Book 2 Teaser: Illustration and Excerpt

James and I are working hard on our second gamebook, Tentacles of the Void.

This tense and claustrophobic sci-fi escape adventure is the follow up to our debut, Legion of the Necromancer, and we’ll be crowdfunding it on Kickstarter in September/October this year.

As a little teaser and to show you some of the work in progress, read this reference from the book and check out James’ amazing illustration (work in progress).

Gill says: “As the writer of the books, it’s so exciting to see what James draws - how he captures the tone and frames the action. The cover already looks awesome and I can really feel the '80s sci-fi graphic novel style of the illos he's done so far. I can’t wait to see

what subsequent illustrations look like.”

You frantically clip the helmet closed as you spin violently out into space. As you tumble, you see the side of the Fedai Alvarez, the invading alien vessel and trillions of light-years of empty blackness. ‘Vessel’ might not even be the right word; the alien ship looks more like a gargantuan squid with mechanical tentacles clinging to the Alvarez as it disgorges parasitic soldiers into its prey.

All around you, endless debris drifts past and you can see running battles off in the distance as laser fire and muted explosions punctuate the dead of space.

But enough sightseeing.

You’re heading towards a long gantry that looks like a mile-long suspension bridge joined with what looks like an open loading bay. Only then do you notice that your suit’s battery is now running low - the green LED flicking to red. As if in direct response, your breathing quickens and you start to panic.

You have limited choices and, unfortunately, you need to choose quickly. If your suit loses power, it will stop circulating oxygen and you will suffocate in your suit. Will you...

If you opened the email and got this far, James and I want to sincerely thank you for your time. We know there are a million things fighting for your time and we’re gratfeul that you would spend a few minutes with us. We hope we do you proud with our new gamebook.

We’ll keep you updated!

News flash

Hammerforge Chronicles will have a stand at Norwich Games Con on 22 August 2026. Come by and say hi - buy a book, get it signed and have a chinwag!