Books
Under the Shadow of Night: Book 1 of the Fateshaper Trilogy (Complete Draft)
Eron's home, Ma'ro, has been destroyed by demons that he unknowingly summoned into the Material World; Xanenax, the Left Hand of Lucifer, finds Eron while investigating the aftermath, and takes the boy as an apprentice. They will need one another to survive the days to come, for the Xanenax's authority has been compromised in what may be the final move of the Lord Regent Kira'thaz before the usurper enacts his coup of Hæll. An angel discovers Eron's fate and promises to slay him for the good of what is left of humanity and Creation after the Rending. Hunted by Hæven and dragged down to Hæll, Eron must keep his humanity and sanity within a dark world that threatens to break him, mind, body, and soul.
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Dusk and Ash (In Progress)
Walking the line between grimdark and epic fantasy, this story follows a mercenary named Durmhain, who is pledged to the honor god Akreus. The land has been ravaged by a generations-long war between Elmiar and Nithia, a conflict which has extended out into the world and threatens to engulf the world in carnage. Caught during a covert operation intended to prevent the further possibility of war, Durmhain is thrown in jail and tortured into revealing the location of his benefactors, the Elmiari. Bound by honor, he must escape and warn the Elmiari that war is imminent. But to do so, he must ally himself with that which the Nithians draw their power from, and must sacrifice more than his life to see a broken oath fulfilled.
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Dusk and Ash (In Progress)
Short Stories
Loneliness and Reconciliation
One night, at the age of twenty-six, Seth decides to take his own life. He hesitates as he stands on the edge of the bridge, he hesitates, but someone pushes him off. As he falls, beneath the pain and heartache he feels, his heart cries out that he doesn't want to die. He wakes up to find a dark-haired stranger standing over him who claims to be his daemon, his guardian spirit and the expression of all Seth ever wishes he could be in life. What ensues is an exploration into Seth's mind as the spirit, calling himself Damon, attempts to bring Seth to accept his past and reconcile the warring parts within himself so that he may learn to live again.
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Read now on Wattpad, Inkitt, or Litnet!
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Also available for PDF Download here:
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Blurbs:
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David Rauenzahn explores the depths of despair and recovery in Loneliness and Reconciliation. His skillful use of language to convey a full spectrum of emotions resonates with the reader and touches the heart.
-Gwendolyn Koehler
A well-written tale, full of invention and vitality, on two complications of contemporary life: loneliness and reconciliation. The story unfolds as both modern fable and a meditation on suicide and hope. The writer matches a story-tellers skill with deeper ideas about malaise's grip, but such serious subjects deserve wit and insight and this story has both.
-Merridawn Duckler, Author
For fans of the fantasy genre or anyone who has battled their inner daemon, this vividly imagined story will entertain. Read it to find out if the main character will succumb to his feelings of inadequacy or accept the challenge of pushing past his insecurities to fully embrace his future.
-Louisa Koistinen
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