— by Debut Fantasy Novelist S.X. Cummings
Kismet’s Gate: The Scarred 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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“A rare debut with fluid prose and an enthralling story that never lets go. Fantasy lovers will treasure their time in Vaelora.”
“The characters possess a psychological depth that goes far beyond anything I could have imagined. The world Cummings creates is both believable and extraordinary.”
“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, 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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“The characters possess a depth that goes far beyond anything I could have imagined. The world Cummings creates is both believable and extraordinary.”
"Loved lovedddd this book! The entire story is amazing the ups the downs (that made me cry which is rare). I’m beyond happy with this and honestly hope there is a second book! I would loveee to see what’s next for them! If you love fantasy but not shoved down your throat type this is the book for you!!"
"This book absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way.From page one, I was gone. The world-building is lush without being overwhelming, the magic system feels dangerous and intimate, and the tension??? UNREAL. And "whisp" xoxoxo"
"Loved this book—beautiful writing, rich worldbuilding, and characters that stay with you. Thoughtful, moving, and just the right mix of heart and magic"
“A rare debut with fluid prose and an enthralling story that never lets go. Fantasy lovers will treasure their time in Vaelora.”
"O'm normally not a fan of fantasy novels, but this is hard to put down. The author has a beautifully tone and their use of imagery really transports you. Excited to see what happens next!"
— 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 a 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. If writing doesn't work out, 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: The Scarred, 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
