The Tomes of Amblem series is unfortunately not a hobby.
I have been forced to accept this fact because I’ve already finished half of Book Two, and Book One, The Tome of Talula, hasn’t even launched yet.
Written by Christian dark fantasy author Lux M. Vale, Tomes of Amblem is a planned six-book dark fantasy series beginning with The Tome of Talula.
Which is great, because as soon as those six books are written, I already have spinoffs I plan to write.
Which means I’m now going to have to succumb to the horrifying realization that I might actually be an author of novels… in addition to my normal journalism career.
So, no.
Amblem isn’t a hobby.
What Is the Tomes of Amblem Series About?
At its heart, Tomes of Amblem is a Christian dark fantasy series about redemption, God, forgiveness, faith, and never being too far gone to be forgiven.
The series takes place in the fantasy world of Amblem, where demons, angels, vampyrs, humans, elves, fae, demigods, cryptids, and other creatures share a complicated world of supernatural and political conflict.
The first novel in the Tomes of Amblem series, The Tome of Talula, follows an unlikely found family that includes a fallen angel, a demon, a cursed direwolf, a seemingly human woman, and a floating skull as they embark on a journey to find a god-killing dagger.
But underneath the fantasy adventure is something much more personal.
Faith.
Christian Dark Fantasy Doesn’t Have to Be “Clean”
I am a Christian writer.
My books contain Christian themes and Scripture—but they also contain gore, yearning, swear words, morally complicated characters, violence, and dark themes.
The Tome of Talula contains closed-door romance.
But I don’t call the book “clean.”
Those are two different things.
I’m not interested in writing characters who experience faith only when everything is beautiful. I’m interested in what faith looks like when someone is angry, hurting, fallen, confused, guilty, grieving, or convinced that whatever they’ve done has put them beyond forgiveness.
Because I’m trying to show what my relationship with God looks like.
And it’s not all rainbows, white feathers, and kittens.
I call that dude “bruh” all the time.
My Sky Daddy knew what He was doing.
Why I Wrote a Christian Dark Fantasy Novel
I’m a writer who felt called to write a Christian-based book that doesn’t shove Christianity into anyone’s face.
Because not everyone’s relationship with God looks exactly the same.
Mine sure doesn’t.
I didn’t want to write a fantasy story where Christian themes meant every character behaved perfectly, faith eliminated every doubt, or redemption belonged only to characters who already looked redeemable.
I wanted demons.
I wanted fallen angels.
I wanted monsters, blood, bad decisions, complicated people, supernatural creatures, dark humor, found family, and characters who sometimes have absolutely no idea what they’re doing.
And I wanted God there, too.
Because darkness and faith aren’t mutually exclusive.
Redemption Is at the Heart of Tomes of Amblem
One of the central themes of Tomes of Amblem is the idea that no one is too far gone for redemption or forgiveness.
That’s an idea I explore through fantasy because fantasy lets me take questions about faith, morality, forgiveness, identity, and redemption and make them enormous.
What does redemption look like for a demon?
What does faith look like for a fallen angel?
What happens when the institutions claiming to represent righteousness aren’t necessarily righteous themselves?
What happens when someone believes they’re beyond saving?
And what happens when God hasn’t given up on them?
Those questions are woven throughout The Tome of Talula and the larger Tomes of Amblem series.
Who Is Lux M. Vale?
Lux M. Vale is a Christian author who writes dark fantasy and is the creator of the Tomes of Amblem series.
Her debut dark fantasy novel, The Tome of Talula, is Book One of the planned six-book Tomes of Amblem series and is published by L.M. Publishing.
Vale’s writing combines Christian themes with dark fantasy, supernatural creatures, found family, redemption, adventure, and closed-door romance.
And apparently she intends to keep doing this for at least six books.
Pray for her.
The Tome of Talula: Book One of Tomes of Amblem
The Tome of Talula by Lux M. Vale releases October 6, 2026.
The ebook is available for preorder on Amazon, with paperback and hardcover editions available beginning October 6.
But The Tome of Talula is only the beginning.
There are six books planned for the Tomes of Amblem series, with additional stories and spinoffs already planned within the world.
So, unfortunately, I have to admit it:
I’m an author.
And Amblem isn’t a hobby.
It’s a series about redemption, God, and never being too far gone to be forgiven.
Because not everyone’s relationship with God looks exactly the same.
Mine sure doesn’t.
I’m mad at Him a lot.
But I’m still here.
And you are too.
If you’re still reading.
