Bound to Shadows and Painted Gold Available Now!

Book cover titled 'Bound to Shadows' by Kirst N. Carpenter featuring three dark-skinned elves and a light-skinned elf in a fantasy setting with a patterned background and falling autumn leaves.
Book cover for 'Painted Gold' by Kirst N. Carpenter, part of the 'Eclipse Realms Saga', Book Two. Features an illustrated fantasy scene with a dark-skinned elf woman with long braided hair and gold markings, and a golden-scaled dragon, both resting peacefully in a nighttime setting.
Eclipse Realms Saga on Amazon

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Triggers and Tropes
Triggers and Tropes

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Want to learn more about the Eclipse Realms Saga? Take a peek below!

  • A dark fantasy romance saga where ancient visions snap into focus and a broken court must unite to survive a brutal war.

    The Light Weaver: Imprisoned for centuries and fiercely protective of her children, she holds the power to save the realms—if her failing magic doesn't consume her first.

    The Dual Kings: A ruthless strategist and a primordial demon trapped in one host, fiercely protective and utterly obsessed with the woman who commands their shadows.

    The Sovereign's Shadow: A spreading, poisonous blight and an ancient enemy determined to erase the stars forever.

  • Sexual Violence & Bodily Autonomy

    • Sexual abuse

    • Loss of bodily autonomy

    • Abduction

    Pregnancy & Child Welfare

    • Child abuse

    • Child abandonment

    • Forced pregnancy

    • Graphic childbirth

    • High-risk pregnancy

    • Infertility

    • Mentions of abortion

    Psychological Distress & Suicide

    • Suicidal Ideation & Attempted suicide

    • Memory manipulation

    • PTSD

    • Grief/Loss

    Violence & Gore

    • Genocide

    • Torture

    • Body horror

    • Graphic violence

    • Gore

    • War

    • Death

    • Blood

    Systemic Oppression & Sensitive Themes

    • Slavery

    • Racism/Species-based discrimination

    • Cults

    • Religion

  • Major Tropes

    • Accidental Bonds / Soulmates

    • Damsel in Distress

    • Dual POV

    • Forced Proximity

    • Found Family

    • Hidden Heir / Secret Identity

    • Impossible Love

    • Opposites Attract

    • Pregnancy

    • Prophecy

    • Tortured Hero

    • Touch Her and Die

    Vibes & Spice

    • Shadow Daddies & Cinnamon Rolls

    • Queer Normative World

    • MMC shares a body with second MMC

    • Mind Flirting & "Good Girl" Praise

    • Anxiety Support & Caregiving

    • Cozy Cabins & Hot Springs

    • Feeding / Vampirism

  • There are four total books in the Eclipse Realms Saga. All four have been written, two are published, and the final two will be released in 2027.

    Bound to Shadows released December 2025. Painted Gold released June 2026. Embracing Fire is estimated to release April 2027 and Guiding Light is estimated for release October 2027.

  • Stay tuned for a fully baked character guide with pages for the main characters. Coming soon!

    • The core throuple includes Kaziel, Ya’varen, and Helyria.

    • Helyria’s biological daughter and clone; Myira.

    • Silas, who’s origin is a mystery.

    • Davik and A’karash, the doting uncles.

    • Ekion and Zinora; a loyal pair of fur-covered shape shifters.

Illustration of three fantasy characters lying together on a bed: a white-haired elf, a dark-haired shadow elf, and a woman with dark skin and braids, with the title 'Bound to Shadows' and author's name 'Kirst N. Carpenter' on the cover.
Book cover of 'Painted Gold' by Kirst N. Carpenter, featuring an illustration of a fantasy scene with a dark-skinned elf woman with braided hair and a pale-haired elf woman with pointed ears and glowing markings, lying together on a luxurious bed.
Book cover for 'Embracing the Chaos' by Kirst N. Carpenter shows two fantasy characters, an elf woman with brown hair and green eyes, and a blonde, blue-eyed girl with elf ears, surrounded by green foliage and a mirror with golden ornate detailing.
Book cover titled 'Guiding Light' for 'Eclipse Realms Saga: Book Four,' revealing the cover in 2027, author Kirst N. Carpenter, with decorative gold accents on a black background.

Works in Progress

You want to know what I’m working on? Here is a little roadmap! As all creative endeavors go, this is slated to change, but I will update as I go along.

Sugar & Venom

This is a new alien romance. I like to think of this as a sci-fi standalone version of the Eclipse Realms Saga. The book will not be written as an AU, but have many parallels. A palette cleanser before diving back into the saga. Release is slated for November 2026.

Embracing Fire

The third book of the Eclipse Realms Saga. This book is written. There will be quite a lift in restructuring as the end of Painted Gold is woven in with the existing story, but I plan to have this complete by April 2027. (Or sooner if I wrap Sugar & Venom earlier)

Thrice-Forged

This little novelette will feature the meet-cute of A’karash, Davik, and Matheos! It takes place about 200 years ago… hopefully offering readers a little easter egg or two about the main group in the Eclipse Realms Saga.

Guiding Light

The final book of the Eclipse Realms Saga. This book is half-written and will take more time to mold. I want the ending to be just right. Bear with me. My goal is around Halloween 2027!

Silent Howl

This one is WAY under wraps. Expect a why choose reverse harem with shifters, elemental magic, experimental labs, and all the realm-jumping drama you know I love. You met these characters in Painted Gold! This is their origin story. Ya’varen and Kaziel make an appearance.

Upcoming Events

Visit me at local author events where we can have some face to face time. This is your chance to pick up some one of a kind swag that you can’t get anywhere else! Spicy artwork anyone?

  • Sunny Days Night Market | Sept 19 | 5-9

  • Spooktastic Book Fair | Oct 10 | 2-6

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Outdoor booth with a black tablecloth, books, and candles, next to a banner featuring fantasy artwork, with a white canopy tent, decorative black and white curtains, and some greenery in the background.
Several tarot or oracle cards are spread out on a green moss-covered surface, with some small white and green decorative elements scattered around, and a large black candle on the right side of the image.

Questions?

I love to talk to my readers! If you have any questions about past, current, or future books. Anything from character thoughts, hopes and dreams for spinoffs, or signing event updates, reach out!