Spotlight: The Therans Trilogy by Cyndi Brec
- Archaeolibrarian
- 2 hours ago
- 10 min read
@CBrecFantasy
@cyndibrecauthor
What would you do if you could see tomorrow, but it only brought danger?
The Therans: Secrets Beneath Scars is a high-stakes fantasy romance where slow-burn love, dangerous powers, found family, and buried legends ignite in a small Ohio town. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan's mythic quests and Brigid Kemmerer's raw emotional edge.
Deadly Legends. Buried Powers. And Callie's heart is the ultimate battleground No one Sees Bleeding.
Hope Carries A Cruel Price and Demands Payment.
Sixteen-year-old Callie Tresham is haunted by her parents’ brutal murder—an assassination she foresaw. As she struggles to conceal the curse of her supernatural powers, she faces a new trial, surviving public school. But beneath the surface, a slow-burning romance simmers with a mysterious stranger, someone she can’t trust, yet can’t ignore.
There’s no such thing as an accident.
When a menacing photo ignites a quest for truth, the origin of Callie’s powers exposes the threat of a sinister conspiracy. She’ll have to use every skill in her arsenal to outsmart a relentless adversary who wants her dead.
She makes a dangerous bargain.
Yet, the deal grows deadlier. The threats increase, the romance grows cold, and the death toll rises. Everyone has a price or secret to exploit. Worse, she finds legends are codes revealing history’s dangerous truths.
She has two choices: conquer or die.
When truth shatters trust, does she survive the fallout?
Bookshop.org | StoryGraph | Goodreads | Smashbomb | BookBub
available in #KindleUnlimited
Buried Legends. Deadly Secrets. And a Love that Haunts the Heart.
WHERE SECRETS BURN BLOOD RUNS COLD.
REVENGE CARVES A DEEP SCAR.
Theran protector Callie Tresham uncovered the origins of her volatile powers and worse, the brutal truth behind her parents’ horrific murder—the monster responsible. Every secret is a weapon, exposing deadly threats that catapult her on an unparalleled quest against her nemesis.
AMIDST THE DANGER, A FIRE IGNITES, TEARING DOWN CALLIE’S WALLS AS LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE BATTLE FEAR IN HER HEART.
In this powerful sequel to The Therans: Secrets Beneath Scars, Callie travels the world, visiting ancient cities crawling with danger and deception. Among the shadows of towering pyramids and beneath the shifting sands of the desert lies a labyrinth of secret tombs.
WHAT SHE FINDS IS LEGENDS AREN’T STORIES BUT SECRETS BUILT TO HIDE THE TRUTH.
Filled with mysterious riddles, treachery, and heartbreak, The Therans: Legends Never Die finds Callie working through the dark ties to her past while training for her life’s purpose. Meanwhile, an otherworldly creature stalks her with mischievous motives.
Bookshop.org | StoryGraph | Goodreads | Smashbomb | BookBub
available in #KindleUnlimited
Personal
Tell us a little about yourself beyond your writing.
I am a history buff and love reading about legends, myths, and all kinds of crazy things. I love reading stories that make you pause and wonder. I’m an avid reader of fiction, and I’m a total mood reader. One day, I’m craving something intense and mysterious; the next, I'm craving something with heart and humor. I’m a curious person, and that spills over into my personal life. I love exploring old towns, forgotten corners, and castles… oh my, I love castles. I guess you could say I’m always chasing stories.
When I’m not, it’s when I’m with my family. I’m blessed to have an amazing support team. I love hiking, working out at the gym, and spending time with friends.
What was one of your favourite books as a child?
I wasn’t much of a reader until 8th grade, so I couldn’t say what my favorite book was, but I’ve always loved the Nancy Drew Mysteries. For example, the mystery and adventure in those stories really sparked my love of storytelling and problem-solving.
When did you realise writing could become more than a dream?
When an agent reached out to me after a conference, and I signed with him, that’s when reality hit. I’m on the Indie route, but what I have learned from him has been sweet and very encouraging.
Is there a particular place, real or imagined, where you feel most inspired to write?
I love to write when I’m in my office. It’s like a private, messy, chaotic oasis. My private writing cave in the house that I only share with my adorable pups.
Writing
Why did you choose the genre you write in?
I think my genre chose me, and not the other way around. Haha. I anchored my book series in real historical settings, drew on the history of those places, and added the fantasy element to bring it to life. I love the unbelievable. I guess that’s why fantasy is what I write. Romance in any story increases the high stakes and emotional risks, and it deepens my love of writing.
Do you outline (plan) or discover the story as you go (pantser)?
I don’t start with a fixed blueprint in my stories, and yet, I’m not a pantser. I write with inspiration or a short blurb and build the story from there. I use the three-act structure, sticky notes, and create scenes. My writing is kinda disorganized, but I understand it thanks to my color-coding methods.
What part of your book was the most fun to write?
I love the adventure or fight scenes, oh, don’t forget the kissing scenes – I love to write sweet, tender moments. I might as well admit it. I’m a writing junkie. I love writing it all. Haha!
Characters & Fun
Which of your characters “speaks” the loudest to you?
My main character speaks the loudest for me. However, her grandfather is really cool, and I love his perspective on life. Callie’s kinda a reluctant female protagonist, so she comes into her own. But it’s her voice that resonates with me the most, because of her identity quest. Most kids at the age of 16 are finding out who they are –real life is hard. But when a fictional character has got powers that she’s got no idea what to do with, and doesn’t even know ‘really’ who she is, then you’ve got a lot of trouble. Her concerns really speak to me.
If your book became a film, who would you cast in the lead role?
Madison Bailey is the girl's name that I would love to have play Callie. She played one of the main characters in Netflix's Outer Banks. I loved her acting skills!
Reflections
What’s the best compliment you’ve received from a reader?
I actually had a reader hunt me down at a book festival, and waited for me to finish my breakfast so that she could meet little old me – she’s now one of my beta readers. Lol, I love connecting with readers.
What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Never give up on your dream. The second thing: write 250 words a day, and in one year, you’ll have a book that’s 365 pages long. The third thing: Learn the craft of writing.
What’s the most unusual or unexpected challenge you’ve faced while writing a book?
When your computer breaks down, and you didn’t back up all your manuscripts. That sucks!
How did you go about building the world of your fantasy novel — and what makes it unique?
Honestly? No blueprint. No master map. Just vibes and a lot of ‘wait … what if?’
I built my world on a learning curve, layer by layer, figuring it out as I went. If it felt plausible for the storyline, a little legendary, and just close enough to real history to make you pause, it stayed. If not, it got cut. I love drawing from legends and history, then twisting them until they feel a little too real for comfort.
What makes The Therans world unique? You don’t step into one world, but a dual world trilogy. I don’t give the reader time to get comfortable with understanding one world before I thrust them into the dark side of a utopia. Another interesting fact: I LOVE using real historical settings in my story world, like real castles, catacombs, and watermills.
What inspired the mythology, creatures, or politics of your fantasy world?
Curiosity and a healthy distrust of ‘regular storylines.’ I’ve always been the person who hears a legend or piece of history and asks questions, “Yeah, but what really happened?’
I wanted to create a story where myths aren’t just stories, more like clues. Where history isn’t wrong … just incomplete. And honestly, I love the idea that the truth isn’t gone, it’s just buried. Waiting for someone brave, or in my MC situation, reckless enough to dig it up.
Also, when it comes to creatures, I love the cute ones that have claws. Lol
Is your world based on any real historical or cultural influences?
I definitely work with real historical settings, old towns, famous legends, and real-world history. I don’t make everything up from scratch; I pull pieces from reality and research and remix them. It’s real-world stuff that inspires my fictional worlds.
What challenges (or advantages) do you face writing romance in a magical or fantastical setting?
As a fantasy romance author, the biggest challenge is making the romance feel real when everything else isn’t. You’ve got dark secrets, legends, and reality scattered throughout the story, and it’s easy for a relationship to get lost in chaos. And I don’t like the relationship feeling rushed. I want the relationship to seem plausible even though the circumstances around them aren’t.
The advantage of writing romance is that everything hits emotionally harder. In a world where truth is unstable and nothing is guaranteed, choosing someone becomes a bigger risk. Love isn’t perfect. In the Therans' world, falling in love isn’t the easy part. Staying in love when everything else is breaking? That’s the real story.
Were your romantic leads always destined to be together, or did they surprise you during writing?
I wish I could say I had it all planned … but no. I knew I wanted my hero and heroine together, but they had opinions. Lol, I start my writing with a general direction, always referring to sticky notes on my board, and then ask myself questions as I approach that scene. However, I really allowed the muses to take control.
What makes a fantasy romance feel authentic and emotionally grounded?
For me, it comes down to one thing: the emotions have to be real, even if the world isn’t. You can have all the legends, secrets, and reality-blending chaos you want, but if the characters don’t react like actual humans, readers won’t connect with the story world. Fear has to feel real. Trust has to be earned. And love? It can’t just show up because the plot says so.
What’s your favourite character dynamic in the book, and why?
Callie and her Grandfather’s relationship is so cool, and their connection is really deep for all that they have experienced. I love how he shares things, and it’s like he’s acting as her conscience – and holding her accountable for her decisions.
What personal journey or theme did you want to explore through your characters?
I wanted to explore what happens when the truth doesn’t set you free, but it cages you, costing you everything.
My characters start out believing they understand their world and their history, even though they have powers they can’t make sense of. And then piece by piece, that knowledge gets stripped away. So, the real journey becomes: Who are you when everything you believed turns out to be wrong? I love characters on a self-discovery journey, and we get to experience it with them.
What books, myths, or media inspired your fantasy romance world or love story?
One myth that’s inspired me is Medusa.
I’m drawn to myths and legends where truth feels just slightly out of reach, stories where history and fiction blur together, and you’re never fully sure what’s real anymore. Like Medusa, really, could she turn you to stone by direct eye contact? Or is that what we see, and how we’ve interpreted it, but in reality, her powers were totally different? What aren’t we seeing? Why? And I love the idea that history can label someone as a monster when the full story was never told. The idea that someone can be feared, misunderstood, and still deeply human underneath it all. I’m drawn to myths where the ‘villain’ might be someone whose story was never fully heard.
How do you keep fantasy tropes fresh while still satisfying genre expectations?
Readers expect certain things in fantasy: prophecy vibes, hidden truths, chosen one, forbidden love … I guess I spice things up by asking, ‘What if this trope is lying?’ How can I spin this legend idea? The key is making sure the emotional core still delivers. The mystery should still intrigue you, and the sweet thing is: I deal with reality and then throw in mythical creatures, odd legends, and powers – that storyline chaos keeps the reader intrigued and the tropes fresh.
Was there a scene that made you cry or gave you chills while writing it?
There’s always that moment where everything clicks into place, a truth gets revealed, a choice gets made, or a character realizes they can’t go back and fix the situation. And suddenly, I’m like ‘Oh … this hurts.’
But the crying, that’s saved for when I write ‘The End’ at the bottom of the manuscript. I love the satisfaction of completing the story, but then I cry because the hard work begins: editing, proofreading, and marketing. Lol
Honestly, my favorite scene is when my character, Callie, reveals her birthmark to Trystan. The storyline takes on a totally different mythical-quest vibe from there, and awweee… I love it.
Cyndi Brec writes her heroine into dangerous webs of deception while she sips French vanilla iced coffee.
A three-times Readers' Favorite 5-star recipient, Cyndi's Romantic Fantasy series has earned praise from bestselling authors Jonas Saul (The Sarah Roberts Series), Suzy Vadori (The Fountain Series), and Midwest Book Reviews, and was later featured in Teen Magazine.
An avid reader turned writer, Cyndi draws inspiration from her life as a Recreational Therapy Technician, history-loving traveler, and co-owner of a 200-year-old watermill - roots that helped shape The Therans Series. After marrying, she's traveled through Europe and across the United States but always found her way back home to Ohio, where she and her husband raised two great kids and a pack of energetic dogs.
When she's not plotting her next twist, Cyndi is co-authoring a historical nonfiction, compiling an anthology, and writing a standalone novel within the Therans universe. She speaks on Time Management Strategies for Author Success: Managing Your Minutes, inspiring fellow writers to chase their dreams. Podcast Junkie? You'll find her co-hosting P English Literature podcast, chatting with authors and serving up book banter as the ultimate sidekick.
Cyndi is the creator of 'The Therans Series' a dual world trilogy that reimagines legends and myths into vivid, living adventures!
Dare to find out more on all social media or check out Legends, Myths & Lies Newsletter: Where Pages Unfold Fantastical Truths, which is on her website.
Comments