IronBlood is a steampunk fantasy mystery where magic and machinery collide. 

This special edition features a sleek black hardcover stamped with bright copper foil and 19 new black-and-white illustrations, one for every chapter.

Follow the campaign to get the first two chapters free and help unlock additional treasures.

Magic and iron don’t mix.

The balance between humans and fae is tentative, but in a new era of dragon-enforced peace comes progress.

Progress and success are what Hezekiel strives for. Human through and through, his magic is that of heated steel, the solid strike of his hammer, the rumble of a new engine.

Hezekiel dreams of winning first prize at the expo with his revolutionary machine, the Crawler, and building a forge and a name worthy of renown.

Then his neighbor dies.

When strange deaths begin spreading through the city, Hezekiel finds himself caught in a mystery he never wanted. He must protect his adopted family, uncover the source of the deaths, and discover what is creeping through the shadows before the city is crippled.

In the Realms Trinity there be dragons and fae, gears and steam, sky whales and airships. Where the Celestial and Under planes overlap on Terra and magic and aether meet iron.

When the inside of books are magic, the outsides should match. Pretty books are one of my favorite things and I have always cherished illustrated ones. 

The planned edition includes:

Stretch Goals

As an author and an artist, books and art are two halves of my soul. I will often scribble out scenes and characters when I need a spark to fuel the words and this edition opens the opportunity for fresh, refined illustrations. 

I’m creating 19 new black-and-white illustrations, one for every chapter, designed specifically for this edition.

In addition, I’m planning four full-color inserts, including a map.

There is NO AI in the creation of my work, writing or illustrations. 

 

Where magic and aether meet iron. 

The Crimson: Hidden, deadly

Dragons: Intelligent, demanding

Fae: dangerous, allergic to iron

Skywhales: Yes. Skywhales

Airships: Because transportation should always have the possibility of falling out of the sky

The Celestial & Under Planes: Two dramatically different planes overlapping the mortal world

The Crawler: Hezekiel’s revolutionary mining machine, somehow key to the solution of mysterious deaths

 

Early Deluxe Backers $65 First THREE days only

Deluxe Backers $75

Illustrated Ebook $15

Nightvision Omnibus: Fully Illustrated Hardcover book-signed

Nightvision Ebook: Fully illustrated. Delivered via book funnel

Ebook Skyborn: Annora’s tale, book 2 of the Realms Trinity (sequel to IronBlood)

Bookmark: tbd

5x7 print: Choices will be available on surveys

8.5x11 print- choices will be available on surveys

I’m C.H. Knyght. I revel in the realms of fantasy and imaginations as an author and an artist. Click the links to see my books and portfolio. ;)  If you’ve been here before you may recognize me as Care Halverson, one of the artists on the Mercedes Lackey projects, Grandmasters, Heralds of Valdemar, and now including Halfblood, another project also in Printopia right now. As author C.H. Knyght I have five fantasy novels and more to my name. 

September 10, 2026
 Campaign launches

October 1, 2026
 Campaign ends

Late 2026-Early 2027
 Final surveys, artwork completion, and production preparation

2027
 Printing and manufacturing

2027
 Fulfillment begins

Crowdfunding timelines are estimates. Manufacturing, shipping, material availability, and other factors can affect the final schedule. Backers will receive regular updates throughout production.

We charge actual costs for shipping and handling after the campaign ends, during BackerKit surveys. We'll do our best to find the lowest prices, but backers should expect the cost of moving physical products around the world to continue to increase. At last review, domestic shipping cost around $15 and international shipping ranged from $20-40. 

Crowdfunding allows me to produce a special edition that wouldn’t be practical to manufacture as a normal print run, but it also means production depends on printers, suppliers, shipping companies, and other partners.

The largest risks are changes in manufacturing costs, material availability, shipping delays, and unexpected production problems that may cause delivery delays, the script already exists, and the illustrations are in progress. 

I’ll keep backers updated throughout the process, including when something doesn’t go according to plan. The goal is not to pretend that everything will be perfect. The goal is to keep you informed and keep moving the project forward.

I’m so excited to partner with Halfblood for Printopia2026.
If you didn’t know, I’ve illustrated the cover and pieces for Halfblood also, so it seems only fitting that I offer even more art as a collaboration prize if you pledge to both campaigns. Art is tbd (to be drawn) but I will show you all as soon as I’m have something to display. ;) My pencil is warm from all the drawing I’ve been doing, and looks to be staying so for awhile.

From the IronBlood side, I’ll have an extra 5x7 print, there are dragons in world, if not present until SkyBorn, so I’m thinking he’ll make an appearance here. I can’t speak for the collab reward on Halfblood’s side that remains to be determined by the bosses over there. 

Another Printopia Steampunk Tale for your reading hoard.