✍️ Gabrielle Steele 🐉 Reborn in Ash out now!
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eldris.thellian.com
✍️ Gabrielle Steele 🐉 Reborn in Ash out now!
@eldris.thellian.com
1.3K followers 980 following 4.9K posts
⚔️ Indie fantasy author + mum
🐿️ Pits characters against dragons, gods, and the occasional horde of squirrels
😣 ME/CFS
🤔 Probably AuDHD
🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ ally

Essex UK | she/her
https://thellian.com/links

📚 Reborn in Ash: https://books.thellian.com/reborn-in-ash

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eldris.thellian.com
A new 5-star review for Reborn in Ash! 😍
There are many books out there where a young adult finds they have magic, and is tasked with saving her kingdom/country/world, and collects a flawed mentor. This is one of them, but Ada is much more than the typical reluctant hero. I appreciate her numbness to a world where she expects next to nothing for her best efforts, but finds it anyway. The worldbuilding and secondary characters are fleshed out with enough detail and false leads to allow the story to be unpredictable, including the direction of the romance arc. The ace to demi awakening isn't something I've found much of, and it was great to explore that too! I'd highly recommend that for people craving a classic fantasy adventure in a new world.
November 14, 2025 at 8:40 AM
eldris.thellian.com
I'm just in awe of how much people seem to be loving Reborn in Ash 😍
A 4 star review dated November 11, 2025. "She wasn't a man trapped in a woman's body, just a woman longing for the freedoms men had." I have to start by saying that I absolutely adored the magic system. With so many fantasy novels out there, it’s rare to find something that truly feels fresh and unique, yet you managed it beautifully. The story follows Ada, who loses her entire family to the devastating Ash Rain. Left completely alone, she’s forced to become something she never imagined: a thief, just to keep her family home. When one of her heists goes terribly wrong, her life takes a sharp and irreversible turn. Bound to a man she despises and serving a king indifferent to his suffering people, Ada soon discovers that her magic runs far deeper than she ever believed. This is a high fantasy tale woven with grief, resilience, and a bittersweet touch of romance, the tender kind that comes with first love and self-discovery. Amid loss and pain, the story glimmers with the warmth of found family and the quiet strength of hope. Though it’s a standalone, I found myself longing for more, more of the world, more of the magic, and more of the path the mages must walk toward freedom. It was the perfect balm after my last read, a comforting, powerful fantasy that I recommend to anyone seeking something immersive, emotional, and truly enchanting.
November 11, 2025 at 5:07 PM
eldris.thellian.com
Convincing you to read my novel with the first sentence. Share yours if you want.

The opening of Reborn in Ash
Chapter one. Unforgiveable. An ageing floorboard creaked as Ada stepped closer to the small knife she’d hidden behind the shop’s counter. She’d never killed before, but her customer was coming dangerously close to discovering her secret.
November 11, 2025 at 12:27 PM
eldris.thellian.com
I wrote this a few years ago in my WIP Echoes of Chaos, but it feels even more relevant now. If only western leaders could take this view.

#SkyWriters #WriteSky 💙📚🪐
Eryn’s gaze fell back to the table. “What makes this town so different from the rest of Asorea?” “Maybe the marshland helps, or maybe it’s down to the lords who came before me. My father instilled in me the importance of treating the townsfolk well. ‘Kindness begets kindness,’ he would say. I try to make life easier for them because when people don’t have to worry where their next meal will come from, they can afford to consider the people around them.”
November 11, 2025 at 11:03 AM
eldris.thellian.com
If you're looking for an epic SFF read, check out these 50+ books from authors who've come together to help spread the word about their work.

books.bookfunnel.com/novsff002b/q...

💙📚🪐
A selection of 9 book covers from the page linked
November 10, 2025 at 6:36 PM
eldris.thellian.com
I hadn't looked at my product photos in 8 years. I used to think they were awful and why I never got sales, but actually I think they're pretty good. A shame I don't have a spare room to turn into a photo studio anymore... I have children now.

I'm too scared to check if these survived in storage!
A screenshot of Etsy's listings manager, showing expired listings. The products are needle felted cartoonish wool sculptures, like a bunch of grapes with faces, a poisonous mushroom with a face, a green zombie egg, a green witch egg, a unicorn egg.
November 7, 2025 at 8:57 PM
eldris.thellian.com
How could I forget Gerald?
A needle felted wool sculpture of a green dragon in a cartoonish style. He has a fluffy mane running down his back.
November 6, 2025 at 10:59 PM
eldris.thellian.com
If anyone prefers to buy their books off Itch-io, Reborn in Ash is now available over there!

gabriellesteele.itch.io/reborn-in-ash

I'm also gearing up to open an Etsy shop for signed books, bookplates, and bookish bookmarks. I might put up some of my needle felts that never sold too. Eg:

💙📚🪐
Two images in one. Left image: a needle felted white wool sculpture of a cartoony fox. Right image: The same fox but now with colour and details. It is a red fox with a white stomach and big fluffy ears.
November 6, 2025 at 10:56 PM
eldris.thellian.com
In my book world, some human mages can sense the remnants of spells. Eryn is a kitari, and the ability is common amongst them. She's particularly good at it - banned from magic aged 5, she longed to learn about it, so studied spell traces.

Quote from Echoes of Chaos

#WIPSnips #SkyWriters #BookSky
Arlan led her to a staircase hidden behind a row of bookshelves. Halfway down, she froze. A great deal of magic radiated up from the basement. She threw her essen past the door as Arlan opened it, yet no mage lurked in the dark. It was a spell trace she sensed, one that was years old. Perhaps as many as ten. Someone had cast powerful magic in that basement, and the spell’s nature bolstered her fear of the phrase she sought. She continued down the stairs, taking each step slowly, trailing her fingers along the grey stone siding, which was surely restored from the old manor. The spell trace assaulted her essen like no other had.
November 5, 2025 at 7:54 PM
eldris.thellian.com
Today's #WIPSnips "steel" quote is from Echoes of Chaos. This scene is from Arlan's POV, and he's just returned to the tavern he's staying at.

💙📚🪐 #SkyWriters #WriteSky
Halfway up the last flight, a scream sliced through the silence. Dread pinched his insides. It was Helen, and an unsavoury character was staying in the room beside Arlan’s. Drawing his sword, Arlan dashed up the last few steps. There was a crash, then someone ran into his neighbour’s room. He sprinted after them and skidded to a stop behind a redhaired woman. Surely it couldn’t be– Down on one knee, Arlan’s neighbour twisted, his bared steel slashing at the woman’s stomach. Arlan rushed to deflect the blow. The clang of steel rang through the room, and the man yelped at the recoil. Arlan struck the blade again. It flew from the man’s hand, narrowly missing Helen as it struck the side of the bed. She huddled by the side table, her cheek red and swollen.
November 4, 2025 at 4:07 PM
eldris.thellian.com
This #WIPSnips is from Reborn in Ash (out now) because the only appearance of "nice" in Echoes of Chaos is too spoilery.

This scene is a conversation between Ada and Shukri during heavy rain. In Loka, people worship parts of nature. Shukri comes from a desert area and favours Torrent.

💙📚🪐
“Passing a tavern in this weather will seem suspicious. I’ve heard Rinnites will sell out their neighbours for a meal in poorer areas.” “Not only in poor areas.” He frowned at the smoke, tapping a finger on his reins. “I’m inclined to agree. We can’t risk drawing eyes to our passing. And I must admit, it will be nice to get out of this damn rain, Torrent forgive me for my lack of gratitude.” “Rain isn’t rare here. You don’t need to be grateful for this.” There was the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth. “Going in is almost as risky as passing.” “It’s still less of a risk. We go in, keep our heads down, and perhaps you could ask Torrent to ease off on his gifts.”
November 3, 2025 at 9:26 AM
eldris.thellian.com
#WIPSnips "cobweb"

I've gone for "web" because cobweb isn't in Echoes of Chaos. In this scene early in the book, Eryn is trying to break into her father's magically-locked safe.

💙📚🪐
Setting her finger on the ethelid, Eryn closed her eyes and pressed her essen past the facets, immersing herself in the magic and building a picture of it in her mind. Her father always organised his enchantments neatly, making the network of spells appear as harmless as an ordered collection of books. But knowledge could be dangerous, and so could her father’s enchantments. With careful positioning, Eryn moved her essen past layers of spells that would surely harm her should she brush against them. Beyond lay a web of spells, most existing merely to obfuscate the path to the passphrase. Deep within the tangle was a thread that seemed a spell to keep damp away. Pointless. Another part of the enchantment made the wood harder than stone. Eryn followed the spell past more layers poised to inflict pain, flinching as she narrowly avoided triggering the last.
November 2, 2025 at 11:51 AM
eldris.thellian.com
This #WIPSnips is an epigraph from Echoes of Chaos. Asoreans believe in 6 gods, each representing one of the magic elements. The gods all have a particular trait associated with them too. I didn't want the God of Darkness to be evil. He's the god of forgiveness, who guides souls to be reborn.

💙📚🪐
Water for wisdom, calm the raging storms of our lives, Earth for truth, sow seeds of honesty in our minds, Light for guidance, illuminate the path before our steps, Fire for cleansing, burn away impurities in our hearts, Air for reflection, reveal that which honours our ancestors, Darkness for absolution, the next life unburdened by our sins. A prayer from the Asorean coming-of-age ceremony.
November 1, 2025 at 10:18 AM
eldris.thellian.com
Reborn in Ash has just about been out for a week now! Hardbacks are starting to appear on websites. 😍

Would UK folks be interested in signed copies? I'm looking into getting some bookmarks to go with them. International would have to be signed bookplates only.

books2read.com/b/RebornInAsh

💙📚🪐
A book marketing graphic. Over a bloodred background is white text and a book cover with arrows coming off it to point to some phrases. Text at the top: Magic abandoned humanity millennia ago. Now it returns, bringing ruin to a wanted thief, and her chance for redemption. Book cover is for Reborn in Ash by Gabrielle Steele, which features an illustration of two women wielding magic as they overlook a huge chasm in a hilly landscape with mountains in the background. The text pointed to by arrows shows what to expect inside the book: thief antics, found family, elemental magic, sapphic romance, violence, LGBTQ+ characters, damn empire be empiring, bittersweet.
October 29, 2025 at 6:28 PM
eldris.thellian.com
Said pointless video I spent too much time on. It amuses me.

💙📚
October 25, 2025 at 10:27 AM
eldris.thellian.com
Reborn in Ash is out NOW in ebook and paperback!

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1068390220

(US folks will have to wait a few hours)

💙📚🪐
October 23, 2025 at 7:17 AM
eldris.thellian.com
I just finished the sample for Phoenix Rises Dragon Soars and omg I need to know more! *buys*

If you like rough guys with a heart you’ll love this. How can I be in love with a money lender’s thug?? 😍

💙📚🪐
A marketing graphic for the book Phoenix Rises Dragon Soars by Charlotte Saulter. The cover shows a red phoenix at the top and a blue eastern-style dragon at the bottom.
October 22, 2025 at 5:21 AM
eldris.thellian.com
2 days!!

A thief discovers she can use newly-returned magic, but when she accidentally kills a man with it, she’s dragged into the service of the king and must train with other emerging mages – hard to do when she’s vowed to never care about anyone again.

books2read.com/RebornInAsh
A tablet and phone showing the cover for Reborn in Ash by Gabrielle Steele, alongside a hardback of the book. Cover description: Towards the top, large golden text reads "Reborn in Ash". Below is small white text reading "A Thellian standalone fantasy novel." At the bottom is medium white text reading "Gabrielle Steele." The background is a digital painting of small autumnal hills leading to a mountain range in the distance. In the foreground is a ledge where two characters stand. On the left, a woman wearing a dark cape wields fire in her left hand. On the right, a woman wearing a long dark coat raises her right hand which is engulfed in bright green light. Hovering near her hand are three stones. The cloak and coat are flapping in the wind. The women look down over the hills at a large chasm that stretches across the cover. A waterfall drops into the chasm on the far side.
October 21, 2025 at 9:08 AM
eldris.thellian.com
Well that’s new.
Goodreads is over capacity. You can never have too many books, but Goodreads can sometimes have too many visitors. Don't worry! We are working to increase our capacity. Please reload the page to try again. “There are two motives for reading a book; one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it [on Goodreads].” - Bertrand Russell
October 20, 2025 at 8:01 AM
eldris.thellian.com
This is a snippet from Echoes of Chaos, the next book I plan to publish. Needs an new edit. I feel like my skills have improved a lot since I tried querying this book.

#BookSky #WIPSnips #WritingCommunity
As she passed to the left of the tavern, her chest burned and her legs begged her to stop, yet she couldn’t waste the chance Arlan gave her. At the crossroads, she darted to the right and made for the garden, ready to spring over the fence. Someone stepped out of the shadows. Someone wearing the surcoat of a mage soldier. Quick as a hare, Eryn dodged left, but her weary legs buckled. The soldier caught her, and she was too exhausted to fight as he hauled her to her feet, supporting her while she caught her breath. He must have been a mercenary. A Guild mage would never have been so kind.
October 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
eldris.thellian.com
A thief discovers she can use newly-returned magic, but when she accidentally kills a man with it, she’s dragged into the service of the king and must train with other emerging mages – hard to do when she’s vowed to never care about anyone again.

Preorder the eBook: books2read.com/RebornInAsh

💙📚🪐
October 17, 2025 at 6:21 PM
eldris.thellian.com
So what is my fantasy debut Reborn in Ash actually about? I explain in this <1 min video!

Please share to help me get the word out ❤️

💙📚🪐 #IndieAuthor
October 16, 2025 at 3:47 PM
eldris.thellian.com
It's not too late to get your hands on an advanced copy of Reborn in Ash! Reviews aren't due until 23rd November.

Sign up to my BookFunnel ARC list here: forms.gle/vWQb5EUYV2bS...

Or request on NetGalley here: www.netgalley.com/catalog/book...

#ARC #BookSky #NetGalley #BookFunnel
A graphic showing info, a book cover, and tropes. “ARC readers needed for Reborn in Ash. Jeweller. Thief. Murderer. Now she rises as a mage. Release date: 23/10. Review deadline: 23/11. Dark epic fantasy. Find the signup form at thellian.com/links .” Tropes: LGBTQ+ characters, thief antics, found family, sapphic romance, bittersweet ending, violence, elemental magic, damn empire by empiring.
October 15, 2025 at 12:48 PM
eldris.thellian.com
Do you read ARCs on NetGalley? Good news! My dark epic fantasy Reborn in Ash is now on NetGalley for a limited time. Submit your requests for approval now!

www.netgalley.com/catalog/book...

#arcReaders #NetGalley #ARCs #Books 💙📚🪐 #WritingCommunity
A graphic showing a tagline, info, a book cover, and tropes. “Magic abandoned humanity millennia ago. Now it returns, bringing ruin to a wanted thief, and her chance for redemption. On NetGalley for a limited time” Tropes: LGBTQ+ characters, thief antics, found family, sapphic romance, bittersweet ending, violence, elemental magic, damn empire by empiring.
October 13, 2025 at 6:45 PM
eldris.thellian.com
One of the things I love about writing in my book world is describing the sense of someone’s personality via their life flames.

#WritingCommunity #Books 💙📚🪐
A graphic with a book quote from Reborn In Ash, out 23/10/25. “Though it gave her a headache, she pushed her extra sense further and hid behind bushes the moment she sensed a human-sized life flame. As the guards passed, Ada studied their flames, still curious how everyone’s was subtly different. Most guards gave a sense of nettles or thorns. A few brought to her mind the sound of a blade running across a whetstone. She took more care around those guards.”
October 13, 2025 at 5:47 AM