A Kingdom in Turmoil
In Foes of Hope, Brendon James whisks readers to the sprawling, alternative Victorian-era continent of Vasarea—a land where fragile alliances fray with every passing day. At the heart of the chaos lies Eirene, a once-mighty kingdom now riddled with betrayal, rebellion, and the rise of a shadowy cult known as the Harbingers. The royal family, the Aretes, find themselves splintered, each heir grasping for ambition while the nation slips deeper into civil war. Every decision holds weight. Every choice could shift the fate of the realm.
The story follows four siblings, each with burdens they never asked for. Pistis, the youngest daughter, faces a decision that could shatter her—who to save, who to let go. Her past haunts her, forcing her to confront the sins she’s carried for far too long. Her brother Cadfael, the charming Prince, feels the pressure of leadership bearing down on him. His choices might just decide whether the kingdom crumbles or stands strong. And then there’s Yagmur, the sibling whispered about in palace halls, battling addiction while navigating the treacherous web of trust and betrayal. As the kingdom teeters, each sibling must wrestle with their inner demons as much as their political enemies.
The Heart of the Struggle
Civil war isn’t just fought on blood-soaked fields—it’s waged in the mind, in the soul, and between those bound by blood. James crafts each sibling’s journey with an intimate touch. Pistis searches for her own worth, caught between loyalty and self-preservation. Her struggles echo the universal human question: what’s the value of a life when sacrifice becomes the currency of survival?
Yagmur’s arc digs deep into resilience. Addiction claws at her resolve, threatening to consume every chance at redemption. Her journey is raw—each step forward feels hard-won. She has to decide whose voice to trust in a court where deception is just another language. Meanwhile, Cadfael navigates the brutal truth that charm alone can’t hold a crumbling kingdom together. His responsibilities carry a heavier cost than he ever imagined.
These characters don’t just react to the war—they shape it. Every action ripples across Vasarea, tilting the balance between peace and ruin. And somewhere in those choices lies the question the story keeps whispering: will they find their purpose, or will they fade into history as just another royal tragedy?
Layers of Vasarea
The kingdom of Eirene might be fictional, but its layers feel lived-in. Readers wander through smoke-filled parlors, war councils tense with unspoken threats, and cobblestone streets buzzing with unrest. The Harbingers, a dangerous cult with motives as murky as the waters they stir, rise in power, forcing the siblings to act—or risk losing everything.
James doesn’t just paint a backdrop; he builds a breathing world. Vasarea feels steeped in history, its politics tangled with the grudges of old families and the ambitions of new players. There’s a constant hum of rebellion under the surface, an ever-present reminder that peace is a delicate illusion. This richness invites readers to linger, to imagine the lives of those beyond the palace walls, and to sense that the world extends far past the page.
Brendon James and the Spark Behind the Story
Brendon James wears two hats in his everyday life: high school English teacher and bartender at a performing arts center in Texas. Somewhere between lesson plans and late-night shifts, he found the spark for storytelling. College was where the writing bug first bit him, inspired by voices like V.E. Schwab, JJ Sherwood, and Joe Abercrombie.
In 2014, James began drafting Foes of Hope. It wasn’t just about building a world—it was about crafting characters whose struggles would feel familiar, even in a fantastical setting. He wanted readers to see themselves in Pistis’ doubt, Yagmur’s battle for control, and Cadfael’s heavy crown. Years later, that vision came alive in a novel that balances sweeping political intrigue with deeply personal stakes.
For James, the measure of success isn’t simply in plot twists or battles won—it’s in whether a reader closes the book and still feels the echoes of the characters’ choices. And with Foes of Hope, those echoes linger.
Where to Find It
Foes of Hope is available now on Amazon and Goodreads for those ready to step into the turbulent kingdom of Eirene. It’s a journey through war, loyalty, and the haunting question of what kind of legacy we choose to leave behind. The Arete siblings’ paths twist and converge in ways that keep the pages turning—because in Vasarea, hope and betrayal often share the same table.
Brendon James delivers a debut that’s as much about the battles we fight within as the wars we wage outside. And for readers who crave a blend of rich worldbuilding, flawed yet compelling characters, and the pulse of a kingdom on the brink… this might just be the story they’ve been waiting for.
We had the privilege of interviewing Brendon James. Here are excerpts from the interview.
Hi, It’s great to have you with us today! Please share about yourself with our readers.
My name’s Brendon, and I wear many hats. I am an English and Special Education teacher, all the while working as a valet and bartender. Any little time I find to write has been sporadic, to say the least.
Please tell us about your journey.
While I was in college in 2014, I began reading more and eventually came across A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab, and Kings or Pawns by JJ Sherwood. Both of these stories really resonated with me, and I said, “I want to create my own world.” It took me a lot longer than I expected, 11 years to be exact, but better late than never, right? Ever since I began writing, and going through different stages of my life, my book changed a lot too, from the settings to the characters. It became a huge passion for mine, no matter how frustrating the writing and editing process was. As I changed, so did the book. It was quite a journey, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
Just never giving up. No matter how harsh the criticism was from my beta readers, I knew it was to help make my story stronger. Remaking my latest drafts and figuring out how to connect all the branching storylines was a challenge, but the payoff was definitely worth it.
Any message for our readers?
I hope that there’s at least one character, one situation in my book, or any book for that matter, that impacts you in a positive way.
Thank you so much, Brendon, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!