Outcaste is here, and the reviews are already coming in. Here is one of my favorite comments so far:
The characters of Rahel and Mouse are so beautifully described. Rahel with an unshakeable belief that she will, at some point, get where she wants; and Mouse with such an opposing view — of the futility of having dreams.
Dreams — having them, pursuing them, giving them up, being gifted with them — are at the heart of this story. It’s not an oversight that there are two chapters titled “Dreams.” An entire lifetime passes between those chapters, and the dreams in question lead in different directions.
Rahel Sayana is a protagonist who is not high-born or powerful or extra gifted…yet she is special in the way that all of us can be if we hold on to our dreams and go after them with everything we have. She makes mistakes — big ones! — but her heart is always in the right place, and that heart draws a varied cast of supporting characters who help her on her way. As one of those characters says:
“We live many lives in our time here on Alsea. Hopefully, when we Return, we have a great deal to show for the way we spent our days. I like to think that when it’s my turn to speak to Fahla and tell her what I did with the time she gave me, she will not be bored by the tale.”
Outcaste is a story of the many lives of Rahel Sayana, an ordinary mid empath with big dreams. I think Fahla will not be bored by her tale.
Available at Heartsome Publishing, Amazon, and all major platforms. Paperback available at Amazon.
Oregon Expat 
As usual with your wonderful books I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it. The trouble with that is now I will have to wait for the next one. It was a very interesting plot twist to hear the other side of the story. I could say a lot more about that but I don’t want to create spoilers for those who are still reading it.
The descriptions of the funeral rites, both here and in the last book brought me to tears each time. Something I am very curious about is when you are writing and describing the voice that soars above at the funerals do you have a RL piece of music in mind or is it all imagination? Either way it is absolutely beautiful.
This is a great addition to The Chronicles and I am looking forward to finding out more about all the Divine Tyrees and all the discoveries.
I have no RL song in mind…though when I described the initial “march on” music in The Caphenon, I was imagining something like Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” attached to some additional drumming. Glad to hear I brought you to tears, though for me the tears were two chapters earlier. “Brasalara” was harder to write than “Return”.
As I mentioned to Karien, would you mind taking a moment to drop a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads? You’ve already practically written it. 🙂
I did a review on Amazon as soon as I reached the end of the book 😉 It was only a short one, I am afraid I don’t have the same way with words that you do. Your wordsmithing skill is such that I could almost hear the music being played and am amazed that you didn’t have to listen to some music in order to describe it. The funerals weren’t the only places in the story that brought me to tears. I have to say there were lots of happy places too which made me smile and feel really good inside. Thank you for sharing your imagination with us.
Thank you for taking the time to do a review! I really appreciate it. And I’m glad you found the happy places…one of my favorites has to do with a hairy watcher.
I’m 80-odd pages from the end (oh and thanks for too little sleep. Again. 😉 ) and it’s bloody amazing! It was right there on Dock One that I realised there is a twist as big as Wildwind Bay, and wow, it was a pretty big surprise! I probably wouldn’t have recognised that name if I hadn’t re-read the series so many times and I had a typical ‘Wait! What???’ reaction.
I stress so much when one of your books comes out because my expectations are so high, and each time I’m a few chapters in I think to myself, Why were you worried??? Seriously, I was fan-ing pretty hard over WaF (and the Startrek fiction), but you have totally blown my expectations out of the water with Caphenon, Catalyst, Vellmar the Blade, and now with Outcaste. Thank you so much for an amazing series.
Delighted to see I’ve caused another sleepless night! — and that the story lived up to your high expectations. My own expectations keep getting higher, too, so you’re not the only one.
Thank you for the lovely mid-read review. If you have time, it would really help if you dropped some similar words on Amazon and/or Goodreads. We’re trying to hit the mainstream with this book, and every review matters.
Finished it this afternoon, and now I seriously feel bereft. I don’t have the words to tell you how much I enjoyed this book – it was fantastic! And I’ll certainly do reviews, it’s the least we can do to give back something.
Thank you! It is much appreciated. (And I know how you feel about being bereft. I deal with it by writing another book…)
Awesome book. Left me a zombie at work for the day but totally worth it. I was especially pleased after a significant event happened in the book and I checked how close to the end I was and saw I was only halfway there. Sudden happy grin right then at the realization.
Ah, a book hangover! I do love to cause those. 😉
Shekking Mother ‘Outcaste’ was fantastic! Books 1-5 are also worthy of high praise. I’m quite blue atm since I finished ‘Outcaste’ in one sitting and now don’t know what to do with myself. Wait! I can read it again! I loved the way this novel included the characters from the earlier books since I’m a little bit in love with Lancer Tal and enjoy every single thing she does or says. I have one huge complaint though: where is book 7???? Please get on it right away. And start thinking about book 8 so I won’t have to wait so long for it. When is 7 coming out?~Robin
Holy moly, you read it in one sitting?? *doffs cap* I salute you.
Book 7 is already written and awaiting the first round of edits, but first I’ve got this novella puttering around in my head…at any rate, something will be out next fall for sure. Maybe even next summer.
Wow! Book 7 already done ✅. I read Outcaste in one sitting too. And was thinking it would be at least 13 months for more Alsea.
I posted my 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 review on Amazon.
Congratulations on a really excellent novel. I feel you’re creating a world that is more and more absorbing.
Thank you for the review! — and the kind words. That certainly is what I’m striving for.
Yep, Book 7 done, except now it’s Book 8, and a new Book 7 is in progress. Going to be a busy year. 😉
Oh great. You’re going to do the novella first – like Vellmar the Blade. Excellent. I’m looking forward to it very much.
Well, it’s looking like it might be a short novel rather than a novella…big surprise…
The more the better!! I’m a quick reader so a big chunky lot of pages sounds great to me.
I’ll *die* from not-surprise! 😀
I know, it’s shocking, isn’t it?
Hi Fletcher!
One of your 🇬🇧 fans checking back in and wondering how book 7 novella is coming along. I’m getting Alsea withdrawal symptoms – which of course means a complete re-read of books 1-6. Ok so done that a couple of times now …
I so enjoy the psychological depth you present in all of your characters – so I’m hoping it won’t be too long before book 7 arrives.
I’ve just seen your “cocktail hour” clip. So it’s “Uprising” for book 8 … with a Rahel interlude for book 7. Excellent.
Quick question on pronunciation of Fahla. I’m wondering if it’s a long a as in “fate” or long a as in “far away”.
Hope you’re enjoying writing the new chapters!
Annie
PS Outcaste without Salomen’s POV feels unthinkable – so glad you crunched it out!
Isn’t it funny? The first (and second) time I wrote the last section of Outcaste, I couldn’t see Salomen’s POV. And then I wrote it and now I can’t see it without her view, either. You’ll be glad to know that she has a huge part (and POV) in Uprising, too.
Book 7 is over 40K words now, but I’ve had to set it aside temporarily to finish the revisions to The Caphenon for its re-release next month. It’s a much better book!
Re: Fahla — it’s an open a as in Do, Re, Mi, Fa… 🙂
Thank you. Yes. I figured you would say “fa” as in doe ray me.
I’m probably alone in giving three syllables to pronounce Al-see-a with a long e in the middle. Rather more poetic don’t you think?
Hmmm. Re release of Caphenon. I will look forward to it. I had my own ideas on where you could tweak it – 5stars it already had but I’m glad you are improving it. When can we expect it on Amazon ?
Did you see that Amazon 🇬🇧 has 13/13 5 Star ⭐️ reviews for Outcaste?
Best regards and looking forward to publishing dates
Annie
Or a short a as in cap(!)