Characters—Playlist for A Lion's Head

Isha

Theme: Dessert Rose - Sting feat. Cheb Mami

Isha seeks the stargates. He and his wife have brought their people to the immortal lands to escape Armageddon in the mortal lands. They soon learn there is no way back. In a sterile world devoid of decomposition, they spend decades irrigating and nurturing what would become the Water Buffalo herdlands.

But why are the birth rates failing? With every generation, more of their culture and society is forgotten as humans are pushed asunder by the indigenous Asura population, who never wanted them on their lands to begin with.

Chala

Theme: Stay - Shakespears Sister

Chala had always known that her husband sought external validation. When his attempts to develop a relationship with their Asura hosts failed, the respect and trust of his dwindling herdspeople stopped being enough. He was slipping away, drawn to a society and culture that was not theirs.

Chala must make a choice: convince him to stay, or let him go—knowing he could not return. She decides to give him an ultimatum.

But, it breaks her heart to ask—will he stay with her and trust her faith in the Greater Gods, or will he return to his King?

Oumo

Theme: Nothing Matters - Seth Witcher

He had married a good woman. She had been such a young thing when they had been hand-fasted. He thought to give her time. Years became decades. She was kindness, loyalty, and dependability. He was now an old man, stuck in his ways. He wished he could roam free and not be burdened.

With the tyrant on the throne, how could he wish children into this world?

He hadn't expected her to take matters into her own hands. He had no idea how strongly she wanted to have a child.

How could he refuse her when she wished to take a second husband?

Saida

Theme: Whispers of the North

She couldn't ask him for a child. She had been a child when they wed. He had never shown an interest in her that way. Growing up, their relationship was built of love, trust, and loyalty—but she wondered.

Seated beside him, on the wagon loaded with vegetables, her staff at hand for trouble, she watched with envy the mothers coddling their young children.

Is it too much to ask for one of my own?

Banchic

Theme: Hazard - Richard Marx

A young man who has spent the last year avoiding conscription to the Asura King's army. His father and brothers have all been conscripted. He lives alone with his mother and is educated in the ancient scriptures of one of the Greater Gods, Ishwara.

Member Benefits

Read for Free

• Sign up for my newsletter. I only ask for an email address.
• Take advantage of the early promotions sent when the novel goes to print.

Sign Up

A LION'S PRIDE

A Life Spent Alone A thousand years have passed since Sinha evolved into an asura with the ability to transform into a lion and a man. Left to live in the mortal realm—knowledge alone will not suffice for experience—he seeks out his reincarnates from his ancient past, who serve as guides.
No Veil Between Worlds Hungry ghosts and demons prey on the human population surrounding the city of sages, Khankal.
In the Shadows, Sinha’s Ancient Enemy Plots his Revenge.

Available for preorder in Spring 2026.

Mehta

Theme: Complicated - Avril Lavigne

"Stop overthinking it and go!"

"You're giving me permission to go?" Mehta wondered how it could be so easy to leave the temple grounds. "I thought I would need to pass some sort of initiation?"

"Mehta, you've been here more than seven years. What initiation would there be into the priesthood? You know more than most of us." Gurusinghe, his teacher, rolled his eyes and quickened the pace at which he fanned himself. "I have it on good authority that you are meant to follow this dream."

"But... I dreamt of two lions on a rock. I don't even know where I'm to go."

"Listen to your dreams. You will find your way. Nara Sinha has need of you. Do you doubt your faith?"

In that moment, he hesitated. Leaving the temple meant leaving his home and venturing into the great, wide unknown. He had lied; he knew he had to go South and to the East, towards Vanga territory, where the rivers flowed to the sea. There would be a lot of water where he was going. He had dreamt the route he needed to take.

Nalini

Theme: Rush Rush Paula Abdul

Life in the village had become unbearable now that the old priest, Sangakara, wasn't there to step in when Malinda's attentions grew uncomfortable.

She picked up the clay flask of treacle from her Elder Mother Lata's house, balancing it carefully on her head, and she walked with short, quick steps in the direction of her house. The sweets she would make for the festival would be so delicious. Amma would be proud.

Only, she lost her footing and the clay flask came tumbling down as she too fell, cutting and bruising her hands. Her clothing was covered with the sticky mess. None of it could be saved.

Amma was not proud or happy when she returned home. She received three slaps for being clumsy, ruining her clothes, and a beating for losing the palm honey. Tears in her eyes, she was sent out into the night to go and wash her clothing before she drew insects.

If only she could escape, but she couldn't leave on her own.