About the Book
The Raven Chronicles is a myth-steeped fantasy series that blends Irish legend with visceral, character-driven storytelling. It has found a dedicated audience through its emotional depth, gritty worldbuilding, and fiercely human heroes. Fans have connected with its blend of mythic stakes and personal struggle, and its reputation has grown steadily with each release.
The next chapter in the saga — Setanta and the Blood King — launches April 1st, delivering a darker, more intense journey that pushes the boundaries of the world and the characters readers already love. It’s poised to be the most thrilling, blood-pounding instalment yet.
About the Author
J.M. Lane is an award-winning and bestselling Irish author whose work blends myth, grit, and emotional truth. Best known for The Raven Chronicles, Lane reimagines Irish folklore through the lens of flawed, human characters facing legacy, loss, and destiny. His debut in the series found a loyal readership and critical recognition, establishing him as a distinctive voice in modern Irish fantasy.
Drawing on a deep love of Ireland’s landscape, history, and ancient stories, his writing carries both mythic weight and grounded realism.
His latest instalment, Setanta and the Blood King, releases April 1st, continuing the saga with darker stakes and a battle that will shape the fate of legend itself.
Qn 1: Can you tell us more about your book What is it about?
In the shadow of ancient Ireland, Setanta walks with a scar on his face and a storm in his blood. The land is rotting from within. Crops fail. Villages whisper of something that drinks in the dark.
Abhartach, the Blood King, has risen. Not crowned, not hailed — but fed. Sustained by fear and hunger, he gathers the Sluagh and turns the night against the living.
Setanta must build more than strength. He must build an army. With only his hound at his side and the weight of legend on his shoulders, he marches toward a battle that will decide what kind of hero he truly is.
Qn 2: Who do you think would be interested in this book, is it directed at any particular market?
If I’m honest, it’s for readers who feel like the old stories still matter.
It’s for teenagers and adults who grew up on myth and legend and want to see them treated with weight rather than nostalgia. It’s for readers who don’t mind darkness, who understand that heroism costs something. There’s violence in it, but it’s never there for spectacle. It’s about inheritance, burden, fathers and sons, and the fear of becoming what you fight.
It’s for anyone who has ever felt marked by their past and wondered whether that mark is a curse or a calling.
Qn 3: Out of all the books in the world, and all the authors, which are your favourite and why?
In terms of influence, I’d love to write with the heart of Claire Keegan, the moral clarity and depth of Steinbeck, and the wild creativity and humanity of Terry Pratchett. That’s the standard I hold myself to. I read them not just for story, but for craft. I also admire the fearless storytelling of Joe R. Lansdale and the emotional intensity Denis Lehane brings to crime fiction. Between them, you get tenderness, grit, humour, and darkness — and that’s the space I’m always trying to work within.
Qn 4: What guidance would you offer to someone new, or trying to enhance their writing?
Stop trying to sound like a writer. Tell the truth first. Even if it’s messy. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Especially then. Readers know when you’re hiding.
Read properly. Not just for pleasure. Study it. Why did that paragraph hit you in the chest? Why did that chapter drag? Tear books apart in your head. That’s how you learn.
Finish the book. I don’t care if it’s flawed. I don’t care if you hate it by the end. Finish it. Discipline builds craft far more than inspiration ever will.
Rejection will come. Good. It means you’re brave enough to put your work in front of strangers. That already separates you from most people who say they want to write.
And don’t dilute your voice to fit a market. Markets move. Trends die. Your voice is the only thing you actually own. Strengthen it. Don’t soften it.
Qn 5: Where can our readers find out more about you, do you have a website, or a way to be contacted?
People can find out more about me through my website, jmlaneauthor.com. That’s the main hub where I share updates on current projects, new releases, and what I’m working on next.
My books are available on Amazon in both ebook and paperback, so they’re easy to access wherever readers are based.
I’m also active on social media. You can find me on TikTok at @jmlaneofficial and on Instagram at @jmlaneauthor, where I talk about writing, Irish myth, the realities of being an author, and the occasional behind-the-scenes look at the work in progress.
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