way of the Wielder series, I forced myself to put it aside.

Now that idea is swirling again. In fact, it’s swirling so much that I’ve just finished outlining it! So between getting one book ready for publication and editing another, I’ll be drafting this story. Some might say that’s too much on my plate at once, but I’m quite a good project manager, and I’m very much looking forward to this story finally getting told.

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That’s all I have for now. Thanks for reading. Be well, and stay creative.

~Sarah

PS—If you’re in New England this weekend, stay warm. Apparently, we’re going to have our coldest weekend of the winter. As if the last two months haven’t been cold enough.

PSS—Go Patriots!