Cyrus A. Navale
Author, Art Commissioner
Specializing in emotion and dialogue, Cyrus finds inspiration in platonic love, a form of affection often overshadowed by romance.
Book I: 'Shroud of the Familiar'
Born on the island continent of Andavel, brothers Salven and Calid Deiser once did everything together. They chased imagined fairies through the snowy woods in the winter, searched for buried treasures within tepid rivers in the summer, and marveled at the shows of magic the mages of Andavel put on every year. The two were inseparable, and Calid loved his brother more than anything else in the world. But all that would change when Salven came of age to learn magic, and allowed his dreams to shape a life without his family in it.After years spent apart, tragedy has struck, and Calid has run away from home. Salven must now scour the woods for his brother as a stranger, and hope that the bond they once shared can be salvaged, lest he watch it slip away forever. But something else is in these woods, something cryptic and festering, and it stands as a testament to everything still unknown about magic.Shroud of the Familiar is a drama/fantasy novel that follows the at-odds relationship of two brothers after time and trauma have pulled them apart. It explores the complex relationships between anger, grief, and love, how these themes might manifest within a world with magic, and how far even strong bonds can be pushed before shattering.
Artwork by Gato de Franja
A Warm Writing Spark
Platonic love is often disenfranchised in media, especially among men. Cultural stereotypes the world over expect men to only pursue relationships of a sexual nature with women, and to never put their emotions on display lest they be seen as weak according to arbitrarily assigned rules of masculinity. In the US, physical affection itself is quick to be scrutinized even among family and friends, because for many people, deviancy is somehow far more believable than the instinct to be intimate with those we care about. In the West, especially, we've adopted this mindset as a culture that once you transition out of childhood the only intimacy that's universally acceptable is between you and a romantic partner.Shroud of the Familiar and its subsequent books challenge these trends and stereotypes through a young adult's relationship with his teenage brother, and his female best friend. Cyrus Navale has been writing about brother relationships in-particular for two decades through varied fan works, a creative spark that's transcended fanfiction to create an entire world dedicated to the importance of affection, regardless of age or gender.
Artwork by Gato de Franja
Molecular Motion & Magic
In Andavel, the runic language, Lykill, is colloquially known as magic. Learning this mysterious written language unlocks the ability to manifest sigils using thoughts to alter the speed and shape of molecules in order to manipulate matter. It is however limited to simple element compositions. Inorganic matter, such as living tissue, is too complex to manipulate. To be adept with Lykill, one must maintain control over molecules even as they travel at high subatomic speeds by focusing their thoughts on the matter they wish to influence, and willing its new shape into being.As such, matter manipulation is categorized in a difficulty scale climbing from solids to gases. While a novice can begin to move the lethargic molecules making up earth and ice, only a master with years of experience could hope to command the frequency and speed of molecules found within air and fire.Lykill offers a unique take on the traditional concept of elemental manipulation. Andavel, or 'spirit well,' takes inspiration in its frigid climate and geography from Iceland, while its internal mythos inspires from Celtic mythology, found all across the Norwegian Sea.
Artwork by Gato de Franja
Author's Note & Further Reading
Artwork by OLIVASHKO
I've clocked hundreds of thousands of words in all the years I've been writing, but those found in this series are the first that are completely original. The themes and characters in these books mean a lot to me, and maybe they'll mean something to some of you as well.Shroud of the Familiar is coming late 2026, with two more books on the way. You can follow me on BlueSky where I frequently commission artwork of my characters, and be sure to follow Doppelfoxx Publishing for updates on releases before and as they come out!
