BLACKMARK

THE KINGSMEN CHRONICLES, BOOK ONE

A nation's elite warriors vanished. A throne in jeopardy on the heels of murder. War devouring the survivors…

Ten years ago, the Kingsmen were summoned by their king, and were never heard from again.

Elite fighters for the crown, they came to the capitol of Alrou-Mendera, to re-swear their bonds or be charged with treason—then disappeared without a trace.

Elohl den’Alrahel was just a boy when his people disappeared. Now a jaded military veteran, inked with the Kingsmen Blackmark and despised for it, he seeks the truth of the betrayal that decimated his people.

Returning to the capitol in search of answers, Elohl reunites with his sister Olea, Guard Captain for the new young queen, but finds only deception.

A network of assassins controls the throne, since the old king’s death. As an attempt on the queen’s life plunges the nation into chaos, Elohl must make a dangerous choice—to protect the crown that betrayed him, or not.

Now, Elohl and Olea must give up everything to shatter the hidden sect that usurps power from the throne. Joining with friends long scattered, they rediscover an ancient battle between the Kingsmen and a shadowy force that has hounded them for centuries, the Khehemni.

As war threatens, will the exiled new queen trust the Kingsmen once more?

Or will a bloody war be reaped in the shadows—burning all nations and bringing kings to their knees?

An Amazon #1 bestselling series in Epic Fantasy and Sword & Sorcery from an award-winning author, The Kingsmen Chronicles is a gritty and heroic saga of treachery, war, and magic.

A complete series with three books, The Kingsmen Chronicles champions hope against darkness and love despite loss. Featuring complex characters, outcasts battling against all odds, adult situations, gripping battle, a multi-POV cast, and spectacular world-building, this epic saga has been compared to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time, Patrick Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicles, George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, and Joe Abercrombie's The First Law series.

 GET IT IN KINDLE UNLIMITED, PRINT, AND AUDIO

Once in a while a phenomenon happens

“Once in a while a phenomenon happens. When it does, all existing icons are tumbled. New standards get set. A new legend gets born. This Kingsmen series is such a phenomenon.” — Manie Kilian, Amazon US

A wonderfully layered novel with spectacular world-building

“A wonderfully layered novel with spectacular world-building; a complex plot with layers of intrigue and compelling, damaged characters.” — JC Kang, USA Today Bestselling Author

A masterpiece of dark and gritty storytelling

“A masterpiece of dark and gritty storytelling. Imaginative and downright compelling. A rightful comparison to G.R.R. Martin, Joe Abercrombie, and Patrick Rothfuss.” — Alina Hart, Amazon US

A NATION’S ELITE WARRIORS VANISHED. A THRONE IN JEOPARDY ON THE HEELS OF MURDER. WAR DEVOURING THE SURVIVORS…

An Amazon bestselling series in Epic Fantasy and Sword & Sorcery from an award-winning author, the Kingsmen Chronicles is an heroic saga of treachery, war, and magic.

A complete series with three books, featuring complex characters, outcasts battling against all odds, adult situations, gripping battle, and spectacular world-building, this epic saga has been compared to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time, Patrick Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicles, George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, and Joe Abercrombie's The First Law series.

“Like George R.R. Martin and Patrick Rothfuss, JL Carlson brought forth emotions in me that books from my youth never could.” — RonC, Amazon US

What can you expect from a Jean Lowe Carlson series?

🐉 What kind of fantasy world are your books in?

My primary fantasy world for the extended Kingsmen Chronicles saga is a European-style world. However, the map spans three continents, and the characters adventure to a Viking-style area, medieval French, Italian, Greek, and beyond. A large portion of this story also takes place in a Middle Eastern-style fantasy world, on a desert sub-continent.
📕 How detailed is the writing and what’s the feel of these books?

I write extremely descriptive epic fantasy, like a “movie in your mind”, though I keep the pace moving. The feel of my books is always adventurous, blistering, dangerous, political, and wild, a world that feels so real you could get lost in it, and spend hours pouring over the maps and appendices, which are also included for each series. 
👩🏻‍🦰 Are these books intended for adults or teenagers?

I write for the 25+ crowd, with adult issues, deep personal growth, and intense scenes. The multi-POV cast in my books are all ages, and their conflicts with each other can be severe. I don’t pull any punches in the pages, and trigger warnings abound, so these books aren’t for the faint of heart.

❤️ What about relationships? Is there any adult content?

My series do have numerous relationships that develop over the course of each story. There are sex scenes, some decently graphic, although the content always focuses on the relationship between the characters. Their intimacy is part of the story; it effects their relationship and overall situation, helping them grow stronger together by the hardships they go through.
🤖 Do you use AI when writing?

No! I write all my books without AI. I use AI spelling and grammar checks in the final edit, but these books are 100% human-written and therefore, entirely unique.

“An epic tale of love, heartache, horror, lust, hope, death, and redemption. I cried, laughed and had to stop from chewing my nails!” — Jennifer Manning, Amazon US

THE KINGSMEN CHRONICLES

BINGE NOW IN KINDLE UNLIMITED OR PRINT