Today we are excited to share a guest post from author Cassandra Gillies The Keep’s Secret (The Crescent Sword Series Book 1)!
Read on for more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!
About the Author: Cassandra Gillies
The Keep’s Secret is the very first book Cassandra has written, apart from the short stories she dabbled in while growing up. Her parents—especially her stepmother—always made it clear how talented they thought Cassandra was at writing, whether it was essays or even birthday cards.
She always told Cassandra that she should write a book, but Cassandra brushed it off, thinking her step-mother was just being biased. That was until she came up with the concept for The Keep’s Secret and received some amazing feedback on her dark and wild ideas.
Did she ever imagine becoming a published author? Absolutely not! It still feels like a fever dream, but here Cassandra is, and she’s incredibly proud of herself for pushing through this emotional and dark story without giving up.
It takes a lot for someone to pull a story from their imagination, but Cassandra thinks it takes even more to write one from the heart. Her stories come from hers, and she truly hopes they resonate with you as much as they do with her.
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About the Book: Anne: The Keep’s Secret (The Crescent Sword Series Book 1)
The realm of Krestoria was shattered; torn apart by a feared witch and a Fae king whose war left scars that never healed. From the war rose the Guardians’ Keep, a fortress built to protect children from magic’s destruction… or so the world was told.
Avery Ashgrove has spent her entire life behind the Keep’s stone walls and iron gates, taught to believe that magic is darkness-and those who once wielded it were monsters. But as her time in the Keep nears its end, a forbidden passage reveals itself, and whispers of long-buried secrets begin to rise.
Guided by cryptic warnings, suspicious victories, and the gaze of a silent observer, Avery begins to question everything: her teachings, her memories, and the true reason she was taken from her family.
The Keep didn’t just protect her.
It imprisoned her.
And the thing it tried hardest to hide… is waking.
As her journey leads her into forgotten ruins, mystical mountains, and the ashes of a past she was never meant to uncover, Avery must face a legacy soaked in betrayal and power.
Some secrets are locked away for a reason.
And some are born to burn their way out.
~Guest Post by Cassandra Gillies~
Inspiration behind writing The Keep’s Secret
The Keep’s Secret was created over two years ago when I asked my husband if he were to write a book, what would he write? His answer was a fantasy.
A few weeks later, I began to plan the book because it was a persistent idea in my mind. I spent numerous sleepless nights meticulously planning a book that I never imagined would become a reality.
Where did it start, though? It’s quite simple. I grabbed the closest piece of paper, a bag of rice, and a pen and began with building the map, which is now known as the realm of Krestoria.
Who knew a scribbled line on a piece of paper would encourage me to actually start writing the book? I certainly had no idea that it would inspire me to begin, let alone complete.
I am an avid reader, and I swore that fantasy was not my genre until I read my first Sarah J. Maas book, which became my biggest inspiration for writing The Keep’s Secret.
Her intricate detail in worldbuilding and character design is what really made me study her writing and, truly, made me want to be like her.
I am nowhere near as skilled and talented as her, but one can dream, right?
Writing this book for myself has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and it’s the first time in a long time that I’ve done something for myself.
I care a lot about the story’s emotional side, even if it doesn’t resonate with everyone.
I’ve always been told I’m a drama queen, and writing this book really showed me who I am as a person and that there are many layers beneath the drama aspect of my personality.
For the longest time, I’ve had a habit of beginning something and never completing it, and for the first time in a very, very long time, I can actually say this is something I enjoyed completing because it was something that reflected me emotionally.
I also noticed this quality in Sarah J. Maas’s writing. I saw through the romance and the fighting scenes and the high fantasy aspect of her story. I actually truly saw her, and I think that is what inspired me the most to come up with The Keep’s Secret.
Title: The Keep’s Secret (The Crescent Sword Series Book 1)
Author: Cassandra Gillies
Release Date: January 9, 2026
Publisher: Flock Publishing
ISBN-10: 196849068X
ISBN-13: 978-1968490683
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Age Range: 15+
*Giveaway Details*
One (1) winner will receive a copy of The Keep’s Secret (The Crescent Sword Series Book 1) (Cassandra Gillies)! ~ US ONLY!
Congratulations to the author for penning a novel! I wish her much success and satisfaction! I would also be interested in reading a copy, if I’m selected. 🤓📖
This sounds so twisty and exciting!