832 days.
That’s the amount of time that has passed since I published Sea of Souls. And today, with the release of Tides of Torment, I finally get to say my Scottish-inspired folklore fantasy trilogy is complete.
It has been a JOURNEY. This series started nine years ago with a book about bloodthirsty selkie raiders called Rising Tides. It was the first full-length novel I ever wrote, and it got me an agent. Back then, I believed I was on the route to getting my first book published. And it turns out I was, just not in the way I imagined.
That version of the book never sold. I parted ways with my agent a few years later and decided to pursue self-publishing instead. I released a sci-fi trilogy, then came back and rewrote the book I first started with, equipped with the experience to make it better than before.
I released Sea of Souls in August 2023. Now, more than two years later, I’m finally saying goodbye to these books, the books that really set me on my journey to becoming a (self-)published author.
To those of you who have read, reviewed or recommended these books, thank you. I’ve seen the love and support for this series grow and grow over the past two years (and let’s face it, who doesn’t enjoy a slow burn?) and on release day, I can officially say this was my most pre-ordered sequel ever.
If you haven’t got around to the Sea of Souls Saga yet, what are you waiting for? allow me to introduce you to a dark fantasy series steeped in Scottish-inspired folklore and packed full of twists, betrayal, fractured families and heart-wrenching emotion.
The story follows Isla Blackwood, a runaway noble who returns home after seven years at sea to find her family torn apart after a bloody selkie raid. Together with her estranged brother, their loyal swordmaster, and a salt-blooded stranger who should be her enemy, Isla must navigate torn loyalties and old grudges on her journey to finding out where she truly belongs.
Tides of Torment shines in its intimately vulnerable and brutally human storytelling, but that is absolutely not all that it has to offer. Scrimgeour’s rich imagination just drips off every page, and I loved how all the epic sea battles, monstrous sea serpents, fierce (lady) pirates, (semi-sentient?) soulships, telepathic bird companions, bloodthirsty selkies and fearsome kelpies, deadly wraith mists, and mystical dream and blood magic filled me with equal parts awe and terror. Like, I am a sucker for some dark atmosphere and folkloric horror vibes in my fantasy, and this series delivers that in spades. —Esmay Rosalyne, Grimdark Magazine
If that’s not enough to convince you, then how about this—the first two books in the series are on a Kindle Countdown deal for the rest of this week in the US and UK, and you can grab them for just 0.99 each!
As a reader, I love when books come with special editions. My bank account is not so keen, but thankfully I have the power to overrule it. For now.
I wanted to give readers something special for the Sea of Souls Saga, which is why ALL hardcover copies come with a special illustrated design under the dust jacket. Because why have one gorgeous cover when you could have two, right?
The hardcover versions are available at a number of online book retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Broken Binding, Waterstones, Blackwells and Bookshop.org.
No matter where you buy from, the hardcover will always come with the regular dust jacket and the special illustrated cover underneath!
I’ve been doing a bit of media ahead of Tides of Torment’s release, which has allowed me the amazing opportunity to talk to some fantastic people in the indie community about all things fantasy, science fiction, writing and more!
You can catch up on some of my interviews here:
Things have been pretty busy preparing for release day, but it’s always important to take some time away from writing and try to relax.
I recently went to see Self Esteem play at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, which was one of the most fun gigs I’ve been to in a while! If you love brutally raw, feminist synth-pop, you have to check out her work!
Talking of relaxing, there was little to be had for me at the rugby last weekend when Scotland, after going 17 points down, managed what seemed to be a heroic comeback to draw level against New Zealand, only to lose the game in the final six minutes. Another glorious defeat, but a fantastic day out all the same!
Thank you for reading! Remember, you can also keep up to date with me by following me at @scrimscribes on Instagram (for behind the scenes pics and what else I’m reading) and TikTok (for silly videos about writing!)
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