Jon Cronshaw – The King of Nobledark
Gritty heroic fiction about people trying to preserve something worth fighting for in dark times.
I’ve completed The Silent Watcher draft and sent it to alpha readers. Also starting my gritty Sentinel novel in the Ravenglass Guardians series.
This week, I finished my draft of The Silent Watcher—the first completed novel in my Ravenglass Guardians series—and sent it to alpha readers for early feedback.
I’ve also begun the next standalone in the series, centred on the Sentinel faction.
While The Silent Watcher is a slow-burn psychological thriller, the Sentinel novel is shaping up to be a gritty military fantasy—both firmly in nobledark territory.
On a personal note, my son is off to Denmark to compete in the Youth Games for karate.
This week, I reached 75% of my Watcher draft in the Ravenglass Guardians series and began outlining the next standalone novel, which will follow the Guardians’ Sentinel faction.
This week, I’ve made solid progress on my Watcher story in the Ravenglass Guardians series, hitting the 75% mark in my draft.
If everything continues smoothly, I should have a complete draft by the end of next week.
I’ve also been outlining the next standalone novel, which will follow a character from the Guardians’ Sentinel faction. Each book in this series will explore a different path of the Guardians, with all seven forming a powerful nobledark saga.
This week, I reached the midpoint of my first Ravenglass Guardians novel, a nobledark fantasy with political thriller vibes. I’m planning seven 60k-word standalones, written before Patreon release.
This week, I hit the mid-point in drafting my first Ravenglass Guardians novel, focusing on the Watchers faction. It’s a nobledark fantasy with strong political thriller elements.
Since each of the seven planned books will be standalone, this may not be the first released—but my goal is to write the full series before launching it on Patreon.
I’m aiming for 60k-word novels (like my Guild of Assassins books), which allows me to draft a solid book in about four weeks, writing 3,000 words per weekday—a pace I’ve kept up for years. It’s a challenge, but one I’m excited to push through!
This week, I began work on my new seven-book nobledark fantasy series about the Guardians in the Ravenglass Universe, reaching 25% of Book 1. Plus, I share why I’m focusing on shorter, 60k-word novels.
This week, I’ve dived into my new series set in the Ravenglass Universe, focusing on the Guardians—a seven-novel, nobledark fantasy exploring the different paths within the order. I’ve written the first six chapters of Book 1, putting me at 25% of the draft already.
I also reflect on my shift toward writing more 60,000-word novels, similar in length to the Guild of Assassins books. This feels like the sweet spot for the kinds of focused, intense stories I want to tell going forward. Exciting times ahead!
This week, I finished drafting The Prince and the Fool, rebuilt my book page at joncronshaw.com/books, and fully embraced my rebrand as the King of Nobledark. A productive, intense week!
This week has been a busy and intense one! I’m thrilled to share that I’ve finished the draft of The Prince and the Fool (Ravenglass Legends, Book 4). It’s always a huge relief hitting that final chapter.
On top of that, I’ve been deep in website work—the book page platform I’d been using suddenly stopped working, so I rebuilt everything from scratch. You can now browse my updated book catalogue at joncronshaw.com/books.
I’ve also leaned further into my King of Nobledark rebrand, making sure everything aligns with the tone and themes of my work. It’s been a lot—but worth it.
This week, I reached 75% on The Prince and the Fool draft, prepped Punks Versus Zombies for its September 1 Kindle launch (pre-order now!), and enjoyed a short break in Blackpool.
This week, I’ve made solid progress on The Prince and the Fool (Ravenglass Legends, Book 4), hitting the 75% mark in the draft. The story’s really coming together now as I push toward the final act.
I’m also busy getting Punks Versus Zombies ready for launch on Kindle, September 1, 2025. It’s up for pre-order now, so lock in your copy for a wild post-apocalyptic ride!
On a personal note, I had a fun night away in Blackpool—a much-needed change of scene that’s helped recharge the creative batteries.
After taking last week off, I’m back at the writing desk and making great progress on The Prince and the Fool (Ravenglass Legends, Book 4).
I’ve just hit the mid-point of the book—and the series itself!
I’ll be sharing unedited chapters on Patreon over the next few weeks for those following along early.
This week, I also chat about reading Homecoming by Robin Hobb—a beautifully written book as always—and watching Baby Reindeer on Netflix, a dark but excellent drama that’s definitely stayed with me.
On a less fun note, I’ve been nursing a bad back, which means I’ve had to miss out on seeing one of my favourite bands, James.
Hoping to be back on my feet properly soon!
Discover the Order of the Guardians in the Ravenglass Universe. Learn about their seven paths, philosophy, leadership, and how they shape the world across epic fantasy series like Ravenglass Throne, Ravenglass Legends, and more.
The Guardians stand as one of the most intricate and morally layered institutions in the Ravenglass Universe.
Formed in response to centuries of war, oppression, and cultural devastation, the Guardians emerged from the ruins of broken systems with a radical new purpose.
They are neither a military force nor a religious sect, but a decentralised order bound by a shared commitment to truth, balance, and service.
Operating in secrecy and often in tension with ruling powers, the Guardians represent a unique answer to the question of how to do good in a world shaped by conquest.
The Guardians exist outside the structures of empire, monarchy, and temple.
They are guided by three core principles that define their mission across the Ravenglass Universe.
Balance Over Dominance: The Guardians resist all forms of absolute control.
They aim not to topple governments or seize power, but to maintain equilibrium by ensuring no single ideology, empire, or institution becomes dominant.
Truth Over Convenience: In a world where truth is often manipulated or erased, the Guardians preserve facts that others would prefer forgotten.
They protect knowledge, maintain hidden archives, and guard against historical revisionism.
Service Over Self: Guardians renounce personal ambition and political allegiance.
Their loyalty lies only with those who cannot defend themselves, with the oppressed, the forgotten, and the silenced.
The Order recognises that one solution cannot address every problem.
To meet the demands of a complex world, the Guardians operate through seven specialised paths, each with its own tools, philosophy, and domain.
Watchers are the Order’s unseen eyes, observing without interference or personal bias.
They track power, corruption, and injustice over the long term.
Primary Role: Observation, surveillance, intelligence gathering.
Methods: Deep cover, cultural immersion, network cultivation.
Weapons: Concealed ravenglass daggers for discretion and defence.
Leadership: Klug, a wyvern whose longevity brings depth to strategic insight.
Watchers are not agents of sabotage or espionage.
They simply witness—providing critical knowledge to help the other paths act effectively.
Keepers preserve what must not be lost.
They carry the memory of civilisations and ideas across generations.
Primary Role: Archival preservation, education, cultural safeguarding.
Methods: Library maintenance, translation, schooling.
Weapons: Engraved ravenglass staves used more for ceremony than battle.
Leadership: Friderich Ostehild, a scholar dedicated to resisting cultural erasure.
Keepers ensure that wisdom is not swept away by conquest or dogma.
They teach the next generation, protect endangered traditions, and oppose historical amnesia.
Apothecaries walk the line between restoration and necessary harm.
They understand that health extends beyond the individual to entire communities.
Primary Role: Healing, care, targeted elimination of systemic threats.
Methods: Traditional medicine, trauma care, precise poisoning.
Weapons: Ravenglass instruments for surgical use or discreet action.
Leadership: Amalia Thornwick, a healer who recognises when silence kills.
Apothecaries may cure a village of plague one day, then poison the governor who let the disease spread the next.
Their work is rooted in justice as much as compassion.
Inquisitors specialise in uncomfortable answers.
They combine logic, philosophy, and interrogation to uncover hidden realities.
Primary Role: Investigation, truth-seeking, mediation.
Methods: Discourse, psychological probing, formal questioning.
Weapons: Ravenglass maces as symbols of intellectual authority.
Leadership: Peterade, a former jester turned philosopher-interrogator.
Inquisitors don’t punish dissent.
They examine it, looking for causes, contradictions, and consequences in pursuit of clarity rather than conformity.
Sentinels are defenders, not conquerors.
They stand between the vulnerable and the violent.
Primary Role: Defence, sanctuary, civilian protection.
Methods: Guarding safehouses, protecting convoys, battlefield restraint.
Weapons: Ravenglass longswords, hammers, and lances.
Leadership: Virium, a seasoned defender who values strength through restraint.
Sentinels offer shelter in times of crisis.
They enforce boundaries not through conquest but through guardianship.
Seekers extend the Guardians’ reach to the margins of the world.
They work where imperial maps fail and foreign cultures are dismissed.
Primary Role: Exploration, diplomacy, cultural preservation.
Methods: Long-term immersion, translation, artifact recovery.
Weapons: Personalised ravenglass tools adapted to local environments.
Leadership: Vacant since Maja assumed broader responsibilities.
Seekers build bridges between peoples and histories.
They recover what empires would bury and learn what rulers refuse to understand.
Shadows do what others cannot.
Their actions are unrecorded, their faces unknown.
Primary Role: Assassination, infiltration, sabotage.
Methods: Identity suppression, covert manoeuvres, final recourse.
Weapons: Silent ravenglass tools designed for stealth and certainty.
Leadership: Witz, a wyvern whose memories map centuries of darkness.
When diplomacy and healing fail, when reform becomes impossible, the Shadows act so that others may still walk in the light.
The Guardians structure their leadership to avoid the pitfalls that brought down previous institutions.
No one is above scrutiny.
Each of the seven paths is led by a Meister with full authority in their domain.
Together, the Meisters form a council where all decisions of consequence must be unanimous.
This ensures accountability and prevents dominance by any single ideology or personality.
The Arch Meister serves not as a ruler but a unifier.
This position requires deep familiarity with all seven paths and a commitment to fairness and collective action.
Current Arch Meister: Maja Wolfsbane, chosen not for power, but for her ability to balance vision with consequence.
If the council agrees unanimously, the Arch Meister can be removed, reinforcing the primacy of collective will over personal ambition.
The Guardians appear across multiple series in the Ravenglass Universe, acting as a moral undercurrent beneath shifting political tides.
They are not a ruling faction.
They are a force for restoration, truth, and balance operating across kingdoms, continents, and centuries.
Where others seek control, the Guardians offer resistance to corruption, guidance to the lost, and memory to the forgotten.
The Guardians model an institution built on restraint, nuance, and commitment to principle.
They embrace complexity where others demand loyalty.
Their structure—diverse, decentralised, yet unified—suggests how real change might endure in the face of tyranny.
They show that heroism doesn’t always wear a crown or wield a blade.
Sometimes, it teaches a child to read, or watches from the shadows, or simply says no when silence is easier.
The Guardians ask what power is for—and answer with service.
Discover 10 powerful fantasy novels featuring the conquered homeland trope. From grimdark revenge to political rebellion, this list includes The Fall of Wolfsbane, The Rage of Dragons, and more must-read epic fantasy titles.
There’s something deeply compelling about fantasy stories where the protagonist’s home is invaded, destroyed, or taken over.
The conquered homeland trope is a powerful foundation for tales of resistance, identity, and revenge—and it’s one that’s resonated with readers for generations.
Here are ten gripping fantasy novels where everything is lost… and the real story begins.
Tau’s people are attacked. His family is destroyed. He turns from soldier to weapon.
Set in a world inspired by African cultures, The Rage of Dragons turns the vengeance dial up to ten.
Tau’s homeland may be ruled by a rigid caste system and caught in endless war, but he’s determined to break the cycle—even if it kills him.
The Nikara Empire falls to invaders. Rin’s schooldays become a distant memory.
She’s faced with an impossible choice: bow to the new order or unleash the god of fire within her.
Brutal, brilliant, and based loosely on the Second Sino-Japanese War, this book doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war.
It asks what it takes to reclaim what’s lost.
In a Norse-inspired world where the gods are dead, their bones fuel empires.
Three characters navigate a brutal land ruled by ambition and blood.
As power-hungry jarls clash and towns are razed, the idea of home becomes something worth bleeding for.
Baru’s homeland is conquered not by war, but by economic and cultural domination.
She rises through the empire’s ranks with one goal: destroy it from within.
A cerebral, slow-burning tale of strategy, loyalty, and the cost of vengeance.
Baru Cormorant flips the conquered homeland trope on its head—with devastating effect.
Ancient forces rise. Kingdoms burn. Young Corban sees his home fall to betrayal and death.
This is traditional epic fantasy with a heart.
The pain of losing one’s homeland becomes the fuel for a much larger war.
Though not a direct conquest narrative, Graceling includes the fall of safe places and the corruption of kingdoms.
Control, tyranny, and fear spread across borders.
Katsa’s journey reflects a world where power leaves ruin in its wake.
The Fulcrum’s brutal control of orogenes is a conquest in everything but name.
The world is wracked by apocalypse-level disasters.
When Essun’s personal world collapses, she must survive the empire’s systems and betrayals.
A story of survival, identity, and reckoning.
This is a more courtly and political story.
But Chalion explores what it means to rebuild a cursed and fallen kingdom.
Divine forces meddle in mortal politics.
Redemption comes slowly, and the idea of a broken homeland remains central.
Space opera meets Byzantine intrigue.
A lone ambassador represents a swallowed culture.
She must navigate identity, politics, and survival within the empire that erased her people.
This is a conquest of memory, language, and thought.
A brilliant take on cultural colonisation.
They took his home. Executed his father.
Now they want to make him one of them.
In this Norse-inspired epic, Ragnar Wolfsbane watches everything crumble when the Ostreich Empire invades his homeland.
His sister, Maja, is taken hostage.
His people are enslaved.
And he’s dragged to the enemy capital as a political pawn.
But Ragnar hasn’t surrendered—he’s just biding his time.
As wyverns whisper secrets and the empire demands loyalty, Ragnar burns with the need for revenge.
Told through dual POV, The Fall of Wolfsbane is an emotional, character-driven story about resistance, loyalty, and the long path to rebellion.
Perfect for fans of The Rage of Dragons, The Shadow of the Gods, and The Poppy War.
The conquered homeland isn’t just about war. It’s about identity.
It’s about finding out who you are when the place that defined you is erased.
These books offer revenge, redemption, and rebellion.
They show us what happens when characters lose everything—and decide to rise anyway.
Have a favourite “conquered homeland” story we missed? Let us know in the comments.
Note: This post includes affiliate links.
This week, I focused on admin tasks ahead of Severed Bonds (Ravenglass Throne Part 3) launching May 19, and the Patreon audio release of Book 4. Looking forward to getting back to writing soon!
This week’s been all about the behind-the-scenes work—the less glamorous side of being an author. I’ve been deep in admin, getting everything in place for the release of Severed Bonds (The Ravenglass Throne, Part Three) on May 19, and preparing the audio edition of Book 4 for my Patreon supporters.
It’s been a week of formatting, uploading, scheduling, and ticking boxes—but not much creative work. I’m itching to get back to actual writing and into the worlds that excite me.
Thanks for bearing with me during the admin grind—stories are coming soon!
