The First Stone
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Pub Date Jan 5 2027 | Archive Date Oct 31 2026
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Description
Cass's little sister is going to die. He'll burn the world down to save her.
Shadow & Bone meets An Ember in the Ashes (edited by Michael Braff of Red Rising).
As an Ignarus Myth, a human born with power over fire, Cass is seen as a threat to humanity.
Centuries ago, Myths were symbols of awe. That awe turned to horror when the first Nightmares appeared, mutated Myths that nearly wiped out the world.
Civilization collapsed. From the ashes rose the Prism Spire.
Led by the brilliant inventor and geneticist known as the Arbiter, one hundred compounds,
fortified with colossal walls, were built to shelter what remained of humanity. Then came his
decree: All Myths, save for a few Exempt essential to survival, must take the Pax Serum, erasing their powers and the Nightmare gene. Those who refuse are hunted by his augmented soldiers, Grafters.
Cass and his little sister Evelon live beyond those walls, hiding. Not because Cass is a Myth, but because the Arbiter has declared Evelon the most wanted person in the Prism Spire. With no memories beyond two years ago, they search for answers while struggling to survive.
When Evelon falls deathly ill, the only cure lies inside the REZ, a volatile neutral zone where civilians and Myths coexist under fragile peace.
A single mistake draws the attention of Felix, a high-ranking Grafter who lives for the hunt.
Forced into a fight for their lives, Cass faces a fate worse than death when Felix reveals his hidden weapon.
The Pax Serum.
* * * * *
YA dystopian fantasy: Dual POV (brother & sister) | Morally grey heroes | Fierce sibling bonds |
Rebellion & sacrifice | Deep world building
NO profanity, spice, or needlessly excessive gore.
The First Stone is book 1 of the Exousia Chronicles by Robert Biehn.
A Note From the Publisher
Robert Biehn wrote his first "book" at ten years old. Crayon scribbles, misspelled words, not a single cliffhanger. But he remembers what it felt like to take something that didn't make sense in his life, process it through a story, and watch someone else feel something because he wrote it down. That moment sparked his calling. Connection through creation.
With his wife's support, he became a full-time author. The First Stone is their debut novel and the flagship of Exousia, an immersive storyverse for readers who crave more. Characters that bleed. Lore that lingers. Stories that echo something eternal. It expands into music, short stories, articles, and more.
Robert believes stories can shape the soul, and that the story of Jesus is the greatest one ever told. That's the compass in his work. He's not a preacher but a creator giving readers something they didn't know they were starving for: a world where sacrifice matters, everyone has a purpose, and the broken can be made whole.
OTHER EDITIONS
Hardcover with dust jacket, $29.99 USD / $39.99 CAD, 435 pages. Edited by Michael Braff (Red Rising). Cover art by the author and his wife, Steph. No AI was used in the text or the artwork.
Advance Praise
"I was mesmerized right from the beginning. So many times I was on the edge of my seat wondering how the two would escape the situations they found themselves in. I was seeing everything through their eyes and I was immediately in dusty, rusty Exousia with them. I couldn't stop reading it. I highly recommend giving it a read...or two." ~Melissa Hewett, Goodreads
"What an amazing read and reading experience. This book is fabulous and definitely a must read to everyone who likes fantasy or dystopia. Both of the main characters were amazing leads to follow, easy to relate to and full of complexity and character growth. What surprised me is that the rest of the cast, even the minor characters, were also very well depicted and had interesting arcs." ~Silvia RoMa, Goodreads
"This book grips you from start to finish with interesting characters that have depth and you can see grow. The plot is interesting with several twists. I love that it's a clean read without cussing. I'm especially excited for the second book." ~Verified buyer, five stars, Goodreads and Barnes & Noble
"The pacing is one of the book's strengths. It moves quickly and kept me turning pages, while the worldbuilding unfolds naturally through the story rather than stopping everything for an explanation. There is plenty of lore to discover, but it never felt like I was being handed a textbook. If you're a fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender for the magic, The Hunger Games for the political elements, or Neon Genesis Evangelion for the eerie atmosphere, I think you'll find something to enjoy here." ~Clinton, Goodreads
5.00 average on Goodreads. Read all reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244967442-the-first-stone
Marketing Plan
All of the below are pre-campaign/marketing push. Major campaigns, targeted influencer partnerships, and paid promotion have not begun.
MOMENTUM
- 254 copies ordered to date
- Pre-orders are referring other pre-orders (buyers are bringing buyers)
- 1,079 newsletter subscribers, up 843 in the last 30 days (growing by 100 every week)
- 1,800 unique website visitors in the last 30 days
- 20,000+ monthly social views, across thousands of comments
- 5.00 average on Goodreads, appearing on multiple platforms
- 34 ARC reviewers approved, 48 more applied and growing
- 100+ readers have taken the faction quiz and are sharing it with others
PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION
- The author is investing $20,000 into significant PR and social media campaigns to drive pre-sales and sales in addition to the publisher's extensive marketing efforts
- 127 podcasts live, booked or pending, including shows in the global top 1% and top 5%
- Extensive book tour planned, featuring live music, local influencers, and other interactive elements. Available for Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and indie signings, speaking tours, and 48-hour influencer and music signing tours
- With a Lord of the Rings-like vibe, extensive faith-focused marketing across Christian outlets, podcasts and communities is in the works
- Book influencers growing, with a combined following in the hundreds of thousands
- Ongoing engagement: weekly author journal, influencer and fan collaboration, teaser content in music, lore and artwork, live events, and gamified reader activities
The First Stone is a Deluxe Limited Edition Hardcover from Storyteller Media, distributed by Macmillan, available for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Target and Bookshop.
Read the unique, dual POV book blurbs (with their own music) at exousia.world/ng
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781969905117 |
| PRICE | $29.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 435 |