Dark, Character-Driven Fiction
I like villains. Not the cartoon kind—no mustache-twirling egomaniacs with cheesy motives—but people who live in the grey and make choices they can justify to themselves. I’m interested in what drives them, what shaped them. Heroes are easy. What holds my attention are flawed characters navigating a real world that’s messy and rarely simple. The world isn’t divided into good and evil. People make decisions, and those decisions place them into roles: protagonist, antagonist, survivor, threat. That doesn’t make them virtuous or damned.
My stories live in that space. Not chaos for its own sake, but something more dangerous: honesty. Stories that hold up a mirror, asking us to re-examine our allegiances—who we forgive, who we condemn, and what we’re willing to overlook. That’s where honesty lives.
My debut novel, The Burning of Saint-Gilles, is a gothic, character-driven retelling of Dracula’s origin that uses vampiric mythology to explore love, faith, and the corruption of power. It inverts the familiar roles of holy figure and abomination—not to redeem the monster, but to question the label itself—offering a darkly romantic story that reflects on what it means to be a monster.
Alongside original work, I write fan fiction set in radically different worlds, including Baldur’s Gate 3 and Better Call Saul / Breaking Bad. These stories are pragmatic and intimate, built around moral tension and characters who are competent, compromised, and forced to live with the outcomes of their decisions.
I don’t write to offer clean answers or comfortable resolutions. I write to sit with ambiguity and to treat human behavior with the respect it deserves—even when it’s ugly. That doesn’t mean my stories reject happy endings. They often have them. The difference is that happiness isn’t a reward for virtue, but the result of agency: what people choose, what they risk, and what they’re willing to live with.
Grimoire of the Grove
A BALDUR'S GATE FANTASY
A grounded, character-driven retelling of Baldur’s Gate 3 that trades heroics for intimacy and genuine relationships formed through harship and survival.
Follow Fiodhan through the events of the game as he makes new friends and finds love in the most unexpected place. Together, Fiodhan and his companions fight to save themselves from a fate worse than death—battling monsters, ghosts, devils, and demons along the way.
There are two sides to every story…
Long before his fateful encounter with Johnathan Harker, the now-infamous Count Dracula was known by those who knew him simply as Dragomir. Today, his name is known around the world, his story recorded as one of the world’s most famous legends. But how much of what we know is actually true?
Journey back in time to the Middle Ages, known to historians today as the Dark Ages - a time that has been mysteriously erased from history. For centuries, we have wondered what shocking secrets lie buried there, forgotten. What we know today as myths and legends were once based in truth – a truth so shocking that entire centuries were wiped from the history books, deemed too dangerous for public knowledge.
When faced with a horrifying discovery, Dragomir must decide where he stands in the battle between heaven and hell. Should he leave humans to their fate, or will he use the gifts he’s been given for a greater cause? In an epic battle of good versus evil, an unlikely alliance forms when vampires and humans must join forces against a common enemy that has the power to rewrite history.
In a tale of romance, conspiracy, and treason, the lines between friend and foe become blurred, leaving Dragomir and his companions with only their instincts to guide them through a world of seduction and deception. Will our heroes see the serpent before it strikes, or will they fall prey to the temptations of flesh and blood?
Rian's writing transcends genres and creates worlds that feel real.
Beta Reader reviews for The Burning of Saint-Gilles
Put aside everything you think you know about Dracula and get ready for a whole new experience. This book is about family, love, friendship and surprising alliances. As in all things, politics, religion and survival play their part. The concepts of good guys and bad guys get turned on their head while at the same time making room for everyone no matter who they are or what their life choices are.
This book has you at hello, never lets go and leaves you yearning for more. The world building is rich and complex and the imagery is vivid. I didn't want to put it down and didn't want it to end. The author has a refreshing perspective and look forward to what comes next!
- Christine L.
I was captivated within the first pages by Rian's strong sense of atmosphere. I could smell the tanneries and smithies like I was really there.
- Matt H.
The blending of dark romance, historically accurate details, and a brand new take on Dracula is something I’ve never seen before. I’m not sure how Rian was able to write something that’s brand new and timeless at the same time, but that’s exactly what this story is.
- Mikaela O.
Rian's characters feel real to me, and the world feels like a real place. When I think about it, I sometimes forget it’s a story.
- M.
At first, I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy this book (it's not my preferred genre) but I was immediately struck by the author's ability to create immersive settings, complete with vivid smells and sounds that transported me to Medieval Europe.
I was drawn into the world they created and I fell in love with the cast of characters, who all felt like real people. The gristly, dark opening quickly gave way to a captivating adventure and ended with the most beautful love story I've ever seen. By the end, I was hiding in the bathroom in the middle of the night, desperate to finish the final chapters.
- Myrna L.
I liked the way love was presented in this book—all-inclusive and a good description of how or why love for others was so felt. The way Rian writes gives excellent imaging and description. In fact, I was initially a little put off by the graphic gore—this is not my usual genre—however it was obviously well written because I could picture the details well. I was invested in this story and how it all came together.
- Jen H.
Subscribe for updates
© Copyright 2026 Rian C. Stone. All rights reserved.