Aelyri is a high fantasy novel that reimagines the relationship between humanity and the natural world through a luminous, living magic system. The Aelyri are not traditional elves or fae—they are transformed humans whose skin visibly shifts color with every emotion, turning feeling itself into a shared, visual language. Their songs are not mere music but a functional song-language that interacts directly with wind, stone, and spirit, allowing them to calm storms, weave memories into physical tapestries, and maintain a delicate elemental balance with the Mother of Winds and the slumbering Stone-Sleeper.

This creates an immersive culture where communication, ritual, and daily life are expressed through melody, hue, and movement—an organic, synesthetic society unlike anything in mainstream fantasy. The story explores harmony not as static peace, but as constant, mindful tending, making every emotional ripple consequential. At its heart is a slow-burn, forbidden romance between a compassionate Aelyri healer and a haunted human outsider whose very presence disrupts the valley’s equilibrium, forcing both characters and readers to confront what reconnection truly costs.

Readers who love the lush, evocative world-building of Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind, the elemental intimacy and emotional depth of Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings, or the mythic scope and spiritual resonance of Guy Gavriel Kay will find familiar echoes—yet Aelyri stands apart with its focus on synesthetic magic (color as emotion, song as power) and its central theme of restoring balance with grieving spirits rather than conquering them. It blends the romantic tension of modern romantasy with classic high fantasy stakes, offering a fresh voice in a genre often dominated by war and conquest.

The manuscript is currently 90% complete and undergoing final polishing. Through InkShares crowdfunding, readers become active collaborators. Your pre-orders and feedback will directly influence final decisions—such as deepening specific character arcs (e.g., Kaelin’s skepticism vs. Lirien’s compassion), expanding certain cultural rituals, or refining the balance between romance and larger mythic threads. Backers will receive exclusive updates, early chapter previews, and opportunities to vote on key elements (cover concepts, potential side stories, or even naming conventions for future books in the planned series). Your support doesn’t just fund publication—it helps shape a living, breathing world that responds to its community.

Thank you for considering joining this journey. Together, we can bring the valley’s song to life. 🌬️✨