“To belong, she must become—with the gift that made her different.” Pint’s gift has always set her apart. In a family where community and practicality are valued above all, her need to create—secretly, relentlessly— is met with growing resistance. Unknown to them, she has long spoken with a boy named Farthing who lives in a place called Alameth—and heard the quiet voice of its King, who once promised she would be tested for entrance into his Hidden Kingdom. When a door opens at the mysterious and storied Finnerty Chateau, she takes a step—not just into the unknown, but into the deep myth she’s carried her whole life. Her world opens in unexpected ways: there are others like her—artists with rare and radiant gifts—and the Chateau’s enigmatic master seems to know who she is before she does. As Pint is slowly renamed “Creation,” she navigates a series of trials she doesn’t fully understand—quiet crucibles hidden in the folds of ordinary life, yet which seem to carry unseen weight. All the while, a Kingdom beyond this world calls to her, watching to see what will emerge when the soul is tested. ** Creation offers a mythic, allegorical coming-of-age for those who’ve always felt set apart. A wondrous fantasy tale of the artist’s journey—the temptations that lure them, the longing that fuels them, and the Kingdom that keeps calling them home. Scroll down for imagery that brings the story to life! From the Author “From a young age I wanted to write stories that were safe from vulgarity but unafraid of the dark. I wanted prose that evoked wonder, and allegory that was spiritually alive — not preachy, but layered with meaning. I wanted worlds that mirrored unseen battles with clarity and heart. When you mash all of that together, you get Exley Books. I hope you will enjoy your journey into the worlds that I create and the messages I explore. Happy reading!” ~e To learn more -> exleybooks.com ★★★★★ "Exley's writing calls you up and out into the fullness of who you were designed to be..." ~ David Moreno, book reviewer ★★★★★ " Creation... speaks to anyone who feels like they were made for something more than what they were born into." ~ R. Whitmore, book reviewer ★★★★★ " A luminous, quietly powerful story that lingers long after the final page..." ~ The Silverleaf Reading Circle "From a young age I wanted to write stories that were safe from vulgarity but unafraid of the dark. I wanted prose that evoked wonder, and allegory that was spiritually alive — not preachy, but layered with meaning. I wanted worlds that mirrored unseen battles with clarity and heart. When you mash all of that together, you get Exley Books. I hope you will enjoy your journey into the worlds that I create and the messages I explore. Happy reading!" ~e