Kai Zeal's Monthly Newsletter - July 2025
Jul 15, 2025 2:06 pm
Hello all! I hope you've been surviving through this heat because whew has the weather not been cooperative lately. Let's dive into some cool updates instead (ice cream not included but recommended).
Updates
Riyati
Riyati has its own Discord server now! While I'll continue to aggregate all updates in this monthly newsletter, if you'd like to find out things throughout the month and/or hang out with our awesome growing community, come hang out in the (lurker friendly) discord!
Speaking of updates, I'm happy to share the tentative release date for Riyati Ripple, the third book of the Riyati series: Winter 2025. While I don't have preorders up yet, I can share Riyati Ripple's book description with everyone... though skip the below indented paragraphs if you haven't read Riyati Rivals yet -- there's some spoilers!
Every act of defiance steers you into the person you were always been meant to become.
After Nimaka’s death and the older selves returning to their own time, Kylie ran from all she’d known and grown up with at North Opal Pines, but she soon learns she can’t run far or fast enough.
She thought she could leave it all behind: go back to being a normal high school student, make new friends, keep her grades up and her mother happy. But Nimaka’s death has only rallied the two other, and now they’ve stalked Kylie to her new school. Even worse, they have a mysterious new leader who no longer seeks to just kill Kylie but all those she knows and loves…. and the body count is rising.
Kylie can’t get by on “just surviving” anymore: to protect herself — let alone those around her — she must become as strong and cunning as Siani was, or she’ll not only become trapped in the incarnation cycle but everyone she’s ever known and loved will die with her.
But Riyati Ripple isn't the only book getting some book description love. I've also updated Riyati Rebirth and Riyati Rivals's descriptions, as well as the series description as a whole. If you're interested in checking these out, they're now on the main Riyati site!
If you've noticed some updates on your retailer of choice for Riyati, you've likely already seen that I updated Riyati Origins, Riyati Rebirth, and Riyati Rivals recently. Mostly, this was a slight adjustment to the covers, the above updated descriptions, and a few typos/corrected terminology (I learned this past month that I should've used "Palace" instead of "Castle" for Riyati Origins oops, my non-history-ness kinda showed there.)
I'd also like to take a moment to ask if you have read through any of the Riyati books and enjoyed them, please consider leaving a review so that other readers may know if the series is right for them! I've included the most popular review sites below, but any review on any platform is super helpful for other readers and for myself (since it lets people know if they might enjoy the series themselves).
Personal
I'm happy to announce that I passed my program's comprehensive exam! This exam marked the transition between the pre-doctorial and doctorial stage of my program, so I'll be picking my dissertation committee and getting forms started before too much longer here. (It was also stressful because if I failed it three times, I was kicked from the program regardless of my GPA, and three years in, I definitely didn't want that to happen either!)
In more fun news, I've been playing through Final Fantasy IX with Memoria mods, particularly Alternate Fantasy. As someone that's played FF9 many times, Alternate Fantasy has been so much fun, feeling like a completely fresh experience (and honestly, better refined in many ways I feel) for FF9. And of course, the story of FF9 (and the characters) is as charming as ever and has been a breath of fresh air. (I'll be back to Xenoblade X DE soon-- I needed a break from grinding for Telethia mats, but Telethia's all I got left in that game!)
Promos
Canadian Wildfires Fundraiser
Runs now through mid-August
Check out the Canadian Wildfires Fundraiser-- not only is it an amazing deal (81 items, consisting of books, comics, games, and more for only $10), but this itch bundle is donating 100% of profits to the Nii'kinaaganaa Foundation non-profit for helping Indigenous communities affected by the wildfires.
Smashwords Mid-year Sale
Runs now through July 31
The Smashwords Mid-year sale is going on, and if you're looking for suggestions on what to check out, look no further than this collection of queer books participating in the sale!
Stock Your TBR (Fantasy Series Starters)
Runs now through July 31
If you've been looking for a new fantasy series to binge, check out this promo! All books in this promotion are the first books of fantasy series, just waiting to be discovered.
Darkness by Louise McLaughlin
Advent – a Dark Christmas Origin
The origin of Santa is shrouded in folklore, with the truth lost to time. Advent details how the story began. With a Scottish farmer who was only trying to provide for his family through a harsh winter. He made choices that would lead to punishment for his sins. There is only one way to escape his punishment, and every Yule, he attempts to atone for his sins once and for all.
Live Forever - Oasis Fan Reunion
Every Oasis fan was ecstatic with the announcement of the reunion. Eager to relive his youth, Mad Dawg has made it to the gig of a lifetime. His past catches up with him on that fateful night. Nothing will stop him from seeing them one last time … well, almost nothing.
Night Shift – It's Murder Working Nights
Trigger warning: this story contains depictions of violence and domestic abuse.
Dr Jade Harper treats women and girls who have experienced violent attacks. Night after night, she treats the assault victims, but the Police are unable to get convictions. Frustrated by the inertia of a broken system, Dr Harper decides to help Claire and her children escape the abuse they are suffering. Dr Harper becomes proficient at assisting victims, but can she find freedom herself?
Closing
It's hard to believe that by the time I send next month's newsletter, Riyati Rebirth will officially be a year old! Time has really flown by this past year, and I'm super grateful to be able to share Riyati with everyone -- and hope to continue doing so for many more years. See everyone next month!
- Kai