Kai Zeal 🐱📘🔮 | Author of Riyati
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kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
Kai Zeal 🐱📘🔮 | Author of Riyati
@kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
1.7K followers 400 following 3K posts
32+ | She/Her | Disabled autistic ace married cat mom | 🚫 genAI
L2D Moms: @haerge23.bsky.social (A) & @/SolumVT (R)

#Riyati book 3 is out now @ riyati.ink/ripple!
Check out @ riyati.ink or join the Riyati discord @ riyati.ink/discord
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kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
Going back to Rebirth for today's snippet! Jordan pov, but there's a Kylie present as well. And salt. Jordan does so love his salt

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
She’s already waiting for me, sitting at the bench we always met at; it’s first time in a while she’d mentioned wanting to hang out at all given how frequently we’d been together from imposed training sessions. “Late as usual, I see,” she chided as she glanced up from her phone screen. I rubbed the back of my neck with my hand. Jewel wouldn’t shut up yet again, so I couldn’t get going like I wanted to. “Yeah, sorry ‘bout that.” Kylie stood, stretching her arms out b‘fore shaking her head, slight smile present. “It sounds weird, but… it was actually kind of nice.” Placing her phone in her pocket, she started walking, me following her onto the walking trail we’d walked hundreds if not thousands of times prior. “Just a bit, uh, strange.” She chuckled lightly before glancing at me. “It’s just something almost, I guess you’d say, familiar. Feels like one of the few things that hasn’t changed.”
December 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
Book 3: Riyati Ripple

Rep: demi fMC (closeted), aro fMC, 2x ND female PoVs (Autistic & AuHD), PTSD, low social class & low self-esteem mMC
Length: 290 pages
Spice: 🌶️
Sample: riyati.ink/ripple-sample
Purchase link: riyati.ink/ripple

(5/5)
The promo image is yellow and brown colors, with a faded yellow magic glyph with foreign characters. Header text reads, “Every act of defiance steers you into the person you were always meant to become.” A 3d mockup of an ereader with Riyati Ripple’s cover is on the left. On the right, the following bullets are listed: Third book in series Buffy x Persona 4 vibes Demi, AuHD fMC + Aro, Au fMC Found family Childhood friends slow burn Intricate elemental magic Classism & effects of generational poverty Reincarnations Contemporary & low dark fantasy with urban fantasy elements 97k words (~290 pages) Retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Kobo, Google Play Books, Smashwords, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Hoopla, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink/ripple” is under the retailer logos. The promo image is yellow and brown colors, with a faded yellow magic glyph with foreign characters. Text reads as follows: “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 others, 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 everyone she’s ever known and loved will die with her.” Illustrated character art for Kylie Rae, Jordan Boyle, and Maya Van Daele are together. To their right are mockups of an ereader, smartphone, and print book that has Riyati Ripple’s cover. Under the mockups is the text “riyati.ink/ripple” in a bubble. There are faded yellow particles and a yellow faded glyph on a black background. On top of the particles and glyph is text that reads: I just needed the damn piece of paper. That’s all that mattered. I could do this, would do this. Yet despite telling myself that more than once in the past few weeks, I still wondered if this had been nothing but a massive mistake. I pulled my jacket tighter around myself. Outside was like a humid swamp hell, but they must’ve had the AC running full blast inside. It worked for the best since I preferred long sleeves, but outside of work, I hadn’t been in an AC’ed environment in weeks now — nearing a month. It brought me back to the question I’d asked myself so many times now: how was I going to do this?   Just as predictably, there was only one answer as well: it didn’t matter; I had no other option.   -Maya On the bottom left, there is a picture of a teenage girl with dark brown hair and light emerald eyes pensively looking to the side. To her right, retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Campfire, Payhip, Apple Books, Smashwords, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink/ripple” is under the retailer logos. There are faded yellow particles and a yellow faded glyph on a black background. On top of the particles and glyph is text that reads: Mom had been an anxious wreck, as bad as when I’d come back from being kidnapped by Asuza. But unlike then, there was no Sia to block emotions; I knew how terrified and exhausted she felt, how she cried when she didn’t think I was awake to hear.   If I’d just died back then, she could’ve moved on, not be put through this again and again.   Instead, all I could do was lie in bed, barely able to go to the bathroom without her trying to help me. Really, it was worse than after I’d been kidnapped because I couldn’t even sit at my desk to work on stuff and had no Sia to talk to, only my thoughts that never stopped anymore. Exercising was definitely off the table with my actually non-existent injuries, something further destroying any sense of normalcy I might’ve had. Mom had requested emergency leave, had groceries delivered in, never left. How much stress had I put on her? How many lives had been destroyed because of me? I’d finally managed to sneak my spell book into bed with me, hidden it to my right, underneath my comforter. But after having it beside me, I lost any drive to actually skim through it despite knowing I needed to figure out what that “anti-magic” thing was. Another sign of disrespect to those that’d died and suffered because of me.  -Kylie On the bottom left, there is a picture of a teenage girl with reddish-brown hair and teal eyes anxiously looking at the viewer. To her right, retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Campfire, Payhip, Apple Books, Smashwords, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink/ripple” is under the retailer logos.
December 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
Book 2: Riyati Rivals

Rep: demi fMC (closeted), lesbian minor characters (closeted), AuHD & PTSD, fMC, low social class & low self-esteem mMC
Length: 236 pages
Spice: 🌶️
Sample: riyati.ink/rivals-sample
Purchase link: riyati.ink/rivals

(4/5)
There are faded red particles and a red faded glyph on a black background. On top of the particles and glyph is header text that reads: “What happens when the past seeks vengeance, the present is lonely, and the future looks uncertain?” A 3d mockup of an ereader with Riyati Rivals’s cover is on the left. On the right, the following bullets are listed: Second book in series Buffy x Persona 4 vibes Demi, AuHD fMC Toxic friendships Classism & effects of generational poverty Morally grey & complex characters Intricate elemental magic Contemporary & low dark fantasy with urban fantasy elements 75k words (~236 pages) Below this list and cover, retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Kobo, Google Play Books, Smashwords, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Hoopla, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink/rivals” is under the retailer logos. There are faded red particles and a red faded glyph on a black background. On top of the particles and glyph is text that reads: While Kylie survived the kidnapping incident of June, it’s left her life in shambles, constantly confined under her mother’s supervision or locked in her bedroom. Worse, Kylie soon learns that while Asuza may be dead, his supporters are very much alive — including a certain familiar woman from the kidnapping who knows Kylie’s at fault for Asuza’s demise and wants nothing more than to repay the favor. All Kylie can do is trust Siani, even knowing Siani allowed her to be kidnapped in the first place and that Siani openly hides yet more secrets — dark secrets that could threaten Kylie’s own existence. But if she can’t count on her own future-self, who can Kylie trust? She’ll have to decide who her allies are— and fast — if she wants to survive in this new life or else she won’t make it to the end of the year. Below the blurb on the left are two illustrations of teenagers, from left to right: a confident, well dressed blonde haired man with blue eyes and a teenage girl with grey eyes, blonde hair, and a low cut camisole. To their right is Riyati Rivals’s covers in ereader, phone, and print book format, with “riyati.ink/rivals” under the cover mockups. There are faded red particles and a red faded glyph on a black background. On top of the particles and glyph is text that reads: Almost a month and a half since that damn bastard’d kidnapped her. Summer break’d already come and gone, the damn Georgia late summer heat and humidity as shitty as ever. As expected, hadn’t really seen her much since she’d survived that day. Well. Guess it’d be better said as “remembered” for me and Kyle, but it’d been kinda obvious even without us having lived it once: there’s no way Ms. Rae’d take Kylie going missing well, and she ain’t exactly a woman that’d ever handled a lack of control with grace. Now, it’s the night b’fore school started back: the infamous eleventh grade year. A time I never wanted to revisit yet’s at my damn doorstep already. I’d say it’s too soon, but always’d be, if I’m honest. -Rotanu On the bottom left, there is a picture of an older brown haired boy with light blue eyes, more confident and smiling. To his right, retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Kobo, Google Play Books, Smashwords, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Hoopla, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink/rivals” is under the retailer logos. There are faded red particles and a red faded glyph on a black background. On top of the particles and glyph is text that reads: I brought my knees to my chest, using my free arm to lay over my legs. “I thought it’d hurt worse than it did. It’s funny, being older. He’s just like them, really. Looking for a home. Being absolutely obnoxious about it, but what’s new there? His emotions are clear giveaways of how dependent he is on Jordan, but she isn’t experienced enough as an empath to put it together… maybe not mature enough in general.” His eyes were on me, watching my every breath. Even though there was no need, he was clearly concerned, as much of a worrier as ever. “You really think just standing aside’s the best thing to do?” I brought the hand holding his close, kissing below one of his knuckles. “I do.” My loyalty was to my Jordan, not to a revisionist past where we’d never have the chance to grow, to be with the people most important to us now. After all, our mistakes defined us, and I wouldn’t let anything take that chance away from them. -Siani On the bottom left, there is a picture of an older reddish-brown haired girl with bright teal eyes smiling. To her right, retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Kobo, Google Play Books, Smashwords, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Hoopla, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink/rivals” is under the retailer logos.
December 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
Book 1: Riyati Rebirth

Rep: demi fMC (closeted), lesbian semi-major character (not romantic interest for fMC, closeted), AuHD fMC, low social class & low self-esteem mMC
Length: 218 pages
Spice: 🌶️
Sample: riyati.ink/rebirth-sample
Purchase link: riyati.ink/rebirth

(3/5)
There are faded blue particles and a blue faded glyph on a dark blue background. On top of the particles and glyph, header text reads: “With great power comes your past incarnations and future self playing chess with your existence.” A 3d mockup of a ereader with Riyati Rebirth’s cover is on the left. On the right, the following bullets are listed: First book in series Demi, AuHD fMC “I don’t like future me” Childhood friends slow burn Classism & effects of generational poverty Generational trauma Intricate elemental magic Reincarnations Contemporary & low dark fantasy with urban fantasy elements 67k words (~218 pages) Below this list, retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Kobo, Google Play Books, Smashwords, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Hoopla, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink/rebirth” is under the retailer logos. There are faded blue particles and a blue faded glyph on a dark blue background. On top of the particles and glyph is text that reads: Her whole life, Kylie Rae had been concerned with appeasing her demanding, achievement-focused mother while enjoying an otherwise peaceful teenage life of sleeping late and hanging out with friends after school. That all changes after she learns she’s the reincarnation of a destroyed magic kingdom’s crown princess after she and her two closest friends end up in a life-threatening situation. Now she has her past incarnations and somehow her own future self as distinct consciousnesses in her head, each with their own agenda — one that doesn’t necessarily line up with Kylie’s own interests. Even worse, her past two incarnations were killed by the same man… and he’s coming for her next. If she doesn’t adapt to her new life of magic and secrets, making A’s to appease her mom will be the least of her concerns — she’ll be just as dead as the incarnations body-sharing with her. Below the blurb on the left are three illustrations of teenagers, from left to right: an anxious messy haired teenage boy with light blue eyes, a shorter teenage girl with shoulder length reddish-brown hair and bright aquamarine eyes, and a taller red haired, brown eyed teenage girl with a serious expression. To their right is Riyati Rebirth’s covers in ereader, phone, and print book format, with “riyati.ink/rebirth” under the cover mockups. There are faded blue particles and a blue faded glyph on a dark blue background. On top of the particles and glyph is text that reads: “Did you hear? It happened again,” a girl beside me said to her friend, hushed whispers. “Another person went missing. No trace of their body. Cops can’t find anything.” I pulled my phone out, scrolling through my social media feed. Everyone kept talking about this — probably was just people running away; it wasn’t like there was much else to talk about in this city. Usually, we imported our drama fresh from Savannah, but people started going “missing” over a month ago, right as we came back from holiday break. And it’s all I’d heard about since then, from Dani, from my classmates. It didn’t affect me. I wasn’t stupid enough to roam outside at random hours, go down dark alleyways with strangers following me. I’d never even been to detention, though knew more about it than I probably should thanks to Jordan being a frequent visitor. Speaking of, I picked my duffel bag up as I saw him walk out the front doors of the school, searching for me in the spot I normally stood. -Kylie On the bottom left, there is a picture of a reddish-brown haired girl with bright teal eyes smiling innocently. To her right, retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Kobo, Google Play Books, Smashwords, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Hoopla, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink/rebirth” is under the retailer logos. There are faded blue particles and a blue faded glyph on a dark blue background. On top of the particles and glyph is text that reads: As I opened the heavy wooden classroom door, I felt dozens of eyes on me, including my homeroom teacher who paused whatever he’d been saying. I lowered my head from the attention as I softly closed the door back and made my way to my seat. Five damn minutes wasn’t even that much. “That’s the fourth time this quarter, Mr. Boyle. Next time is detention.” “Yessir.” Wasn’t like it’s actually my fault I’m late. Thomas couldn’t find the bag with his clothes in it from the move, and I got stuck helping him since Jewel’d already bailed and Elaine’s hung over; hell knew she ain’t moving for at least the next three hours since she’d been puking when I got up this morning. Kylie didn’t notice me sit down beside her, intently focused on writing something; she’s prob’bly the only one in the damn class that didn’t, too accustomed to me being late to every damn thing. Given so many of our classmates were like Kylie and shared classes with me since elementary, I’d long given up on them not caring. -Jordan On the bottom left, there is a picture of a timid brown haired boy with light blue eyes. To his right, retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Kobo, Google Play Books, Smashwords, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Hoopla, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink/rebirth” is under the retailer logos.
December 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
Prequel Novella/Book 0: Riyati Origins

You can read for free by signing up for my newsletter or by subbing on KoFi or the Riyati Official Discord!

Rep: demi fMC, AuHD fMC
Spice: 🌶️
Length: 33 pages
Newsletter link: riyati.ink/newsletter
Ko-Fi: riyati.ink/kofi
Discord: riyati.ink/discord

(2/5)
Header text reads: “Long before Kylie Rae ran into the forest that fateful day, there lived another woman — Kisate Riyati, crowned princess to the Royal Kingdom of Riyati. This is her story, of how kingdoms fall and dreams are dashed.” An ereader is showing Riyati Origins’s cover on the left, with the following bullets on the right: Prequel to Riyati series Demi, AuHD fMC Successful childhood friend Elemental magic Low dark fantasy 1st person pov & multi-pov Royalty Unhappy families 10k words (~33 pages) At the bottom, text says: “free with newsletter signup @ riyati.ink/origins”
December 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
Looking for a new dark fantasy series? Check out #Riyati!

🏠 Direct riyati.ink/store
🔗 Itch riyati.ink/itch
🛒 Other retailers (ebook & print) riyati.ink/series
🔮 Riyati Discord (lurker friendly) riyati.ink/discord
🚫 Series cw's riyati.ink/cws
🧩 More info riyati.ink

Individual book info 🧵👇 (1/5)
The image is split into three columns, each having a color palette. The far left is teal, the middle is red and black, and the right is yellow and dark brown. There are roman numerals on each of the splits, I, II, and III, with Riyati Rebirth, Riyati Rivals, and Riyati Ripple under the roman numerals. Behind the titles and roman numerals are magic glyphs colored teal, red, and yellow respectively. There is a bullet list with the following: Buffy x Persona 4 vibe Generational trauma Childhood friends slow burn Demi, AuHD fMC Contemporary & low dark fantasy with urban fantasy elements Reincarnations Intricate elemental magic Complex & morally grey characters Classism & effects of generational poverty Found family In the colored columns, there is a picture of an illustrated character. In the teal column, a teenage girl with long reddish-brown hair and bright teal eyes looks anxious at the viewer. In the red and black column, a teenage boy with olive-brown hair and light blue eyes looks scared and pensive at the viewer. In the yellow and brown column, a teenage girl with short dark brown hair and bright emerald eyes looks pensively to the side. At the bottom, aligned middle, is the text “riyati.ink” in a box. “Riyati” is in the top center of the image. It is surrounded by four book covers, from left to right: Riyati Origins (listed as a prequel with 33 pages), Riyati Rebirth (listed as Book I with 218 pages), Riyati Rivals (listed as Book II with 236 pages), and Riyati Ripple (listed as Book III with 290 pages). The following blurb is below: It all started that day, in the forest... Kylie Rae learned she is anything but a normal after a life or death situation revealed that she is not only a mage — a powerful one at that — but also the reincarnation of a long destroyed magic kingdom’s last crown princess. The life she knows is destroyed as she learns people from her past incarnations want her dead and a secret organization kidnaps and tortures mages like herself if they ever discover she exists. Riyati is a new adult/adult contemporary, low dark fantasy series that seeks to explore themes of identity, legacy, generational trauma, and finding your own path in life. The series is set in the modern day fictional Southern US town of Opal Pines and includes multiple first person perspectives with characters across a range of queer, neurodiverse, and socioeconomic statuses. Below the blurb, retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Kobo, Google Play Books, Smashwords, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Hoopla, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink” is beside the retailer logos.
December 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
Maya's not from the small city/town of Opal Pines and that apparently upsets someone specific (he's just Like This in general alas)

Snippet Maya pov from Ripple 💛

#WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WriteSky
“You’re not even from here, are you?” It wasn’t any of his business whether I was or wasn’t from here, so I didn’t answer the question. “Well? Are you? There’s no one with your name in this city prior to this past July.”  How did he know that?   It didn’t matter. He wouldn’t have asked if he knew for certain, so I just turned back to Kylie and Jordan. She made some water shield as Jordan threw a few small ice shards at it. His ice shards were pitiful though compared to the water currents she often drenched him with when they reversed defensive and offensive positions.   Sai grabbed me by my right wrist, startling me, and my head turned back toward him. “What?”  “I asked you a question.”  What was his problem? “Yeah, and I’m not answering it. It’s my business, not yours.”
December 4, 2025 at 2:13 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
My Spotify Wrapped hit and... it's all artists/songs from my Riyati playlist because I don't think I really left it this year xD (and most of the time spent listening was while working on Riyati stuff too...)
Kai's Spotify Wrapped 2025: Top Artists: 1. Citizen Coldier 2. Beth Crowley 3. Fireflight 4. Icon for Hire 5. Thousand Foot Krutch Top Songs 1. Untraveled Road 2. Looking at Me 3. Protector 4. Sacred 5. Irreplacable Minutes Listened: 28,626 Top Genre: Post-Grunge
December 3, 2025 at 11:29 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
Gotta love when you're a teenager and your body changes without you realizing, and--

Actually wait, this is different because there's magic involved nvm, Jordan can go back to freaking out. (Also, Jordan/Rebirth snippet today!)

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
I wanted nothing to do with any of this. This’s Kylie’s thing. I just was meant to watch from the side, cheering her on. But… it’d be really nice to stop experiencing both frost and normal burns. Nothing’d been harmful enough yet, except… It should’ve been. Turning my hand over, I saw no burn mark at all on my pointer finger or anywhere else from the other incidents. “The hell…?” Most of the burns’d been on my dominant hand, but I checked my left as well to be sure. Nothing. “Is something wrong?” Takite asked. It felt strange to ask why I ain’t hurt; was similar to the disorienting moments where Siani’d healed injuries. But she’s nowhere around this apartment. My hand should’ve been full of burns with how this past week’d been. “Why wasn’t — ” I didn’t even know how to ask. “There should be burns.”
December 3, 2025 at 2:13 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
A Maya snippet! (It's hard to fit her in since she only really gets pov chapters come Ripple).

I miss the days my body didn't care if I had five days of hotdogs for dinner, rip getting old

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Considering how small this town was, I was fortunate that I’d found a job willing to hire me for almost full-time hours despite being a high school student. Even better, I likely wasn’t affording cable anytime soon, so working at this theater let me see whatever movies were out, even if it took multiple partial viewings to piece together something resembling a plot. I appreciated the discounted junk food I often bought with my employee discount, too. Fifteen percent off wasn’t much, but all my apartment kitchen had was a stove-top, small fridge, and sink, so it wasn’t like I’d be cooking that much to begin with nor did I honestly have the energy to cook between school and work. I’d never been especially averse to eating the same thing either, so I didn’t mind five days straight of hot dogs here and there.
December 2, 2025 at 2:31 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
We're starting Dec off with a Kylie (and Sia) Rebirth snippet! (I still snicker at the Dani bullying part each time I read it ngl)

I thought I'd have a more found family snippet but I guess I never use the word in Ripple whoops so Rebirth it is

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
I felt Sia’s left hand make subtle moves, a slight sigh from her chest. “Don’t make me repeat myself: state what you want.” That hunger increased even more. “To take you where you belong, back home.” “W-what’s…?” Dani stepped back, bumping into something on the gray broken concrete that I couldn’t make out because Sia’s eyes never left the woman, not even a momentary flinch from Dani’s words or movement. Dani’s mood had shifted from annoyed to scared. Scared? How bad was this for Dani to be scared? Dani was the one who scared off bullies when we had pre-k together. Well. Actually, in hindsight, Dani kind of was the bully then, but still. “Surprise to us both, but not interested. Don’t suppose we can just all walk out and go our separate ways?” Sia said. She glanced around to the left and right without moving her head — I wasn’t sure what she was looking at. Was amazing how we saw literally the same thing, but I couldn’t piece together what Sia was thinking or doing.
December 1, 2025 at 2:36 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
A Kylie (Ripple) snippet, with the actual prompt and everything -- it's a unicorn day! Also, it's Hurt/Comfort Sunday except this mostly just has the hurt oopsie-daisy (this is a recurring Riyati problem)

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Shaking my head, I clenched my eyes shut — the other premonition had returned for round number four. “It’s… It’s not that. It’s the…” Words hurt — my lungs stung as if they’d been pierced, filled with lead. “Other…”  “You gotta get home, like now. Your ass needs to be in bed.” His fingers gently gripped my wrist as he pulled me upward.   I gasped, whimpering and wincing as a tear slipped down my cheek from the pain. “I-I can’t. Need to wait it out. Don’t… don’t move me…”  He mumbled a curse under his breath as he instantly let go. “Sorry, didn’t think ‘bout how it’d…” I heard him take a deep breath, frustration and helplessness like sirens in my blood. “Is there anything I can do to help? I can leave, get outta your empathic range at least, so I’m not fuckin’ you that way.”  “Don’t.” If anyone were to attack right then, I’d be dead. If he left, I’d be alone in the dark in the middle of nowhere, and that was far worse than experiencing his emotions. “Just… just sit with me. Okay?”
November 30, 2025 at 2:40 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
I finally got prompt instead of a subbed word!

This is from Jordan's pov in Rivals, and I heard people wanted some toxic friendship so lemme tell you, Rivals is here to deliver in spades!!! (no one actually asked for toxic friendship rep sadge)

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingPrompt #WritingCommunity
I should’ve pushed for the park instead of this French food place Richard’d picked out. He had two girls — neither I’d ever seen at school so assumed he knew them from somewhere else. One had long black hair and the other with short red hair and freckles, both with rather tight, low cut shirts that made it awkward to glance anywhere in their general direction so I tried not to, seeing the ornate off-white molding at the top of the doorway. We’re in this private party room, only making it even more awkward since just the four of us, could’ve easily held like twenty people, and we still had an entire dedicated waiter. Of course Richard’s paying like he did anytime anyone went somewhere with him. For not the first time since we sat down, I wondered why the hell I’d signed up for whatever the hell this was. Then I remembered it’s like sixty degrees out, and they’d have the damn windows open at home to air out the alcohol smell.
November 29, 2025 at 2:19 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
I had to sub again oops-- I went with "twisted," and we've got a Ripple Jordan snippet today! This is a totally healthy relationship where no one is using anyone, yes it is. Absolutely nothing to see here *cough*

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
I tensed, not expecting quite this much on school grounds where people’d see us and fuck, would we get written up for PDA over this? I didn’t need damn detention the first week; it’d happen soon enough without her help. “I hope we’ll get to see him again soon.” Couldn’t tell her I’d seen him three days ago and he hadn’t once asked ‘bout her — or anyone here, for that matter. He didn’t give a damn ‘bout any woman I’ve seen with him, her included. Hell, since his Act, hadn’t even acknowledged they existed basically after whatever the hell happened that one time with his absorption device. It’s yet another reminder ‘bout how we’re just mimicries of normal teenagers. Her finger reached higher, to the nape of my neck, as she twisted some of my hair around her finger. “Oh, your hair’s getting longer. Are you growing it out like Richard’s?”  “Ah, uh, just ain’t had time to get it cut.”
November 28, 2025 at 3:52 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
I had to sub "chaos" in, but the good news is we got a Sia (Kylie) snippet from Rebirth today at least!

...also don't bother to kidnap and torture Sia, she just finds it amusing and instead critiques the decor

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Everything hurt, and the best description of the pain was probably “hurt like hell.” Wasn’t the first time, wouldn’t be the last time. Mana drain sucked, and berserk always sent the body into chaos before we even factored the current mana drain going on. Opening my eyes, I saw torches illuminating the stone walls they were mounted on. I briefly wondered if Asuza bothered to relight the things or if he used a recast loop spell to keep them perma-lit. Also, how often was this room used, anyway? Was this the same place that Leah and Chloé died? I had no idea and doubted they’d be much for conversation once they woke up.
November 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
There is one (1) instance of "impede" in all published Riyati books atm so uh... take another Rota (Jordan) snippet! This one's from Rebirth, so we're back to the beginning (also see: dum teenagers being dum)

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“That’s why it’s not just you here right now.” I wanted to hold her, stroke her hair, tell her that things’d be okay. That she’d be okay. That things’d get better. But it ignored that things’d get worse b’fore better. It ignored that I knew there’re some things I couldn’t say. “I don’t… I don’t want anyone else to die because of…” An ethical dilemma I’d never shared: as Jordan, was too self-absorbed, and now… My hands were far from clean. “What’s happened with Dani? Sounds like trouble?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her run hands through her scalp as a sigh came from her. “Yeah… it’s the first time we’ve ever fought like that… first time I’ve ever been seeing her this… just… mean.” Territorial, she meant. “Jordan” impeded on Dani’s territory of “Kylie’s protector.” I wanted to bang my head into a goddamn wall from how idiotic both my younger self and Dani were, how it was ‘bout them, not their friend whose life was in danger, who had to sleep with one eye open.
November 26, 2025 at 3:10 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
Yay I can include the actual word again! This is from Rivals, Rota pov (...so another Jordan one oops), and I went for it bc it has one of the major systemic societal critiques in current Riyati books, so it's meta "system" inclusion kinda (?)

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Jordan said nothing as he turned back around and put the rest of the shit up. “Did you hear me?” Jewel asked, her tone even bitchier than normal. “You have to help too.” Jordan’s right fist balled. “I heard you. Can I finish this now?” “Quit acting like a child. I’d already started mid-year, not dragging my feet like you’re doing. I actually wanted to help this family. Maybe we wouldn’t have to move so much if you bothered to ever pull your weight.” I barely caught Jordan’s elemental control slipping, his fingers nearly gaining a spark. Should’ve expected that given how fast his heart raced right then, how shallow his breath became at the thought of juggling a full-time job this summer, of being forced into the same system of dead-end jobs his father and sisters’d gone into. I remembered how I’d thought — he thought — how it ain’t fair, no one understood what’s going on and not like he could talk to anyone ‘bout it either.
November 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
I'm finding this super late & unsure if you're still looking, but if so

Riyati is contemporary, low dark fantasy w/ a focus on trauma, legacies, & teens finding their place in the world. 3 books out w/ more planned

Free prequel: riyati.ink/origins
Series/CW: riyati.ink
Retailers: riyati.ink/series
“Riyati” is in the top center of the image. It is surrounded by four book covers, from left to right: Riyati Origins (listed as a prequel with ~33 pages), Riyati Rebirth (listed as Book I with ~255 pages), Riyati Rivals (listed as Book II with ~267 pages), and Riyati Ripple (listed as Book III with ~320 pages). A bullet list is below: Buffy x Persona 4 Vibes Generational Trauma Childhood Friends Slow Burn Demi, ND fMC Contemporary & low fantasy with urban fantasy elements Reincarnations Dark Fantasy Elemental Magic "I don't like future me" Classism & effects of generational poverty Retailer logos are listed: itch.io, ko-fi, Campfire, Payhip, Apple Books, Smashwords, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink” is at the bottom There are faded blue particles and a blue faded glyph on a dark blue background. On top of the particles and glyph is text that reads: “Did you hear? It happened again,” a girl beside me said to her friend, hushed whispers. “Another person went missing. No trace of their body. Cops can’t find anything.” I pulled my phone out, scrolling through my social media feed. Everyone kept talking about this — probably was just people running away; it wasn’t like there was much else to talk about in this city. Usually, we imported our drama fresh from Savannah, but people started going “missing” over a month ago, right as we came back from holiday break. And it’s all I’d heard about since then, from Dani, from my classmates. It didn’t affect me. I wasn’t stupid enough to roam outside at random hours, go down dark alleyways with strangers following me. I’d never even been to detention, though knew more about it than I probably should thanks to Jordan being a frequent visitor. Speaking of, I picked my duffel bag up as I saw him walk out the front doors of the school, searching for me in the spot I normally stood. -Kylie On the bottom left, there is a picture of a reddish-brown haired girl with bright teal eyes smiling innocently. To her right, retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Campfire, Payhip, Apple Books, Smashwords, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink/rebirth” is under the retailer logos. There are faded red particles and a red faded glyph on a black background. On top of the particles and glyph is text that reads: First day of entirely too damn many for this year’s finally done. I stood a bit off from the school exit and waited for Kylie. Hell knew I ain’t gonna be early, so this’s basically the only time we’d see each other. Was different from sixth grade when this’d last happened. Ms. Rae didn’t hate me as much then, and Kylie wasn’t under effective lock-down. Another damn negative effect of magic on our lives. Even I barely believed what’d happened back in June, and I saw it, was there. Could all too easily envision the wires attached to her, skin paler than I’d ever seen. How her back’d been nothing but dripping blood. How her wrists still had scars around them, even yesterday. How Rotanu’d fuckin’ let it happen, knew the exact time and date and had said jack shit. -Jordan On the bottom left, there is a picture of a timid brown haired boy with light blue eyes. To his right, retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Campfire, Payhip, Apple Books, Smashwords, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink/rivals” is under the retailer logos. There are faded yellow particles and a yellow faded glyph on a black background. On top of the particles and glyph is text that reads: I just needed the damn piece of paper. That’s all that mattered. I could do this, would do this. Yet despite telling myself that more than once in the past few weeks, I still wondered if this had been nothing but a massive mistake. I pulled my jacket tighter around myself. Outside was like a humid swamp hell, but they must’ve had the AC running full blast inside. It worked for the best since I preferred long sleeves, but outside of work, I hadn’t been in an AC’ed environment in weeks now — nearing a month. It brought me back to the question I’d asked myself so many times now: how was I going to do this?   Just as predictably, there was only one answer as well: it didn’t matter; I had no other option.   -Maya On the bottom left, there is a picture of a teenage girl with dark brown hair and light emerald eyes pensively looking to the side. To her right, retailer logos are listed as follows: itch.io, ko-fi, Campfire, Payhip, Apple Books, Smashwords, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon Kindle. A plus sign with “more @ riyati.ink/ripple” is under the retailer logos.
November 24, 2025 at 3:55 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
No luck on "debut," but in spirit of it, I went with "intro" and specifically pulled from Rebirth (Riyati's debut)!

Also, finally another Kylie pov snippet (double Kylie since it's Sia's pov with Kylie actually--)

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Kisate was only like a year or two older than Rota and me. Rota had read that it typically took decades to learn how to use wings, which was likely what Kisate referred to. I wasn’t sure if Kisate ever had used them or even seen them on another for that matter. Yet another fun difference between war and peace: enough life and death situations really sped up the learning process if your survival to the next day depended on mastering the concept. “So that’s wings. Not going to work with them today, just introducing the concept.” The pencil point hovered just above the page. I didn’t want to write this next part. It needed to be said. But like so many things lately, I didn’t want to be the one to say it. “Sia?” “Sorry, was distracted.” I pushed the pencil point to the page, writing out “Berserk state.”
November 24, 2025 at 3:27 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
"Global" is legit not in any of the published Riyati manuscripts so uh... I went with "from here" as a variation. Also back to Ripple and Maya! (Poor Kylie still not getting any snippets...)

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“You’re just a bitch too, aren’t you?”  So keeping my eyes away from him pissed him off. Was that how his ability thing worked? “Not the first time I’ve been called one. Doubt it’ll be the last.”   He scoffed. “That’s not… I’m trying to have a conversation with you.”  And? Why should I give a damn? “I’m not going to tell anyone. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to suddenly be buddy-buddy with you, sorry.” I wasn’t actually sorry and don’t know why I said I was.   “Don’t you know who I am?”   Of course I didn’t. “As you’ve already so intelligently deducted, I’m not from here. You’re just a dick involved in the magic weirdness as far as I’m concerned.” 
November 23, 2025 at 2:25 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
So I used this word last night in Riyati5 but that's very Not Sharable due to spoilers, and the only other instance of "crystal" is from Origins (prequel novella) so... enjoy something completely (kinda) different, Takite's pov ft Kisate!

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She sat down on a stone bench, bringing the tip of her fingers against water from a nearby fountain. The water followed her movements, precise and fluid. She’d always been talented with magic, whether in her theoretical studies or with elemental manipulation.  A smile pulling to my lips, I created a small crystal of ice, placing it into the fountain and watching as it floated away, melting quickly. It’d been nothing more than chance, but our respective elemental alignment complimented each other: her wind stoking the flames I created, my ice generating further water for her to manipulate. “Your Highness has something in mind?” Her lips pressed together as she averted her eyes. She spoke softly, likely for the servants nearby to not overhear us. “He’s really struggling with things. Don’t take it too personally, really.” That would’ve been a lot more convincing if Asuza hadn’t always hated me, even before this.
November 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
One day I'll find more non-spoilery Kylie povs to share but for now, uh, here's another Jordan!

(Also, a full week of Ripple-snippets accomplished 🎉 )

CW: implied domestic/child abuse (no young children)

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Her steps paused, a wince coming from her. I stopped walking, immediately turning in her direction. Her eyes squeezed shut as her hand went to her chest. She leaned forward, panting.   “Kyle?”   She shook her head.   “It’s just…” It’s one of the damn sensory precognition attacks. We’re out in fuckin’ middle of West Side too, not exactly a place to take a random-ass breather. Was it from me again? Father beating my ass for one reason or another, and she took the hits too ‘cause she picked up premonitions from the pain I’d feel? There ain’t a damn thing I could do ‘bout it, which just pissed me off even more. She winced.   “Don’t… not right now.”   If I got angry, the emotions passed onto her, causing additional stress for her. How could I choose what I felt? I ain’t that disciplined. But I had to try, so I took a deep breath, focusing on our surroundings to help distract me.   “We’re almost there,” I said.
November 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
It was a struggle to decide between found family, blood family, or bitter-ironic "family" but luckily Ripple has all three!

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I’d let myself get too attached. I should’ve known better but… but…  A girl with short red hair ran past me into the room. She went to Kylie’s side and grabbed her arm. Kylie didn’t move, likely wasn’t conscious at all. Kylie’s mom stood, saying something to the redhead I couldn’t hear. She then stepped away, the door fully opening before I could hide. I couldn’t move away quickly from right in front of the door — an uninvited guest peering into a vulnerable moment for this family I wasn’t part of. I didn’t know what to say, so I looked down at my old sneakers.   “It’s all right, Dear. You can go in, especially if you came all this way.” She didn’t yell at me to mind my own business, didn’t tell me I wasn’t part of their family and how the receptionist shouldn’t have given me the information on where Kylie was in the first place. I brought my hands to my chest, eyes still watering.
November 21, 2025 at 2:03 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
In which Maya begs for pls not another monologue

(Barely snuck this one in for Ripple, but the streak continues! Soon I need to start posting Rebirth and Rivals too xD)

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“I just think about how much better Sia was, and I’m not sure I’m ever getting there. Or at least, I’m not getting there fast enough to make it matter.”  “Sia?” She’d mentioned the name a few times, but I’d never asked. If she was going to distract me anyway though, I might as well hear stories I actually was interested in.  Her hand moved to the necklace ring again, holding on to it. “Mm. How do I…? It sounds really out there.” Basically everything around magic did, so I wasn’t sure why this needed the special disclaimer. “Me and Jordan, and I guess one other person…” Her tone soured on the last person’s mention, but if there was someone else involved in all this, why hadn’t that been brought up before now? Seemed like a third person would’ve helped the rather desperate odds. “Or, well, I guess… how do I?”   What had I just gotten myself into?
November 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
kaizeal.aquakatpublishing.com
Hey, I finally managed a not-Jordan snippet! Also does the entirety of Ripple count for the prompt since it's the third book? 🤔 (though this is just Kylie getting beat up again rip)

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She slugged me across the jaw, and I staggered back, not anticipating the blow or remotely having the reaction speed to adjust for it in my worn-out state. Everything moved in slow motion as I saw her fist slam into my other cheek, but I just couldn’t move, too slow with every attempted dodge or shift I made. I wasn’t awake enough to fight back even after my heart raced from the endorphins and pain from her punch still vibrated through my cheek. The third punch shifted from my face to my skull, my vision doubling from the impact. Panic ate through me, throat dry and fingers trembling. I gripped the cool concrete wall in an attempt to steady myself. “Feeling a little drowsy, are we?” Why was she so smug? How’d she even know that I felt tired? Something was wrong, was…
November 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM