Siblings Torn Apart

Gyre and Maya, siblings on a remote farm, are torn apart when a centarch of the Twilight Order arrives to take Maya away, claiming she is special. Gyre's attempt to protect his sister ends in violence—he loses his eye, and Maya is spirited away, leaving their family broken. This traumatic event sets the siblings on diverging paths: Maya is inducted into the Order, while Gyre is left behind, scarred in body and soul, vowing vengeance against the Order that destroyed his family. The emotional wound of this separation, and the injustice of power wielded without mercy, will haunt both for years to come.

Twelve Years' Divergence

Twelve years later, Maya is a promising agathios, training to become a centarch, wielding the power of deiat to protect humanity from plaguespawn and dhakim. She is idealistic, eager, and desperate to prove herself. Gyre, meanwhile, has become a rebel in the city of Deepfire, known as Halfmask, fighting against the Republic and the Order's oppression. Both are shaped by their past: Maya by her desire to do good within the system, Gyre by his hatred of the Order's abuses. Their lives, though separate, are defined by the same wound, and the world they inhabit is one of decaying power, ancient threats, and the ever-present shadow of the past.

Order and Rebellion

Maya's training under Jaedia Suddenstorm is rigorous and compassionate, but the Order's politics are treacherous. She is sent on a mission with other agathia, including the ambitious Tanax, and the brilliant but awkward arcanist Beq. Meanwhile, Gyre's rebel cell, led by the charismatic Yora, strikes at the corrupt dux Raskos, stealing arcana and fighting for the tunnelborn's rights. Both siblings are drawn into webs of intrigue: Maya faces the Order's suspicion and the Dogmatics' machinations, while Gyre is approached by the enigmatic Kit, who offers a chance at real power. The siblings' choices are shaped by the systems they serve or resist, and the lines between heroism and villainy blur.

Shadows of Deepfire

Maya's mission leads her to confront a dhakim and plaguespawn in Bastion, testing her courage and compassion. She is forced to kill for the first time, and the cost of power becomes real. Gyre's crew, meanwhile, is drawn into a high-stakes heist to steal the Core Analytica, a mysterious ghoul artifact, from Raskos. Kit's true motives are unclear, and the rebels are betrayed from within. The city's underbelly is a labyrinth of danger, where the Order's authority is both shield and sword, and rebellion is a desperate gamble. Both Maya and Gyre are forced to question their allegiances and the price of their convictions.

The Smuggler's Web

Maya's investigation into smuggling and dhakim activity reveals the Order's limitations and the suffering of ordinary people. She is forced to work with Tanax, whose rigid Dogmatic beliefs clash with her own pragmatism. Beq's technical brilliance and empathy become invaluable, and a tentative bond forms between her and Maya. In Deepfire, Gyre's cell is shattered by betrayal, and Yora is killed in an ambush. Kit's true nature is revealed: she is both ally and opportunist, driven by her own desperate need. The Core Analytica becomes the focus of multiple factions, and the siblings' paths begin to converge, drawn by the artifact's promise and peril.

The Core Analytica

The Core Analytica, a ghoul artifact capable of controlling constructs and perhaps more, is the object of a deadly race. Maya, now a centarch, is drawn into the Order's internal strife as Nicomidi, a Dogmatic Kyriliarch, manipulates events for his own ends. Gyre, with Kit's help, steals the Analytica from Raskos' vault, but the cost is high—friends are lost, and the city is thrown into chaos. Both siblings are forced to confront the reality that power, once unleashed, cannot be easily controlled. The Analytica is the key to a weapon that could change the world, and both Maya and Gyre are swept up in its wake.

The Council's Game

Maya is accused of treason and imprisoned, caught in the crossfire of the Order's political factions. Nicomidi's machinations threaten to destroy her, and only her courage and Beq's loyalty keep hope alive. Gyre, meanwhile, is drawn deeper into Kit's schemes and the ghouls' plans. The Council's decisions are revealed to be as much about power as principle, and the ideals Maya once cherished are tested to the breaking point. Both siblings must decide what they are willing to sacrifice for their beliefs, and whether the systems they serve can be redeemed—or must be destroyed.

The Trap Springs

The Order and the rebels are both betrayed: Maya's attempt to broker peace ends in bloodshed, and Gyre's heist is revealed as a trap. Kit's true allegiance is to the ghouls, who seek the Core Analytica for their own purposes. Maya's faith in the Order is shaken as she witnesses its willingness to use her as a pawn, and Gyre's trust in Kit is tested as her desperation grows. The siblings are forced into direct conflict, each believing they are fighting for the greater good. The trap is not just physical, but moral: every choice has consequences, and the cost of survival is innocence.

Blood and Betrayal

Maya and Gyre finally meet again, not as siblings but as enemies. Their reunion is fraught with pain, anger, and the weight of all that has been lost. Kit betrays Gyre, seeking to claim Leviathan—the ghoul super-construct—for herself. Maya is gravely wounded, and Gyre is left powerless, forced to confront the reality of his choices. The ghouls' true plan is revealed: to awaken Leviathan and reshape the world. The siblings' love for each other is not enough to bridge the gulf between them, and the battle for the future becomes a battle for their souls.

The Centarch's Challenge

Maya, accused of treason, challenges the centarchate itself in a formal duel, risking everything for the chance to clear her name and save Jaedia. The fight is brutal and nearly fatal, but Maya's skill and determination win the day. She claims her cognomen, Burningblade, and the right to choose her own path. The victory is bittersweet: the Order is still riven by corruption, and the threat of the ghouls looms larger than ever. Maya's triumph is not just over her opponent, but over the system that sought to break her. She emerges stronger, but the cost is high.

The Ghoul's Bargain

Gyre and Kit, desperate and hunted, make a pact with Naumoriel, a ghoul elder who promises power in exchange for their help. The price is steep: Gyre undergoes a painful transformation, gaining a silver eye and a sword capable of matching a centarch's haken. Kit's life is extended by ghoul magic, but her loyalty is uncertain. Together, they journey to the Leviathan's Womb, the hidden lair of the ghoul super-construct. The alliance is uneasy, and the line between tool and master blurs. The ghouls' goals are not human, and the siblings' fates are bound to forces beyond their understanding.

Leviathan's Womb

Deep beneath the mountains, Naumoriel prepares to awaken Leviathan, a construct capable of destroying cities. The Core Analytica is the final key, and Gyre and Kit are both essential and expendable. Maya, racing to stop them, is forced to confront the reality of the ghouls' power and the fragility of human civilization. The siblings' paths converge in the heart of the mountain, as the ancient weapon stirs. The battle is not just for control of Leviathan, but for the future of the world. The cost of victory will be measured in blood and betrayal.

The Battle for Power

Maya and Gyre face each other atop Leviathan, each armed with power beyond mortal ken. Their duel is as much emotional as physical, a reckoning for all the pain and love they share. Kit, mortally wounded, makes a final play for control, and Naumoriel's ambitions are revealed in full. The battle is chaotic, desperate, and tragic. In the end, Gyre chooses to destroy Leviathan rather than let it fall into the wrong hands, and Maya is left gravely wounded. The siblings' choices shape the fate of the world, but the wounds they bear may never heal.

The Price of Victory

The aftermath is one of exhaustion and sorrow. Maya survives, barely, and is reunited with Jaedia, who is freed from the dhakim's control. The Order is saved, but its flaws are laid bare. Gyre, changed by his ordeal, is left with Kit's consciousness inhabiting a ghoul construct, and the promise of further conflict. Both siblings are forced to reckon with what they have become, and what they have lost. The world is changed, but the struggle is not over. The price of victory is innocence, and the future is uncertain.

Reunion and Farewell

Maya and Gyre meet one last time, no longer enemies but not quite allies. Their love for each other endures, but the gulf between their choices cannot be bridged. Maya returns to the Order, determined to reform it from within, and to honor Jaedia's legacy. Gyre, with Kit at his side, sets out to find a new path, armed with power and haunted by regret. Both know they will meet again, on opposite sides of a conflict that is far from over. Their story is one of love, loss, and the hope that, someday, the world can be remade.

Characters

Maya Burningblade

Maya is the heart of the story: a young woman taken from her family by the Twilight Order, raised to wield the power of deiat as a centarch. She is courageous, compassionate, and driven by a desire to protect the innocent, but her faith in the Order is tested by its corruption and the suffering she witnesses. Her relationship with her mentor Jaedia shapes her deeply, as does her growing love for Beq. Maya's journey is one of self-discovery: she must learn to balance her ideals with the harsh realities of power, and to fight for justice even when the system she serves is flawed. Her duel for the centarchate is both a literal and symbolic battle for her identity, and her reunion with Gyre forces her to confront the cost of loyalty and the meaning of family.

Gyre Silvereye

Gyre is Maya's older brother, left behind and mutilated by the Order's violence. His hatred for the system that destroyed his family drives him to become Halfmask, a legendary rebel in Deepfire. Gyre is cunning, resourceful, and relentless, but his anger often blinds him to the consequences of his actions. His alliance with Kit and the ghouls is born of desperation, and his transformation—gaining a silver eye and a ghoul-forged sword—mirrors his internal struggle between humanity and vengeance. Gyre's love for Maya is both his strength and his weakness, and his final choice to destroy Leviathan rather than become a monster is a moment of painful growth. He is a tragic figure, seeking justice but haunted by the cost.

Kit (Kitsraea Doomseeker)

Kit is a force of chaos: witty, reckless, and driven by her own mortality. Afflicted with a failing heart, she bargains with the ghouls for life, becoming both their agent and their pawn. Her relationship with Gyre is complex—partnership, rivalry, and romance entwined. Kit's hunger for survival and power leads her to betray Gyre at the climax, but her vulnerability and humor make her deeply sympathetic. Even in death, her consciousness survives in a ghoul construct, promising further mischief and moral ambiguity. Kit embodies the story's themes of agency, desperation, and the blurred line between hero and villain.

Jaedia Suddenstorm

Jaedia is Maya's mentor and the centarch who embodies the Order's best qualities: wisdom, compassion, and a willingness to bend the rules for the greater good. Her relationship with Maya is maternal, shaping the younger woman's ideals and self-worth. Jaedia's possession by the dhakim is a profound violation, and her struggle to regain control is both literal and symbolic. Her final plea to Maya—to stop the ghouls and save the world—cements her as the story's moral compass, even as she is broken by forces beyond her control.

Bequaria (Beq)

Beq is Maya's closest friend and eventual lover, a technical genius with a shy, awkward demeanor. Her expertise with arcana is invaluable, but it is her empathy and loyalty that make her indispensable. Beq's journey is one of self-acceptance: she learns to trust her own worth, to fight for those she loves, and to embrace her feelings for Maya. Her presence grounds Maya, offering hope and tenderness amid chaos. Beq's arc is a quiet triumph of love over fear.

Tanax Brokenedge

Tanax is Maya's rival and, eventually, ally. Raised by the Dogmatic Kyriliarch Nicomidi, he is rigid, proud, and convinced of his own rectitude. The revelation of his master's corruption shatters his certainty, and his journey becomes one of humility and atonement. Tanax's skill as a centarch is formidable, but it is his willingness to question his beliefs and to follow Maya that marks his growth. He is a study in the dangers and necessity of doubt.

Jaedia's Possessor / The Black Spider

The entity that possesses Jaedia is a remnant of the Plague War, a being that can control minds and bodies through dhaka. It is cold, calculating, and utterly inhuman, seeking to use Maya as an experiment and to unleash Leviathan upon the world. Its presence is a constant threat, warping those it touches and embodying the story's themes of corruption and the loss of self. Its defeat is hard-won, and its legacy lingers.

Naumoriel

Naumoriel is the last of the ghoul warlords, obsessed with awakening Leviathan and reclaiming his people's lost glory. He is ancient, cunning, and ruthless, willing to use Gyre and Kit as tools and to sacrifice anything for his goal. Naumoriel's vision is both tragic and terrifying: he is a relic of a lost world, unable to let go of the past, and his quest for power threatens to destroy everything. His death is both a victory and a warning.

Yora

Yora is the heart of Deepfire's resistance, a charismatic leader who fights for the tunnelborn's rights. Her death in the ambush is a turning point for Gyre, forcing him to confront the cost of rebellion and the limits of violence. Yora's legacy endures in the hope she inspires and the sacrifices she makes.

Raskos Rottentooth

Raskos is the embodiment of the Republic's corruption: greedy, cruel, and willing to use anyone for his own gain. His alliance with Nicomidi and his hoarding of arcana make him a central antagonist, and his downfall is a necessary but insufficient victory. Raskos is a reminder that evil is often banal, and that systems, not just individuals, must be challenged.

Plot Devices

Dual Protagonists and Mirrored Journeys

The novel's structure is built around the dual protagonists, Maya and Gyre, whose lives mirror and oppose each other. Their alternating perspectives allow the reader to see the world's complexity: the Order's ideals and its failures, the rebels' hope and their desperation. Their eventual confrontation is foreshadowed from the beginning, and their emotional arcs are intertwined with the fate of the world. This device heightens the story's tension and emotional resonance, making the final reunion and parting all the more poignant.

The Core Analytica and Leviathan

The Core Analytica is the story's central MacGuffin, driving the plot and drawing all factions into conflict. Its true purpose—to awaken Leviathan, the ghoul super-construct—is gradually revealed, and its power is both promise and threat. The artifact serves as a symbol of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the legacy of past wars. Its presence foreshadows the climax, where the choice to use or destroy it becomes a test of character.

Political Intrigue and Betrayal

The Order's internal politics are a constant source of tension, with the Dogmatics and Pragmatics vying for control. Nicomidi's betrayal, the framing of Jaedia, and the manipulation of Maya and Tanax are all foreshadowed by the Council's divisions. The use of coded messages, secret missions, and false accusations creates a web of intrigue that ensnares all the characters. Betrayal is both personal and systemic, and the story's resolution is as much about exposing corruption as defeating external threats.

Foreshadowing and Parallels

The novel is rich in foreshadowing: the childhood trauma of Gyre and Maya is mirrored in their adult choices; the dangers of power are hinted at in every use of deiat and dhaka; the cost of violence is paid in blood and regret. The siblings' reunion is both a fulfillment and a subversion of their childhood bond, and the final battle atop Leviathan is the culmination of all that has come before. The story's structure is cyclical, with beginnings and endings entwined.

The Price of Power

Deiat and dhaka are not just tools, but forces that shape and corrupt. The use of power always comes with a cost: physical exhaustion, moral compromise, the loss of self. Maya's struggle to control her abilities, Gyre's transformation by ghoul magic, and Kit's desperate bargain all illustrate the dangers of seeking power without understanding its consequences. The story's climax is a reckoning with the price of victory.

Analysis

Ashes of the Sun is a sweeping, emotionally charged fantasy that interrogates the nature of power, the cost of loyalty, and the possibility of redemption. At its heart are two siblings, Maya and Gyre, whose love for each other is both a source of strength and a wound that never heals. The novel explores the dangers of systems—be they the Order, the Republic, or the ghouls—that claim to protect but instead perpetuate suffering. Through its dual protagonists, the story asks whether it is better to reform from within or to tear down and rebuild, and whether the ends can ever justify the means. The Core Analytica and Leviathan are not just weapons, but metaphors for the legacies we inherit and the choices we make. The novel's greatest strength is its refusal to offer easy answers: every victory is bought with loss, and every act of heroism is shadowed by doubt. In the end, Ashes of the Sun is a story about hope in the face of despair, and the belief that, even in a broken world, love and courage can light the way forward.

Last updated: January 15, 2026