In R.R. Virdi's The First Binding, a storyteller and a dancer meet in a bar, then they changed the world.
All legends are borne of truths. And just as much lies. These are mine. Judge me for what you will. But you will hear my story first.
I buried the village of Ampur under a mountain of ice and snow. Then I killed their god. I've stolen old magics and been cursed for it. I started a war with those that walked before mankind and lost the princess I loved, and wanted to save. I've called lightning and bound fire. I am legend. And I am a monster.
My name is Ari.
And this is the story of how I let loose the first evil.
Thus begins the tale of a storyteller and a singer on the run and hoping to find obscurity in a tavern bar. But the sins of their past aren't forgotten, and neither are their enemies.Their old lives are catching up swiftly and it could cost them the entire world. No one can escape their pasts and all stories must have an ending.
The series
In the Tales of Tremaine series, the lines between myth, memory, and magic blur in a way that will pull you into a world rich with secrets and whispers of forgotten gods. At the heart of the story is Ari, a figure whose immortal existence is intertwined with destruction, betrayal, and power. Once a being who could destroy villages and steal magic, he now exists as a storyteller—a man whose voice echoes with the weight of centuries.
Read full series description
Set against a backdrop that draws from the mysticism of ancient South Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, Tales of Tremaine offers an intricate world unlike anything you’ve seen in traditional fantasy. Vividly brought to life through lush world-building and immersive landscapes, the series transports you into a realm where every corner is imbued with history, conflict, and wonder. From the Silk Road-inspired lands to the shifting boundaries of the gods’ power, nothing is quite as it seems.
As Ari recounts his past—layered with both truth and deceit—readers are drawn into the complex interplay of identity and storytelling. His journey is not just a personal odyssey but a meditation on the very nature of myth itself. What is real? What is legend? And what lies in the spaces in between?
Through lush, captivating prose, Ari’s voice leads readers through a tale of loss, rebirth, and the shadows of immortality. The first two books—The First Binding and The Doors of Midnight—have set the stage for a thrilling and philosophical adventure, with the promise of more revelations in the works. This isn’t a series for the faint of heart, but for those who crave depth, emotional resonance, and a tale that will stay with them long after the last page.
If you're looking for a story that challenges the conventions of epic fantasy, rich with emotional complexity and captivating world-building, Tales of Tremaine invites you to step into a world where every word is a key, and every tale is a treasure waiting to be uncovered.
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