Vishnul Jain is a rising star in fantasy fiction, creating captivating works of art that will inspire generations of readers. His multi-novel series, The Future King, is a reimagining of the Arthurian mythos taken to its logical conclusion with a blend of exciting worldbuilding and compelling historical and mythological characters.
This exciting novel breathes new life into a tale Vishnul feels has been left unfinished. The story has always needed a real future for the future king. His efforts in writing this book series have led to critical acclaim, several awards, and glowing reviews, garnering fans worldwide.
Vishnul’s Creative Origins
Vishnul was born in Australia and has always had a deep love of history and myth. Naturally, this enthusiasm led a young Vishnul to discover the magic of fantasy, a genre full of hope, optimism, and endless possibilities. As he read as many novels and stories as he could, mythology’s cultural impact resonated with him deeply, inspiring him to travel the world to learn about the origins of these myths and appreciate them as the essence of human civilization.
Vishnul’s lifelong fascination with fantasy and traveling through cultural landscapes created the foundation for The Future King, a unique blend of the stories of a now interconnected world.
Beyond his mythological inclinations, Vishnul works as a gemstone faceter, including colored diamonds, and he loves to uncover a gemstone’s deep-rooted and complicated story. Gems have been a large part of his life and feature throughout his writing. Vishnul even hinted that a green diamond would come into play for the series’ third installation.
To date, Vishnul has completed the first and second books of the series, The Future King: Return of the Once Monarch and The Future King: Rise of the Sorcerer.
An Opportunity in the Fantasy Genre
The premise for The Future King was born from two significant problems Vishnul saw in the fantasy genre. First, he felt that there wasn’t a magical enough series of books after the Harry Potter saga to inspire the next generation of readers. Second, Vishnul was always frustrated with the unfinished legend of King Arthur as “the once and future king” when only his past had ever been considered.
“The story of King Arthur and Merlin has always ended in tragedy, with Arthur fated to die after the Battle of Camlann,” Vishnul explains. “I felt the legend of the ‘Once and Future King’ was left unfinished. Here, King Arthur fulfills his destiny and becomes the future king. This book picks up after that tragedy.”
Overcoming Tragedy to Find Redemption
With a simple enough premise, Vishnul takes the characters as they existed at their tragic ends and weaves a story of optimism and redemption, making second chances a central theme of his work. To chase the magical feeling of Harry Potter, he places Merlin at center stage, now masquerading as a modern-day college professor and a flawed, powerful, and relatable hero. At the same time, he navigates a world filled with magic, fantastical creatures, and beautifully complex villains.
Inspirations and Aspirations
Vishnul’s The Future King book series is inspired by Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and The Lord of the Rings, unabashedly hoping to match their positions as mainstays of the fantasy genre. He is dedicated to crafting a story that fits into the existing mythological narrative and knows what it takes to achieve the same level of success as these stories. His writing process reflects that.
“It begins with meticulous worldbuilding,” Vishnul says. “A visual map, sketches of important landmarks, and an interactive drawing board start each writing journey. Each character must have a complex personality — quirks, faults, aspirations — this is how they potentially interact with another character, selective group, or a situation. The more four-dimensional the plot is, the more real and engaging it is.”
Awards and Praise
This exciting premise and its compelling realization have earned Vishnul critical acclaim. The Golden Wizard Book Prize called The Future King a “captivating work of art that possesses a contemporary essence that will strongly resonate with young adults.” Readers’ Favorite said Vishnul’s storytelling was “masterful, weaving a rich tapestry that captivates fans of epic fantasy.”
The US Review of Books said, “Jain has created a remarkable, inventive tale combining elements of two very different cultures with ancient traditions. His love of British & Indian history & mythology shines through the storyline.”
The Future King has received several awards from these reviewers and others, including The BookFest Award for best book series, the Readers’ Favorite Award for best young adult mythology/fairy tale, the Incipere Award for best young adult fantasy, and the Literary Titan Award for best epic fantasy. These reviews and accolades demonstrate Vishnul’s remarkable ability to build compelling worlds and exciting narratives, drawing readers from all walks of life into the completion of an ancient story. Besides the actual content of the books, the first book’s cover has won a significant award, too, the coveted Readers’ Favorite Illustration Award for best young adult book cover.
A Bright Future for the King
As it stands, Vishnul claims that Merlin has only just begun to spread his wings. Considering the established depth of his character, Vishnul’s ambition to delve further is an exciting promise for the final book of this series. The third book of The Future King will delve into Merlin’s psyche, personal growth, his past, and its impact on his future.
Vishnul already has audiobooks in the works for the series. Stay tuned for the third book in the series.
