Children of Madness
About this ebook
Best Fantasy Novel of 2024 — American Writing Awards
"An unflinching, riveting quest with plucky kid heroes and exhilaration at every turn."—Kirkus Reviews
"Children of Madness is an addictive epic fantasy that tugs at readers' emotions, makes us question our own prejudices, and reminds us that all cultures and peoples are worthy of simple compassion... epic fantasy readers will want to make sure this book is placed at the top of their to-be-read piles." — Reedsy Discovery (Editors' Choice Awards Shortlist)
"Stranger Things meets Lord of the Rings in a new generation's classic fantasy epic... feels like it could be read straight from a leather-bound book with gold leaf edges and all. Timeless." — Independent Book Review (The Best Books We Read in 2024)
FOR A WORLD GONE CRAZY, ONLY THOSE RAISED AMONG MADNESS CAN HELP
The Imperator of Quaan restlessly awaits the centennial arrival of the Snail-Gods to cure the Gloomtide, a shadow of melancholy blanketing the Titian Empire. But when the Supreme Helices finally make landfall, they do so just out of reach of the distressed monarch, beyond a poisonous grove that separates man from messiah.
Fincher Bugg leads the Sour Flower Gang, the preeminent child harvesters of the Stenches, a town of outcasts condemned to diminished lives toiling away in toxic conditions. As Fincher and his four friends endure external abuse from outsiders, internally they also suffer, watching as their parents slowly succumb to the Maddening. Despite the solace of unbreakable friendship, life is unrelenting.
When a desperate king makes a seemingly magnanimous offer to a hopeless population, the Sour Flower Gang sets out on a harrowing expedition to find God for the very people who cast them aside.
During a journey in which the children encounter the unimaginable—both beautiful and nightmarish—a terrifying question takes shape. Are the Snail-Gods here to once more save mankind, or is the Gloomtide that has enveloped Quaan a precursor to humanity's deserved end?
About the author
Jarrett Brandon Early enjoys telling unique stories that cross genres and are hard to pin down - making the marketing of his novels a real SOB!
Before recently returning to the US, Jarrett spent almost a decade in Bangkok, Thailand, where he crafted personal stories for some of Thailand's most influential young professionals. After telling the tales of hundreds of others, he finally found himself ready to tell a story of his own.
Using much of what he experienced in Thailand, where stories of retreat, second chances, regret, and indulgence are found on every corner, Jarrett began to work on the psychedelic science fiction novel Station in 2019. In less than three years, the entire Station Trilogy - Station, The Rott Inertia, and Ill Messiah - was complete, marking Jarrett's first foray into serious storytelling.
Inspired by his cheeky daughter, Jarrett next tried his hand at a standalone coming-of-age dark, epic fantasy - Children of Madness.
Jarrett currently lives in Virginia Beach, VA with his wife Natthicha and daughter Alex Beam. His influences are varied and include Jeff VanderMeer, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, RA Salvatore, Paulo Bacigalupi, Dan Simmons, and, of course, the GOAT Frank Herbert. Most recently, he fell absolutely in love with Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow and Children of God.
