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The Trial was meant to eliminate champions, not replace them. In the aftermath of a public execution, Seventeen begins to see the pattern hiding behind the spectacle. As alliances quietly form without her, old loyalties crumble, and every conversation becomes another move in a game no one fully understands. The champions believe they are fighting for a throne. The patrons believe they are buying influence. The Crown insists the Trial is proceeding as it always has. Seventeen no longer believes any of them. As she follows the trail left behind by the fallen, long-buried memories of her own past begin to surface, forcing her to confront the true reason she entered the Trial under another woman's name. The answers she has been searching for may lie far beyond the arena, but the cost of finding them is becoming clearer with every body that falls. Some games are played to find a winner. This one may have been designed to ensure there is never one.

In this episode of Beyond The Page, I take a step back from storytelling and talk about something every writer runs into sooner or later; the gap between gaining visibility and actually getting better. The truth is, you can post consistently, gain traction, and still feel stuck. And it's not because you lack talent, but cos you're missing feedback that actually helps you grow. This episode also introduces something new my partner and I have been working on; Storyloom, a space designed to bring writing, feedback, and discovery into one continuous loop. If you’re a writer trying to improve, or a reader who enjoys being part of the creative process, this conversation is for you. ✨ Join the Storyloom beta: https://storyloom.ca

The arena does not groom. It only replaces. When a champion is publicly executed for “subverting the sanctity of the Trial,” the court calls it procedure, but Seventeen calls it proof. The replacement arrives before the body finishes collapsing into the sand. This is no longer a competition of merit, but a curated spectacle, and someone other than the Crown is rearranging the board faster than the throne admits.

We live in a world obsessed with data, productivity, and optimization, and yet, we still tell stories. In this solo episode of Beyond The Page, Lora Tia explores why storytelling isn't just entertainment, but a core human survival tool. From childhood imagination to branding, leadership, work culture, and personal identity, narrative shapes how we understand the world and our place in it. If you've ever wondered why stories linger, why representation matters, or why certain narratives feel hollow while others feel like home, this episode is for you.

Welcome back to Beyond The Page! In this cheeky solo banter episode, Lora Tia reflects on the tropes she once turned her nose up at, only to end up writing them. From Enemies to Lovers and The Chosen One, to the ever-popular Captive Hearts, Lora goes deep into the tropes she tried to avoid and the stories that convinced her otherwise. She talks about what makes a trope work, why clichés aren't always the enemy, and how Table Eleven became a genre-bending surprise that helped her fall in love with romance-forward storytelling. If you've ever sworn you'd never write that trope… only to catch yourself doing it with flair, this episode's for you. New episodes air biweekly. Subscribe, share, and let us know which trope you've secretly come around to.

As the year winds down, we're taking a moment to rest, reset, and reflect. Beyond The Page will be on holiday break until 2026, and this episode is our little way of saying thank you. Whether you've been here since Episode 1 or just joined the ride, I'm so grateful for your support, your listens, and your love for indie storytelling. So from me to you, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a joyful New Year in advance! While new episodes will be back in January, now's a great time to revisit your favourite chapters and explore any episodes you may have missed. Let's go into the new year rested, inspired, and ready to turn more pages, together. With love, Lora Tia 💛

This week, on Beyond The Page, we're having a little heart-to-heart.  It's me, your host, Lora Tia, pulling back the curtain on the heart of my writing journey. From reading James Hadley Chase under the covers as a kid, to writing fantasy worlds that make you forget you live in this one, I'm sharing the highs, lows, pivots, and personal stories of being a writer. You'll hear how stories shaped me, where I love to write (spoiler: artisan lattes were involved), what fuels my genre choices, and how my life and voice seep into every stubborn, strong-willed heroine I create. Whether you're a fellow writer, a curious reader, or just here for the vibes, this is a candid, reflective, and maybe a little rambly (in the best way). Come find out where it all began…and where I hope it's going next. Next week we're back to A Trial of Thorns.

Life happened, and the mic didn't. But instead of ghosting your feed, here's a quick update on what's coming up on Beyond The Page, including more of A Trial of Thorns, and a brand-new indie feature just around the corner. Plus, if you're craving a lighthearted, no-spice, criminally fun read while you wait, don't forget to check out last week's book review. This one's short, sweet, and worth bookmarking.  🔗 Mentioned in this episode: 📚 The Sweetest Getaway by Sasha Preston — [Amazon Link] 📩 Get a free chapter preview — [sashapreston.com/newsletter] Want your book featured on Beyond The Page? Submit here: [your submission form link]

What do you get when a good girl teams up with a group of semi-pro criminals and accidentally finds herself tailing a cop? You get The Sweetest Getaway. A clever, wild, and laugh-out-loud heist rom-com by indie author Sasha Preston, and the spotlight of this week's Beyond The Page. In today's episode, I read a featured excerpt from the novel (straight out of Chapter 19) and share my live commentary on everything from the voice and pacing… to a budding flirtation between Jennifer (our heroine) and Fred (the cop she's sort-of stalking… for the heist). If you're craving a relaxing escape, clever dialogue, and a story that proves crime can be charming, this one's for you. 💌 Grab your free preview: https://www.sashapreston.com/newsletter 📖 Buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FND7RBHV Support indie. Share this episode. And if you're an indie author looking to feature your book on Beyond The Page, check the submission form linked in the show notes.

The court calls it a rest day. Seventeen calls it an ambush disguised as leisure. With the arena silent and the remaining champions scattered, she begins to dig into the truth behind the disappearances. But curiosity in Elarion is a weapon with no handle. The harder she grips it, the more it cuts. Her questions draw the attention of Lady Dravenn, a powerful patron, and before the confrontation turns deadly, the Thornkeeper steps in, saving her, and raising new questions she's not ready to answer. Freedom, it seems, was never free. And the most dangerous blade in Elarion might not be the one drawn, but the one left idle.

When the mirror stares back, what do you see; the lie or the liar? The Trial of Sand becomes a game of reflection. Paired against Champion Five of House Cyrinth, Seventeen steps into a chamber built from mirrors and lies. The Mirrormind's gift is mimicry; face, voice, and thought, and soon, Seventeen finds herself staring into a version of her own deceit. But reflections break both ways, and when her true power answers back, the chamber, and the illusion of order, shatter. Six champions remain. The seventh has vanished.

What happens when content is no longer created by people, but by patterns? In Part 2 of The AI vs. Authenticity Divide, we move beyond copyright and courtrooms to explore the ethical cost of algorithmic creativity. What do we lose when machines mimic artistic works without soul? This episode is a call to action. For creators to evolve, for consumers to choose human work on purpose, and for all of us to draw a line in the digital sand. The soul of creativity is passion, spirit, and vulnerability. Don't let perfect automation replace meaningful expression. Listen now and let us know: what do you choose to value in the algorithmic age?

The Thornkeeper's summons is no mercy. Within the cathedral vaults, Seventeen faces the man who buried her mentor, and knows her secret. What begins as an interrogation turns into a dangerous negotiation. The throne watches, the trial waits, and the real game begins.

This week on Beyond The Page, we're taking a detour from fiction to dig into the rising controversy between human creativity and artificial intelligence. Where the future of writing, art, and creative labour is being rewritten in real time. In Part 1 of "The AI vs. Authenticity Divide," we discuss the burning questions around market acceptance and legal ownership in 2025. Don't miss Part 2 next week, where we look into the Ethical Mirror and address the cultural costs of bias, the emotional impact on human creators, and the erosion of trust. Hosted by Lora Tia Subscribe, follow, and share with a fellow creator. This conversation isn't going away.

The Trial of Sand grinds on, champions bleeding into the pit, while the crowd hungers for spectacle. But Seventeen's focus is elsewhere. She counts the dead, tallies the replacements, and wonders which houses profit from the shifting balance. And through it all, the Thornkeeper does not look away. Kingmaker. High priest. Executioner. His attention fixes on Seventeen alone, and this time, he calls her name.