Cal C Long || Author

What is the plot of TDTMUK?

An immortal recounts his mortal life and the significant deaths that led him to becoming…other. 

On the night Darian of House Cain is born, the impenetrable Veil severing the continent for centuries mysteriously lifts, revealing lands lost to legend. Son to an insatiable conquerer King, Darian is raised on violence; a weapon his father wields to expand his fractious lands.

A child when he first faces the horrors of battle, Darian awakens a power he shouldn’t have. A power that has been in rapid decline for years.

Witnesses whisper ill omens.

Weavers are born. Never woken. 

Already isolated by the fear his name inspires and the ominous circumstances of his birth, Darian rejects his inexplicable connection to the Weave.

This denial of himself comes at a heavy cost—one Darian will be forced to keep paying if he doesn’t discover who he truly is in time to save those he loves.

With the aid of suspicious allies, including a powerful and alluring Veilkin traitor, Darian gets closer to unravelling his ties to ancient secrets. But when everyone around him is driven by ambition, how can he be sure who is helping… and who is merely using him?

Caught between his need for his father’s acceptance and his desperation to be loved, Darian is torn by choices that will shape, not only him, but the entire realm.

Exploring themes of identity, acceptance and breaking cycles of abuse, The Deaths That Make Us Kings begs the question:

If all we do, we do for love, can we be forgiven?

Why did you write TDTMUK?

Villains have always been alluring to me. They offer a complexity most heroes fail to deliver. It is fascinating we can recognise what they are doing is horrendous, yet understand their reasoning. Our capacity as people to sympathise and empathise is incredible, and I wanted to manipulate that for my story.

Needless to say, if you are looking for a story about a rising hero, my book is not for you. Though I am curious…will you see him as one anyway?

Why is the story of TDTMUK important to you?

I am a transman who transitioned later in life. I started writing this book before transitioning and finished it a year after starting HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). These characters have been with me throughout my transition and helped me accept my identity. 

Although Darian is not himself trans, his struggles with what he was born into and the pressure to bend to societal demands are trans-coded. He is discovering who he wants to be, versus who is told to be, and fights for the freedom to choose. The circumstances of his birth, something he had no control of, is what isolates him from people, and his desperation to be loved–be seen–for who he is, are difficulties I sympathise all too well with.

Rin is a trans non-binary character who embodies freedom and unapologetic expression of self. They are such a beloved character and incredibly important to me. Writing the bravery I wish I had in Rin and admiring their feeling of comfort in their own skin, ultimately became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Without Rin, I don’t think I would have been brave enough to take the first step to becoming who I knew I always was.

So, although there is nothing overt about my transition in this book, it is very much there for anyone who cares to look.

Why does TDTMUK contain smut?

There is much more to The Deaths That Make Us Kings than its erotic scenes. They form a small, but important part of the story. Nothing in my book is there without reason.

My dark romantic fantasy has consensual erotic scenes because LGBTQ+ readers deserve to see LGBTQ+ characters get theirs. These scenes aren’t there ‘just because’. It speaks to how each of my characters views ownership, of themselves and others, and how bodies are used to manipulate. Sex is a powerful storytelling tool, important to character development and interwoven into my plot. Plus…it’s fun.

I understand not everyone enjoys open-door scenes, but you would miss out on character development and plot momentum by skipping them. However, there is plenty of intrigue, action and danger in the overarching plot to keep more modest readers satisfied.

Did you enjoy this deep dive into what went in to making TDTMUK?

Should you have any questions, let me know below and I’ll be happy to oblige.