Keepers of the Fire Stones

Riona, Archan, and Cole are ordinary children living in a very ordinary village, and the only dark cloud hanging over them is the sickness of Riona's little sister, Heather. It's just a very, very dark cloud. 

Little do they know that things are about to get much, much worse. 

When Raiders burn their village to the ground and carry off their families, Riona, Archan, and Cole are dragged into a war greater than anything they have ever experienced, and realize that they themselves are much more significant than they could ever have imagined. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the three children must find a way to let go of who they were and step into who they were meant to be: the TriFlame, Keepers of the Fire Stones, the only remaining hope for a rebellion they knew nothing about. Will they succeed? Or will the world of Ereventiel go up in flames and shadow?

~~~

Keepers of the Fire Stones is a story of three children with destiny in their blood and a prophecy to fulfill. Friendship, betrayal, sorrow, and tragedy all come together in this tale of fire and flame. 

Keepers of the Fire Stones, as it is currently titled, and Keepers for short, is a project that is very near and dear to my heart. Finished in May of 2025, I'm currently in the revising, editing, and rewriting process - a very long, challenging, and rewarding process! I'm certainly learning a lot. 

I have followed these characters through many dangers and many challenges. I have stuck with this book through plot twists, both in the story, and in my own life and writing process. 

This project is very, very precious to me! You can sign up to the Imagination Reawakened newsletter to read snippets of Keepers of the Fire Stones, the prequel, and the sequel, as well as for alpha- and beta-reader opportunities and progress updates. Enjoy, and welcome to the world of Ereventiel and of Keepers of the Fire Stones!

Aubrey Han

Reader, Author, Dreamer

The Readers' Opinion

Cast of Characters

Riona Rey

Fourteen years old, thoughtful, emotional, and kind, Riona is the main character of Keepers of the Fire Stones. But her world turns upside down when she discovers that she is the Ember, leader of the TriFlame, and crucial to the fate of the world. She'll do anything to protect her friends - but how does she protect her friends when she is entrusted with a secret and has no idea who to trust? 

Archan Grayson

A master chess player, surprisingly decent with a sword, and good with logic, Archan steps into the role of the Ash as smoothly as he handles his father's sword. But will his fear of pain and his claustrophobia get in the way? Despite everything else, Archan will do anything to protect his friends. 

Cole Smith

The hotheaded, easily angered member of the trio, Cole has been friends with Riona and Archan for as long as he can remember. Many times, his quick temper and hasty actions have saved him in a tight spot... other times, they have threatened the very basis of the trio's friendship. 

Fern Grayson

Archan's eleven-year-old sister, Fern is smart, sarcastic, and witty, and a shockingly good archer. But despite her many talents, she falls prey to Cole's quick temper all-too-easily. When arguments threaten to drive the friends apart, will she be able to bury her pride and keep the group together? Or will their differences drive them apart? 

Heather Rey

An eight-year-old is awfully young to fall victim to a terrible disease. She's also awfully young to be dragged as a prisoner through snow, used as a hostage, and to be the cause of numerous questionable decisions made by the leader of the TriFlame, her older sister. Will Riona's love for her sister overcome her duty to the rest of the world, and become the reason for the fall of Ereventiel? And will Heather survive? 

Amy Maverik

As a second mother to all four children, Amy has known them since they were born. She also knows their secret. As their mentor, she works to guide them through the trials they must face, leading them to Rane Mountain where she has many friends. But even the best of mentors make mistakes. Will Amy's decisions lead the TriFlame into a trap? And how does she know so much about the mysterious realm Aetheria, when most people remember it only as a fairy tale? 

Zaria Everton

This mysterious young woman knows far too much about the magical workings of Ereventiel and Aetheria to be normal, even for a hermit living alone in the woods. 

Lord Owen Ellicott

Strong, fierce, and ready to protect his home, he has an uncanny knack for doing the right things at the right time and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. 

Lady Aesiera Ellicott

An awe-inspiring fighter, a majestic leader, and a kind friend. 

Prince Ignacio Flame

The son of King Solen, ruler of Fire Mountain. When Rane Mountain loses contact with its twin, people start to wonder what's happening. 

The Midnight Lord

Few know this villain's real name, no one knows what he looks like or has survived the sight, and no one knows where he comes from... except a certain woodland hermit who knows far more than she should. 

Ereventiel existed from the beginning of time, but Aetheria was from before Time existed.

In those days, the barriers between Aetheria and Ereventiel were thinner, the two worlds existing together almost as one. And Ereventiel was a great expanse of water. They say time began when land first rose from the water, and almost immediately, a distinction was made: land that was anchored, fixed firmly down, and land that was not. They came to be known as the Two Realms: Anchora and Aquaria. They say that in those days, Ereventiel and Aetheria existed in close proximity, one world in three realms, a place of beauty, magic, and light. 

Time was thinner, in those days, and more fluid, therefore the period of light and joy went unmarked. And then, one day, a man named Caldwell Thadren discovered that darkness could be manipulated to his will more easily than light. He and his followers entered Ereventiel from Aetheria, bringing their darkness with them. And so the years of peace and laughter came to an end. 

Dusk descended on Ereventiel. Aetheria withdrew, closing off many of its links to the dying world until it became, if remembered at all, a distant, irrelevant dream. And magic, though still not unheard of, became so rare that in time, it became little more than a fairy tale.

Aquaria–an in-between place of sorts, not as full of magic as Aetheria, but more so than the realm of Anchora–also tried to withdraw, but unlike Aetheria, it was a part of Ereventiel, tied to it for eternity, for better or for worse. That was when many of the cities sank, and the heart of Aquaria was lost, buried in the deep. It too became almost as obscure as the magic it still possessed a remnant of. It was in Aquaria that most, though not all, passages between Ereventiel and Aetheria were opened. For Aetheria was not done with the workings of Ereventiel. 

They say that in those days, though magic became steadily scarcer, some Aetherian blood remained–though its resistance to mixture caused it too to diminish. The Aetherian blood brought with it the last few remnants of magic still in Ereventiel, magic that would bestow its rare gifts on a fortunate–or else not so fortunate–few. 

And on this Caldwell Thadren created a hierarchy. 

His assassins roamed the land, leaving darkness, chaos, and destruction in their wake, murdering and destroying the useless, worthless non-magicals, as Caldwell Thadren saw them to be. In those days, magic became not just distant, but hated. 

Years of terror passed. And then, one night, assassins broke into the house of a young family and brutally murdered them as they slept. When morning came, the horrified neighbors found no one left alive. 

No one–but the baby boy, who had been hidden beneath the bed, and so, had cheated death. 

His name was Denyx. 

– Excerpt from an ancient history found in the libraries of Rane Mountain

The Realm of Anchora

The realm of Anchora, a large land mass in the middle of the Sea, is by far the most ordinary of the realms. The population of Anchora consists mostly of normal humans with an average lifespan, although there are the occasional differences in people born with magic in their blood. The most notable example of this is the TriFlame. 

Notable locations include: 

Mors Mountains

This mountain range runs across the northwest corner of Anchora. The Tower of Nightmares, home to the first and second Midnight Lords, was built deep within the mountain ridge. Due to the cold, harsh conditions, it is near impenetrable, and very few have traveled deep into the mountains and returned unscathed. No one has ever crossed the mountains and survived to tell the tale. 

Sea, The

This mainly uncharted body of water surrounds Anchora. 

Silvan Woods

This forest spreads across nearly all of Anchora in three major parts. The first wraps around Fire Mountain to the west, but stays relatively near the center of the continent latitude-wise. The second part runs behind Rane Mountain and down into the southeast leg. Finally, the third part is situated in the northeast portion of Anchora. 

Tower of Nightmares, The

Built as the home and fortress of the first Midnight Lord, the tower was partially destroyed with his fall. With the rise of the second Midnight Lord, the tower's ruins were restored, and it was once again used as a home and fortress. But after the second Midnight Lord was defeated, the tower was destroyed irrevocably. 

Twin Mountains

The Twin Mountains, Rane and Fire Mountains, are located near the center of Anchora. Rane Mountain is home to Lord and Lady Ellicott, members of the ruling council of Ereventiel. Fire Mountain, its twin, is more of a garrison post, due to its highly defensible elements, but it is also a home as well, inhabited by King Solen, his son Ignacio Flame, and their followers. While they are not official members of the ruling council, their knowledge of military tactics prove useful... until all contact with them is lost. 

The Flora and Fauna of Anchora

Phantom Hawks

They came from Aetheria and were mostly extinct in Ereventiel… until the first Midnight Lord brought them back. They are blind but can sense fear. Some can grow to nearly the size of a horse with a massive wingspan and black feathers. Inanely evil. When encountered, find shelter or fight them with fire, which they cannot stand. 

Tree Mice

These mice-like creatures with gray fur, blue eyes, big ears, and a long tail can grow up to 12 inches long from nose to tail tip. They live mostly in nests they build in trees from twigs and leaves, and they possess a keen sense of hearing. They are herbivores, feeding on the foliage and fruits of the trees they inhabit. 

Haelan's Herb

This plant, which grows well both in sun and shade and is plentiful by rivers, is identified by its small blue star-like flowers, thin stems and spearhead-shaped leaves. Its magical healing properties include staunching blood flow, reversing the effects of blood loss, reducing muscle damage and its effects, and protecting against infection.