— by Debut Fantasy Novelist S.X. Cummings
Kismet’s Gate is a sweeping fantasy of buried truths, impossible choices, and a medallion that reveals its secrets only through joy. Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, Quicksilver, and The Priory of the Orange Tree, it blends emotional depth with vivid, emotionally honest characters and dialogue, and a world that feels utterly real.
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“From the very first pages I was swept up by the fluid prose, and an enthralling story that never lets go. Kismet’s Gate is a rare debut, rich in magic, emotion, and drama that fantasy lovers will treasure.”
“Think Fourth Wing with fewer dragons, more emotional depth, and characters who feel like they’ve lived a thousand lifetimes. The romance is real, and when it ignites, it scorches.”
“Hilarious, luminous, and emotionally gripping, S.X. Cummings weaves tension with tender beauty. I was hooked, racing through every page.”
“A richly woven epic that pulses with heart, mystery, and soul. Cummings crafts a world that feels lived-in and characters who feel heartbreakingly real.”
Whispers of Kismarr, the lost city of the Kismets, are stirring once more. Some call it paradise. Others believe it never existed. But the key to finding the path lies in Anara’s blood.
Hunted and hiding behind a false name, Anara wanted only to survive. But in the forge of grief and anger, she became a weapon. When fate tangles her with Jarek, a scarred blacksmith, and Lysara, a centuries-old monk, the lines between loyalty, desire, and destiny begin to blur.
Anara may have to choose between them, or risk losing them both.
My story is an adult one, threaded with sharp banter, sexual frustration, soul-bound creatures, and the not-so-quiet kind of joy that glows, tingles, and yes, leaves the sheets wet.
There's trauma, blood, and loss; and our road was marked by scars and sorrow... but joy was our map, and it lit the way. So read our story with care. And with hope.
It took us awhile to get intimate, mostly because Jarek's an idiot who wouldn’t notice a naked invitation if it sat in his lap and offered him a muffin. But the desire? Oh, it was there. Always.
I could’ve been more direct. But the tension? The teasing? The build-up? Worth every breathless second. And when it does break? Mmmmm. None of us walk away dry. Consider yourself warned.
This isn’t some skimpy sample. It’s eight full chapters of Kismet’s Gate: The Scarred and the Chosen, enough to meet the haunted blacksmith with a scar he won’t talk about, the runaway baker who’s better with knives than trust, and the spark that flares between them when neither of them is looking for it.
Add a sly, glowing creature with secrets of its own, a city on the edge of revelation, and a medallion that hums against the skin, and you’re in.
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“An unputdownable debut that blends romance and devastating secrets into a single, beautiful story. Kismet’s Gate is the kind of book that ruins you for other fantasy novels; bold, immersive, and emotionally raw.”
“Think Fourth Wing with fewer dragons, more emotional depth, and characters who feel like they’ve lived a thousand lifetimes. The romance is real, and when it ignites, it scorches.”
“Hilarious, luminous, and emotionally gripping, Cummings weaves tension with tender beauty. I was hooked, racing through every page.”
“A breathtaking debut that reads like the work of a seasoned master. With lyrical prose, unforgettable characters, and a world as intricate as it is emotionally resonant, Kismet’s Gate marks the arrival of a major new voice.”
“From the very first pages I was swept up by S.X. Cummings’ fluid prose, and an enthralling story that never lets go. Kismet’s Gate is a rare debut, rich in magic, emotion, and drama that fantasy lovers will treasure.”
“A richly woven epic that pulses with heart, mystery, and soul. S.X. Cummings crafts a world that feels lived-in and characters who feel heartbreakingly real.”
— Debut Fantasy Novelist
S.X. Cummings once tried to be normal but got bored halfway through and wandered off to write. He now lives somewhere between caffeine high and existential dread, occasionally surfacing to argue with his fictional characters or the neighborhood trash pandas.
When not weaving worlds out of thin air and sheer stubbornness, he can be found accidentally murdering houseplants, getting emotionally attached to side characters, and Googling things that almost certainly will land him on an FBI watchlist.
He writes because therapy is expensive and fictional characters don’t charge by the hour. And working for “the man” would mean going back on his meds, becoming “stable” again, and kissing all of his creativity goodbye. At that point, he’ll vanish into the woods, scribble novels on tree bark, and mutter plot twists to squirrels.
It’d still be better than sitting in most meetings.
Bookstagrammer, blogger, BookTok chaos-bringer, or just someone who knows that morally gray isn’t a warning, it’s an invitation... Welcome.
The Medallion Chronicles starts with Kismet’s Gate, but the good stuff, the secrets, the scorch, the forbidden chapters that may or may not survive the final edit, starts right here.
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Romantic Fantasy, Epic Adventure, High Fantasy
The Witcher meets Shadow & Bone with the heart of Outlander
Adults (18–40)
Fourth Wing (for romantasy appeal)
His Dark Materials (for creature mythology)
The Last of Us (for found-family intensity)
Layered reveals, episodic tension, and long-arc character growth
Snow-covered mountains, glowing medallions, silver-leaved trees, spectral creatures, firelit temples, ruined cities
