What is The Kingdom’s Disdain?

Creator Journals 1/27/25

What is The Kingdom’s Disdain? I get asked that a lot. You would think that at this point, I’d be better at the pitch, but I still struggle sometimes. 

What would you compare The Kingdom’s Disdain to? It’s like The Witcher meets Monster Hunter meets an isekai light novel. 

What’s the genre? Well, it’s fantasy with a bit of horror and a bit of comedy. Like Tolkien? No. Not at all. 

Maybe I need to stop pitching it. Maybe I need to be more abstract. The Kingdom’s Disdain is a swamp full of giant, flesh eating insects, like that one scene in Peter Jackson’s King Kong movie. Why is there a swamp full of giant insects, you might ask? Negligence, mostly. That’s the “Kingdom” part. See, there are a lot of problems in Laskmeer, and the rulers and powers and authorities aren’t doing much to actually fix anything. Why are these rulers allowed to sit on their asses and watch their people get killed by bugs? Well, the rulers who rule the rulers are also negligent, and there is enmity between these great rulers and the insects. That enmity is the “Disdain” part.

Too abstract. Let’s try something different. 

The Kingdom’s Disdain is a series that chronicles the adventures of a young sorcerer named Cardinal. He’s on a journey to the center of deadly Laskmeer so that he can find and slay the evil Rot Lord, a godlike figure cloaked in mystery, and presumably responsible for all the death and disease that plague the land.

Along the way he meets allies, enemies, and some individuals who are both or neither. 

Sareash Hellel Raleria Hallocen Farmaldas is the princess of Ald, the human kingdom ruling the settlers of Laskmeer. She’s twenty-one years old, sharp, confident and she really wants to use a sword. She has always wanted to use a sword, but no one will let her. The centipede pattern on her back proves she is a hero of prophecy, but no one will let her use a damn sword. Someone help her get out of that castle before she hurts somebody.

Mad Crossbones, or, simply “Mad” is many things; a physician, a scholar, a wizard, a dark elf and a necromancer. He’s six and a half feet tall, has skin and hair the color of snow, and he talks to corpses like they’re living people. He pays his way through life by traveling around and performing outpatient surgeries, with the help of his many assistants, who are all undead skeletons. 

Edreimlecheth Lystoriant Chung Zeichliumef, or “Worm” as many call him, is only a half-elf, or a halfen. His mother was a human, but he’s not proud of that fact. This man is quite the villain. His handsome face hides a heart filled with despair and cruelty. He blames humanity for the destruction of his childhood home and has vowed vengeance on the whole species. After meeting an orc priestess, he gave his life to Jerath, The Archnightmare, who granted him powers over nature; the power to move earth, stimulate plant-growth and transform into various animals. 

Each volume of this series is written to be a quick read, and should only take roughly an hour from cover to cover. It is dark, but hopeful. It is humorous, but tragic. There is a treasury of deep lore hidden behind deceptively brisk worldbuilding. 

I think you should read The Kingdom’s Disdain. I think you’ll like it. Of course, I am a biased source, but I know you, and you know me, right? So give it a shot.

Enter the land of Laskmeer and confront The Rot Lord.

Today’s writing tip: Be proud of everything you create and never stop being proud of it.