#thebookofgold
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rflong.bsky.social
Took me an age to finish this one so well behind the trend but here are Lyta & Syl from The Book of Gold

#aobdraw1 #TheBookOfGold #FeralGods #OCArt

(Can't find the original prompt now but it was to draw your couple in this pose in your own style)
Drawing of a dark haired handsome man and a small red haired woman in a dark alley. She holds a glowing ball in her hand between them.
July 30, 2025 at 9:01 PM
rflong.bsky.social
Ooooh... Kit is DM & finding it *really* frustrating. Beatriz is mum. Lyta is getting the party into trouble, naturally. Which leaves Romancing to Ben ha! but probably only because Kit is playing the NPC & he can't help himself there. So of course Sylvian's just there to kill things. #TheBookOfGold
cometkins.bsky.social Ian Haramaki 🏳️‍⚧️✨ @FurCon @cometkins.bsky.social · Jul 12
Your characters are playing DND! Who's DMing, who's playing party mom, who's getting the party into trouble, who's romancing an NPC, and who's just here to kill things in combat? #WritingPrompt
July 12, 2025 at 6:40 PM
rflong.bsky.social
Pssst wanna see the inspiration behind The Book of Gold... 😍

#TheBookOfGold #TheLoreOfSilver #FeralGods
@hodderscape.bsky.social
zannavanloon.bsky.social Zanna Van Loon @zannavanloon.bsky.social · Jul 3
How’s your day going?
Mine’s going great because I got to do show & tell again, presenting this wonderfully handcoloured copy of the Biblia sacra, printed by Christophe Plantin in 1583!

#earlymodern #bookhistory #rarebooks 💙📚📜
Handcoloured engraved title page of the Biblia sacra with allegorical figures and the imprint and Plantin’s printer’s mark Beautifully handcoloured map of Canaan as a folded plate with gold leaf. Page in the book with printed text of the book of Joshua with an engraving opening the text, which is handcoloured
July 3, 2025 at 11:39 AM
rflong.bsky.social
To Amberes, city of lost gods, all things return.

So excited to reveal that the next book in the Feral Gods, the sequel to The Book of Gold, is called....

The Lore of Silver

Coming in November 2025.
#Booksky💙📚 #newbookvibes #feralgods #thebookofgold #theloreofsilver

@hodderscape.bsky.social
May 27, 2025 at 2:13 PM
kieltface.bsky.social
New #BookReview of #TheBookofGold by @rflong.bsky.social.

"This book has everything I like. Magic, heists, action, adventure, and some nice plots twists thrown in."

markkieltywriter.com/2025/05/04/b...

#Octobooks #Fantasy #BookSky #Octocon #ReadingCommunity #IrishBookBlogger #BookReviews
Book Review: The Book of Gold by Ruth Frances Long
A desperate thief. A magical book. A heist for the ages – book review of The Book of Gold by Ruth Frances Long
markkieltywriter.com
May 4, 2025 at 6:28 PM
paracyclops.bsky.social
Latest read: 'The Book of Gold' by Ruth Frances Long—an entertaining fantasy heist story. I especially enjoyed the world, closely based on Renaissance Europe, and the focus on books, libraries and scholarship.
#fantasy #fantasyfiction #romantasy #books #thebookofgold @rflong.bsky.social #booksky
April 24, 2025 at 11:59 AM
rflong.bsky.social
A quick stop off in @waterstones.bsky.social Belfast to sign #TheBookOfGold and then back to #Eastercon after a morning of library nerding
Ruth Frances Long, a small woman with brown hair and glasses signs a copy of The Book of Gold in a bookshop
April 18, 2025 at 11:28 AM
rflong.bsky.social
Look what the lovely folks at @hodderscape.bsky.social sent me! Now to find somewhere to hang it! #AmberesArt #TheBookOfGold #FeralGods Map by the amazing @dewiwrites.bsky.social . My map habit continues...
Framed map of Amberes from The Book of Gold by Ruth Frances Long
April 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM
rflong.bsky.social
As closing time draws near for voting on the @locusmag.bsky.social awards (15th April) The Book of Gold appears on the recommended reading list and is listed for the awards. You can vote here poll.voting.locusmag.com

#TheBookOfGold #FeralGods #FantasyRomance #Booksky📚💙 #locusawards #shamelesspromo
Cover of The Book of Gold on a black background with gold decoration and a list of tropes "Alt History Renaissance, Book Heist, Found Family, Cursed boyfriends, sibling dynamics, Second Chance Romance, Royal Intrigue, Feral Gods"
April 10, 2025 at 6:11 PM
rflong.bsky.social
This week's #BookQW word is Down, and here's a little snippet of Lyta and Eninn and the gods of Amberes

The Book of Gold is available wherever you like to buy books (ebook still 2.99)
lnk.to/thebookofgold

And if you've enjoyed it please leave a review

#TheBookOfGold #FeralGods #Booksky📚💙 #Fantasy
Black background with gold swirls and the red and gold cover of The book of gold, text in gold, text reads: "On the way towards their destination, Lyta paused at the old shrine to Eninn, which was set back into a wall on the corner of Silversmiths’ Street, just before the vast space of the Great Market. Lyta pushed a coin into the gaps in the brickwork while a shapeless statue stared down at her like he wanted more. He always wanted more. For a moment she thought of the little ring she’d grabbed, now hanging around her neck, beside her pendant. She wasn’t sure why Eninn wanted it, just that it would help her find out what happened to Ranulf. Her dreams were never clear but she had learned long ago not to ignore them. Her god watched out for her better than most. Belief died hard in Amberes. Once, there had been many gods, and the traces of them still lingered, their temples and shrines dotted across the city, although most were empty now or used as markets, dosshouses or communal meeting places. But the faithful still came, following gods who no longer showed themselves. Her coin was not the only one. Some did it with devotion, some for luck, some for a laugh. But Lyta couldn’t help but take it seriously. She always gave him something."
April 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
kieltface.bsky.social
Lovely way to spend lunchtime working from home.

#TheBookOfGold #fantasy #Octobook #ReadingCommunity #Octobooks #BookSky
The Book of Gold by Ruth Frances Long in the sunshine.
April 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
rflong.bsky.social
Fire in a city like Amberes is dangerous. And Lyta has made some powerful enemies...
#TheBookofGold only has a few reviews on the big river site and they really help with visibility there so if you enjoyed it ... www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Gold-sw...
#Bookqw #FeralGods
@hodderscape.bsky.social
Black background with gold swirls on left and text in gold. The red and gold cover of The Book of Gold appears on the right. Text reads: " This Week's #BookQW is: FIRE. Panic snaked its way through her. She’d crossed powerful people, she knew that. Janlow had told her Alderton was looking for reparations. And Sylvian had humiliated his former friend in front of the city while she looked on. And now . . . Lyta didn’t have time to think. She broke into a run, sprinting towards the fire. The whole neighbourhood was out on the street at the end of her narrow lane, some trying to fetch water and organise a chain to douse the flames. It wouldn’t be enough, she could tell that right away. Her house was already in flames. The next two either side were catching. It was an inferno, spreading fast. Too fast. And she’d left Kit in there. The Book of Gold, Book 1 of The Feral Gods by Ruth Frances Long (Hodderscape) OUT NOW"
March 26, 2025 at 10:29 AM
rflong.bsky.social
This week's #BookQW word is Quarter and we're back in Amberes (because the word doesn't turn up in A Touch of Shadows weirdly but it's there several times in The Book of Gold because Amberes is divided into Quarters. Here's Lyta tormenting an angry Syl. Because.

#TheBookOfGold #FeralGods #Fantasy
Gold text and swirls on black background with the red and gold cover of The Book of Gold in right hand bottom corner. Text reads "‘Right then,’ she announced, as firmly as she could and stopped dead in her tracks. He kept going, long legs sweeping him away down Cornmarket Street, towards the shrine to Gloir, where the Blacksmiths’ Guild made their headquarters. The smell of their furnaces already hung in the air, the sound of their hammers ringing out. Lyta just watched him go, unable to help admiring his frame, his gait, the way he moved. He was angry with her. Perhaps he always would be. But he was still beautiful. Eventually he realised, either from the silence or the lack of footsteps, that she was no longer trotting obediently alongside him. He turned back, searching for her. Lyta folded her arms in front of her and waited. It was somewhat gratifying to see him forced to retrace his steps." and "The Book of Gold, Book 1 of The Feral Gods, by Ruth Frances Long (Hodderscape) OUT NOW"
March 12, 2025 at 4:54 PM
rflong.bsky.social
The last Amberes Tarot card for now. This time it's Beatriz, the Lady of House Alvarez, Ben's big sister, working her own special kind of magic.

#TheBookofGold #FeralGods #amberesart #thepeopleinmyhead #OC #art #digitalart #BeatrizAlvarez

That's it for the time being. I need to get back to writing
A tall slim woman with dark hair wearing a blue gown with a red belt standing in front of an arched window showing a starry sky. She wears rings and a gold and ruby necklace. Her right hand is on her hip while her left hangs at her side with little sparks of magic encircling it. The image is framed in red and gold and the gold panel at the bottom has the text "The Lady".
February 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
rflong.bsky.social
Today's card is The Scholar and shows Ben Alvarez, lost in a book.

#TheBookofGold is on the long list for the BSFA and the Locus awards. You can get the ebook for just 2.99(ish) for a little while longer.

#amberesart #thepeopleinmyhead #feralgods #OC #art #digitalart #BenAlvarez
A sight and handsome dark haired man in rich renaissance era clothing sitting reading a book. Behind him an arches window shows a starry sky. The image is framed in red and gold like a tarot card. The text in the gold box at the bottom reads The Scholar.
February 28, 2025 at 10:19 AM
rflong.bsky.social
Today's card is The Printer, featuring Kit Cornellis, Lyta's respectable, not-so-little little brother, the heart of Amberes

The Book of Gold is available here lnk.to/thebookofgold the ebook and still reduced.

#amberesart #thepeopleinmyhead #feralgods #OC #art #digitalart #KitCornellis
A red haired man smiles off to the left, his hands resting on a table with a sheet of paper and piles of books. Behind him an arches window does a starry sky. The image is framed in red and gold and the panel at the bottom reads The Printer
February 27, 2025 at 10:15 AM
rflong.bsky.social
This week's #Bookqw is Vise/Vice and Sylvian is in serious trouble with the king thanks to Lyta. And his life used to be so simple.

(with a spoiler edited out)

#TheBookofGold #FeralGods #FantasyRomance #booksky 💙📚
@hodderscape.bsky.social
Black background with gold swirls on the left, text in gold and the red and gold cover of The Book of Gold on the right. Text reads: " But Francisco wasn’t finished. He strode towards him and grabbed Sylvian’s chin in a vice-like grip. This man who had fought alongside him, been like his brother, who had raised him high and who he loved more than any man in the world. Francisco, who he would gladly die for... Francisco jerked his face up and studied him with a gaze so cold that it made something in Sylvian shrivel up and die. ‘You either come back with that book or with the head of your thief lover. Otherwise, I will hunt you both to the ends of the earth. Don’t chose her over me, Sylvian, or it’ll be the end of you both.'
February 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
rflong.bsky.social
The next Amberes Tarot card features Sylvian as The Soldier.

#TheBookofGold is longlisted for the BSFA awards, voting for which closes at the end of the week and the ebook is currently 2.99 on all platforms.

#amberesart #thepeopleinmyhead #feralgods #OC #art #digitalart #SylvianChant
A man in a dark blue coat with dark hair and a sword strapped to his back stand in from of a window with a starry night's sky outside, half looking over his shoulder. The image is framed in red and gold like a tarot card and the gold panel at the bottom has the words "The Soldier"
February 26, 2025 at 10:09 AM
rflong.bsky.social
As I've handed in edits, & finished my WIP I've been spending a lot of time drawing, primarily with Infinite Painter. So here's Lyta as an Amberes Tarot Card, The Thief.

Stay tuned for more.

#ThePeopleInMyHead #TheBookOfGold #FeralGods #OC #Art #DigitalArt #LytaCornellis
@hodderscape.bsky.social
Digital art of a red haired woman sitting in a chair in front of a window with a starry sky behind it, with a red and gold frame like a Tarot Card. Text in small gold panel at the bottom reads "The Thief"
February 25, 2025 at 11:40 AM
rflong.bsky.social
This week's #Bookqw is NIGHT, and here's a quick extract from The Book of Gold where Lyta makes a fateful decision to get her brother out of prison.

#TheBookofGold is longlisted for the BSFA awards & only 2.99 in ebook #FeralGods #BookQuoteWednesday @hodderscape.bsky.social

lnk.to/thebookofgold
Back background with gold swirls and text. The red and gold cover of The Book of Gold appears on the right hand side. Text Reads: "This week's #BookQW is Night. By the time she reached the doors, there was no sign of Kit. There was no way he’d survive another night in Old Steen. Lyta couldn’t break him out. But maybe she could plead for him if she made a case before the king. Now. She was already in the palace after all and she knew its layout. She’d learned it when Ranulf had planned a break-in years ago. In the end the gang he led had insisted she be left behind and they had almost been caught. That was when her husband had taken to calling her their lucky charm. Blessed by Eninn, his favourite. But he still hadn’t taken her on the last job. And then he hadn’t come back. Which she felt proved the bloody point."
February 19, 2025 at 2:06 PM
rflong.bsky.social
Happy Valentine's Day, The Book of Gold edition 🥰

@hodderscape.bsky.social #FantasyRomance #ThePeopleInMyHead #TheBookofGold #FeralGods #booksky💙📚 #AmberesArt
Artwork of a dark haired man in a blue coat (Sylvian) kissing a red haired in green (Lyta) against a wall. Text in a style resembling cut out newspaper letters, reads "When the Guardian meets the Wrecking Ball"
February 14, 2025 at 10:07 PM
rflong.bsky.social
Today's #Bookqw is JUMP. Lyta and Syl again, and this time he's the one having problems.

@hodderscape.bsky.social #TheBookOfGold #FeralGods #Booksky💙📚

The ebook is currently still reduced on major platforms, and The Book of Gold is longlisted for the BSFA awards.

lnk.to/thebookofgold
Black background with gold swirls and text which reads "This week's #Bookqw is JUMP. "He turned on her so quickly she jumped back like a startled cat, closing her arms around her body. Where she touched the dress, she left a smear of red. The red of his uniform. But the uniform he wore wasn’t red. The royal bodyguards wore blue and always had. He shivered, glancing down, then back at her. Lyta’s dress was smeared with blood, her palm scarlet with it. And he was drenched in it, the material soaked through, blood dripping from the hem to splatter on the priceless carpets beneath them. ‘What did you do?’ she whispered, horrified." The red and gold cover of The Book of Gold is on the right.
February 12, 2025 at 2:48 PM
rflong.bsky.social
The wonderfully talented @k8johnsonauthor.bsky.social made some fan art for The Book of Gold, the scene where Sylvian and Lyta met again for the first time in 13 years. (Doesn't go well). I love seeing how someone else sees them!

#thebookofgold #feralgods #amberesart @hodderscape.bsky.social
k8johnsonauthor.bsky.social Kate Johnson @k8johnsonauthor.bsky.social · Feb 7
So I made some fan art of someone else’s book this time: @rflong.bsky.social’s amazing fantasy romance heist adventure, THE BOOK OF GOLD! The first time we meet Lyta & Sylvian… poor Lyta is not having a good day!
A hand drawn coming book style illustration of a man in medieval-style blue clothing, holding a sword to the throat of a red-haired woman in knee breeches and a corset.
February 7, 2025 at 8:02 AM
rflong.bsky.social
This week's #Bookqw word is Young and Lyta and Frida are having a difference of opinion.

Longlisted for the BSFA awards, & in Locus magazine 2024 recommended reading list

Ebook currently 2.99!
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0D2...

#thebookofgold #FeralGods #fantasyromance
@hodderscape.bsky.social
Gold text & swirls on black background with red and gold cover of the book of gold to the right. Text reads "This week's #Bookqw is: YOUNG. ‘Aunt Lucrezia?’ Frida said, her tone scathing. She set the tankard of ale down on the bar. ‘Aunt?’ They sat side by side in the tavern on the old wharf, as the noon bell finished ringing, their borrowed finery returned to Kaisa, the dressmaker, their plain, everyday leathers and cotton a world away from what they had worn last night. ‘Some people have young aunts,’ Lyta explained, hiding her grin. ‘Some people have aunts who are younger than they are.’ ‘Not aunts called Lucrezia,’ Frida grumbled, and drained the last of the tankard."
February 5, 2025 at 3:41 PM
rflong.bsky.social
The Book of Gold is on the BSFA Longlist for Best Novel 🥰

www.bsfa.co.uk/bsfa-awards-...

@bsfa.bsky.social @hodderscape.bsky.social
#thebookofgold
#feralgods
The red and gold cover of The Book of Gold set against a purple and violet spacescape with the BSFA and Hodderscape logos
February 3, 2025 at 6:30 PM