Dreams of the Dying: The Dark Corners of Our Minds

If your mind is the enemy, where do you run?

Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY) for BEST SCI-FI/FANTASY/HORROR (Silver) (2021), The Selfies Book Awards U.S. Nominee for Adult Fiction (2021)

#1 Bestseller in German Literature (07/2020, 10/2020, 12/2020)

The hardcover comes with a 100-page illustrated appendix containing:

• A geographical overview of the Kilayan Archipelago
• An essay on the history of the Archipelago and the Illumined World
• A bestiary of the Archipelago's native creatures
• Pencil sketches of the characters, as envisioned by another in-universe character
• An overview of the seven Light-Born, the pantheon of the Illumined World
• A Nehrimese tailor's impressions of Kilayan fashion
• A guide to Makehu, the language spoken by the Makehu people, designed by a professional linguist
• The Great Umbra and the Resurrection of the World, the creation myth of the Makehu
• To the Moon I Say Farewell, a poem by Jespar's sister

Years after a harrowing war experience, ex-mercenary Jespar tre Moreste has taken to drifting. It's a lonely existence, but barring the occasional bout of melancholia, he has found the closest thing to peace a man like him deserves. Life is "all right."

Or so he believes. Hoping to turn the page, Jespar accepts a mysterious invitation into the beautiful but dangerous archipelago of Kilay-and everything changes. Plagued by boiling social tensions and terrorism, the tropical empire is edging ever closer to civil war. Kilay's merchant king is the only person able to prevent this catastrophe, but he has fallen into a preternatural coma-and it's Jespar's task to figure out what or who caused it. As the investigation takes him across the archipelago and into the king's nightmares, unexpected events not only tie Jespar's own life to the mystery but also unearth inner demons he believed to be exorcised long ago.

Battling old trauma while fighting for his life, his sanity, and the fate of Kilay, the line between dream and reality blurs until only one question remains: If your mind is the enemy, where do you run?

Described as "Inception in a Polynesian fantasy setting," Dreams of the Dying is a slow-burning, haunting blend of fantasy, mystery, and psychological horror, that explores mental illness, morality, and the dark corners of our minds.

"Masterful storytelling. Worldbuilding with worlds inside of worlds. It's a must-read and should be considered a classic in the making." - Amanda Castro, Bookstagrammer

CW: Profanity, Violence, Sex, Death, Suicide, Rape, Substance Abuse

Author: Nicolas Lietzau
Publisher: Nicolas Lietzau
Published: 12/03/2020
Pages: 826
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 2.62lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 1.94d
ISBN: 9783982216737

About the Author
Lietzau, Nicolas: - "I'm a German author best known for my writing for the indie videogame Enderal - Forgotten Stories, which grew from insider tip to sleeper hit. Growing up in both the heart of Munich and a bucolic Bavarian farmhouse, my love for stories began by reading German fairytales in the attic (and getting traumatized by those of Struwwelpeter) and was nurtured by copious amounts of fantasy, horror, and historical fiction. Many things have shaped my own writing: a turbulent childhood, living in five different countries, and numerous encounters I've been fortunate enough to have with fascinating people from all walks of life. I feel drawn to all things off the beaten path, and do my best to make my work reflect that. When I'm not writing or reading, I make music, travel, longboard, study languages, and try to see and experience as much of the world as I can. I'm currently working on the second Enderal novel. Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on social media to stay up to date on my latest work. Also, a big thanks to all my patrons - you make my work possible."