You’ve found the edge of the map, where worlds like Ermaeyth, Atar, and the Olympus Space Station exist.
This isn’t a newsletter. It’s a bleeding tome of the dark decrees. A place for stories soaked in trauma, lust, memory, and rot. If you like gods that fall, women who kill, or systems collapsing from the inside—you're home.
Here’s what lives here—and what it costs to see deeper.
I’m the author of the Dark Legacy Series, a character-driven, grimdark epic spanning the world of Ermaeyth, recounting the tales of powerful mages, bloodlusting Krey berserkers, assassins of The Atramentous Order, officers of the Grand Royal Army, maniacal politicians, all-powerful entities, and divine parasites. But there are more than these common folk lurking in forgotten corners of the globe; some are gods with their own designs, twisting mortals to free them.
At the heart of this world—and the planned eight book series—is the rohg'heras: the god-stones, or in the common tongue: brimstones. If one falls into the wrong hands, the devastation could be unfathomable; with all of them together, they hold the power of all creation. Navigate this world of complex allegiances, vicious betrayals, moral dilemmas, grisly mutinies, and the bloodiest war in generations.
What can you expect from The Dark Legacy Series?
Tone and Pacing—As a reviewer once said on Goodreads, "Belote’s writing style is a mix of Joe Abercrombie’s rough, real-world feel and George R.R. Martin’s large, epic storytelling." Some aspects of the story will clip along at a break-neck speed, while the larger story simmers at a slow-burn like Breaking Bad. All good things for those who wait ...
Robust Characters and Relationships—dive deep into distinct characters who struggle with their inner demons while navigating a ruthless and vivid world. Some decisions are easy to make, but it's the hard choices that shape a person, and in this case, the whole world. Navigate uneasy alliances, loyal comrades, treacherous friendships, and precarious romantic entanglements.
Multiple POVs—Follow men and women from all walks of life and ages; this tale covers magical and non-magical alike, antagonist and protagonists, those born of noble and the commoner classes.
Global Aspect—Experience new elements across the Ermaeyth: bizarre destinations, a plethora of races, and unique cultures thrown into the mix, from the mountainous city of Ralloc, the tiny Forgotten Isles, to the distant shores of the reclusive Kran Empire, and the seat of The Atramentous Order in the ancient city of Merlul.
War Front—Not everything can be solved in the political arena, and that's when you send in your best. Whether tackled from a grand scale of invading forces, or at the street level with a squad, when war comes, you answer the call. Dragons might rule the sky, but on the ground, the Krey are the lethal protectors.
Divinity Influences—The gods may not directly influence the workings of mortals, their instruments certainly can. The Lord of the Underworld has tasked his minions to breach the pall to the World of the Living. While considered an ethereal threat, the waking of a god among the living certainly can't be. But another weaves in and out of everyone's lives, the enigmatic Time Warden, and she keeps her plans to herself.
If you’re still on the fence about diving into this world, check out the reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. There’s far more on the former than the latter. It is my sincerest wish to get these last five books out as quickly as possible and into your hands. In the meantime, there are a plethora of other books available for you to read. I hope you pick up a copy and enjoy one of my many worlds.
What Else to Expect:
This Substack isn’t just for DLS.
I also write:
The Maro Prakk Novella Series—A dusty, brutal saga where The Witcher meets the cold-blooded wild west. One man rids Atar of criminal filth, one bloody corpse at a time. Trail justice requires two things: blood and violence.
The Warmaster Series—A tactical sci-fi for the damned. Psychological war horror meets command collapse, protocol failure, and making it home isn’t guaranteed. In the deep void, what breaks first—the mind or the body?
And more in development...
The Threshold: Tiers of Access
You can read this Substack for free. But like the Atramentous Order, the deeper rites require blood.
Free Tier
Public posts
Release announcements
Occasional mood drops and updates
Good for following the war from a distance.
The Black Tide (Paid Tier – $5/mo or $50/yr)
Access to private posts, concept drops, and dark fragments
Behind-the-scenes breakdowns of characters, scenes, and lore
AI art scenes from books unreleased, narrative experiments, and dev thoughts
Comment + reply privileges
You get closer to the fire—warmed, but not burned.
Ko-don (Founder Tier – $150/yr)
All Black Tide access
Priority response to questions, commentary, or lore inquiries
Monthly “ask me anything” threads for Founders only
The occasional scene breakdown, alternate fragment, or unseen moment—delivered like a secret.
Access to select ebooks from the archives—quietly gifted, never advertised.
On rare nights, the vault opens briefly, revealing unpublished scenes, early drafts, discarded chapters, forbidden fragments, or stories not yet published—for Ko-don eyes only.
This is the sanctum. Just raw story, shared in the dark, bleeding quietly, muttering whispers of madness.
Read freely. Support if you can. Join Ko-don if you're ready to bleed.
The door’s open. Step inside.