Henry Lucke
LightNews LightNews
banner
henrylucke.bsky.social
Henry Lucke
@henrylucke.bsky.social
22 followers 17 following 33 posts
fantasy writer, reader, furdad, merrily married trans man, druid, runner, spender of too much time in thought

Read The Flame Darkly for free:

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/109201/the-flame-darkly
Posts Replies Media Videos
henrylucke.bsky.social
My wife had a work thing today where they invited other hospitals. When I msged how it went, she replied “waiting for the nuns of Saint Anthony”.

So of course I wrote a little gothic scenelet in response:

#WriteSky #AmWriting #GothicHorror
Messenger text reads: “I’m waiting for the nuns of st Anthony.” Messenger text reads: “It was a dark and stormy night. I was waiting for the nuns of Saint Anthony. As the wind lashed my cloak, I kept craning my neck to see down the winding road for the welcome flicker of a lantern that would signal that they were on their way. Somewhere a dog howled, the most desolate sound, echoed in the keening of the wind, like that of a mother who lost her child.” Messenger text reads: “The hurried sound of footsteps startled me out of my bleak reverie. A white shape billowed its way towards me, driven, it seemed, by the wind. Such an unnatural shape it was given that even my practical mind, trained in the rigors of science, for a moment could believe that it was a supernatural creature, birthed by the storm. These fancies evaporated when the shape neared and in the light of my lantern resolved into that of Sister Emmelina, the youngest of the nuns of Saint Anthony. “Doctor!” she cried. Her face was as white as her habit but for the dark shadows of her eyes. She was frantic. “Doctor, come quick! The sisters…” “What is it? What happened?” Messenger text reads: “I grabbed for her; she had fallen to her knees. Her hands, clutching at my cloak, was skeletal in their desperate grip, like talons. “It came!” she wailed. “It came, as promised! We tried to banish it but it came to collect its price!” “My dear — “ I tried to make sense of her gabbled nonsense. To sooth her. But she could not hear me; her mortal terror too great. “It came to collect what we promised…” she whispered even as the light faded from her eyes. She slumped, heavily, against me. I tried to support her, to turn her, to see what might be done for the poor soul — and only then I saw, pooling darkly from underneath her habit, staining the hem a vivid crimson, the blood.”
August 8, 2025 at 12:15 PM
henrylucke.bsky.social
Lentil having ALL the pillows
Brown dog with black and white face and white legs lies curled on her side, her cheek on a pastel dot pillow and her back against a grey and white patterned pillow
May 29, 2025 at 10:49 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
I had a student today who wrote that poetry is challenging because you have to bring the third eye to understand it.

Yes. Absolutely yes. We SHOULD all totally bring the third eye to poems.

That poem about a sweet little butterfly? An ancient curse to summon a demon from the dread dimension.
May 28, 2025 at 12:05 PM
henrylucke.bsky.social
I *think* they’re gossiping about their siblings/complaining about dinner but who knows — maybe they’re discussing the mysteries of the universe? 🤔
At the edge of a bed covered with sheet of pastel paint splotches, a brown-white dog has her face turned towards the black-and-white cat right next to her. He is curled towards her with his head on his paws, as though in conversation.
May 28, 2025 at 4:27 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
Just when I thought to let go of Inkitt for maybe not being the target audience for The Flame Darkly, I see some lovely folks added my story to their reading lists! 😁

Small bookish wins. 🎉🤓
I cherish each one.

#Booksky #epicfantasy #fantasywriting

www.inkitt.com/stories/1463...
The Flame Darkly - Novel by Henry_Lucke
The war was won. But for the dark arts they used to gain their desperate victory, the sigil-knights of Saint Celund were branded outcasts, their order disbanded. Stripped of his rank and sundered ...
www.inkitt.com
May 27, 2025 at 12:37 PM
henrylucke.bsky.social
Mondays are hard.
But remember: you CAN make ennui look good if you choose.

Chickpea believes in you! ✨💖

(Or she WOULD once she’s done contemplating the void of existence.)
White dog lying on pink background with her head on a multicolored pastel pillow, staring pensively into the distance.
May 26, 2025 at 2:46 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
Chapter 21 of The Flame Darkly now on Royal Road and Patreon (links in bio):

📖 Serial fiction, updates twice weekly:

⚔️ epic fantasy
🐴 adventure
🤝 friendship
🧝🏽‍♀️ magic, swords, demons, gods
😊 character-driven
🏔️ richly-imagined world
Text reads: “Not fifteen minutes later, she threw her hands in the air. “You’re moving like you’re made of wood. And will you stop looking like the sword’s going to bite you?!” “I told you, I swore never to wield a sword again,” Ehrban bit out. “But you used to love — ” Bergram started. “There are a lot of things I used to love. Being a holy paladin sworn to a saintly order serving the Holy Goddess for one.”
May 25, 2025 at 4:43 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
When the heat index is 43C and you turn the aircon on… 😅

(The other one is under the bed, asserting her independence.)
A black and white cat, cappuccino dog and tricolored brown, black and white dog sleep on a bed covered in a pale pink sheet and two pillows.
May 14, 2025 at 4:57 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
The subtitles for this picture is censored. 😏
Black and white cat lies on his back, front feet stretched over his head, looking askance at the camera with a sweet expression.
May 14, 2025 at 12:30 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
Midweek slump…
Black and white cat lying on his side on a pillow with pastel spots.
May 13, 2025 at 11:58 PM
henrylucke.bsky.social
When you live in GMT+8 and work remotely in GMT+2 you can tell people “I’ll have it done first thing in the morning” — when in fact you’ll have until after lunch to finish it.

It’s like having you own private pocket universe of secret productivity.
May 9, 2025 at 6:03 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
The greatest feeling when after two months of experimenting with dosage your hormone levels finally feel normal again. 🏳️‍⚧️

Like I wanna celebrate big for three days with a marching band acrobats fire breathers and a CGI dragon.

Except I’m an introvert. 😆

The quiet inner party is VERY real tho. 🥳
May 8, 2025 at 12:53 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
I imagine this is the result of an old-timey comedy sequence involving banana peels, a stray roller skate, much amusing head-over-tail tumbling, ending in a circle of animated stars with the soundtrack of birds cheeping.
Black and white cat lying belly up with his back feet splayed in the corner made by a wall and rolled up mattress.
May 8, 2025 at 12:40 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
The Flame Darkly: Chapter 16, now public on Patreon and Royal Road.

A richly imagined high fantasy adventure epic. Swords, magic, demons, saints, and alchemy.

And the uneasy question:

What is the cost of doing the right thing?

patreon.com/HenryLucke
www.royalroad.com/fiction/1092...
Over a background of a red banner with a black ouroboros, text reads: "It was not a living sword. Not like the consecrated sword of Saint Celund that he had received when he took his vows. When his hand used to close on that hilt, it had been to feel his own ethem run pure and strong along its length, strengthened by years of prayers and blessings, regularly replenished at the sacred fount of Saint Celund."
May 7, 2025 at 1:05 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
Morning meeting.

AGENDA: sleep area distribution, electric fan sharing, roster for demanding attention, play schedule, food portion comparison.

Chickpea feels her demands aren’t heard.
Yuba sleeps through it as always.
Lentil carries the meeting by herself.
On a bed with a pink cover, a black and white cat sleeps in the far back corner. In the foreground, a white dog is lying ears back, looking sulky. In the middle a tricolored brown dog looks alert and interested.
May 3, 2025 at 11:49 PM
henrylucke.bsky.social
Extra large scoop of cookies-and-cream, anyone? 🐱
Chubby black and white cat sleeps curled up on a blue towel inside a laundry hamper
May 1, 2025 at 10:23 PM
henrylucke.bsky.social
If it was easy to believe the Alcazar had risen, entire, from the rock-bed of the river, it was simply impossible to think human hands had sculpted every tiny breathtaking detail. It would’ve taken thousands of artisans hundreds of years.
patreon.com/HenryLucke

#fantasynovel #swords&demons
A backdrop of a mountain desert landscape at night. In the foreground a red banner with a black ouroboros. Text says: 'The Flame Darkly' and 'Chapter 14 now public', followed by a Patreon link.
April 29, 2025 at 1:08 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
Me: Alright done with lunch now to be super productive — ah, okay, I guess I’ll just… take my laptop and… sit on the floor maybe…

Yuba, on my desk chair:
Black and white cat sleeping sprawled belly-up and paws in the air on a desk chair with blue seat and red backrest.
April 28, 2025 at 6:49 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
When you come home after spending a frustrating morning doing frustrating things in 39C heat index — and your landlady sends you fresh coconut water. 🥹

Small kindnesses. Big feels.
🌴🥥
A clear glass mug with purple flowers filled with coconut water, standing on a colorfully messy desk.
April 24, 2025 at 3:14 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
That future had been a beckoning hand, a golden thread Ehrban could follow through the long nights, the dark storms, the vast emptiness of the deserts, the desolate mountains. If only he could keep hold of it, he could make it through anything — and she’d be there, waiting.
patreon.com/HenryLucke
Book cover showing a mountain desert landscape at night. In the foreground is a red banner with black ouroboros. The book title is 'The Flame Darkly'. Text reads: Chapter 12 now public, followed by a Patreon link to Henry Lucke.
April 23, 2025 at 4:05 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
When the butt pillow and head pillow is less than dog-distance apart but you have to cope.

#longdogproblems
A white shorthaired dog lies sleeping on her side, awkwardly fitting lengthwise between two pillows
April 23, 2025 at 3:17 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
"During the journey to Heila, Ehrban had more than once caught one of his fellow knights staring hard at the motionless form of their dead commander. Apparently he was not the only one who sometimes feared she might still suddenly move."

Read free: patreon.com/HenryLucke

#fantasywriting
A book cover showing a night-time mountain desert and in the foreground a red banner with black ouroboros. The title is 'The Flame Darkly' and the author is 'Henry Lucke'.
April 21, 2025 at 8:08 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
Testing Your Children’s Unconditional Love With Fantasy MC Problems Part 4:

ME: Pavi, will you still love daddy if I was slowly losing my soul to an eldritch horror?

PAVI: …what do you mean, “if”??

😰

#fantasyMCproblems
#fantasywriting #swords&demons
Long-haired tortoiseshell cat with amber eyes loafing on top of a shelf, looking directly and intently at the viewer
April 21, 2025 at 7:23 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
Testing Your Children’s Unconditional Love With Fantasy MC Problems Part 3:

ME: Yuba, will you still love daddy if I was slowly losing my soul to an eldritch horror?

YUBA: IM THE ONLY ELDRITCH HORROR THIS FAMILY NEEDS!!!

#fantasyMCproblems
#fantasywriting #swords&demons
April 19, 2025 at 2:00 AM
henrylucke.bsky.social
Chapter 11 of The Flame Darkly now public! Read here: patreon.com/HenryLucke

Swords? Yes. Forbidden magic? Absolutely.
Demons? Allegedly. Holy knights? It's complicated.
Angst? By the buckets.
A badass physician-alchemist who has to keep the sanity while saving the Empire? Thank goodness.
A book cover showing a night-time mountain desert and in the foreground a red banner with a black ouroboros. The title is 'The Flame Darkly' and the author is 'Henry Lucke'.
April 18, 2025 at 12:34 AM