When Faith Is Not Enough
- Iain Ralston
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
The world of Azangrail is filled with warriors, rulers, priests, prophets, and monsters. Yet beneath the battles and politics lies a question that fascinated me long before I began writing Relic Reborn.
What happens when faith is no longer enough?
Faith is often portrayed as a source of strength. It gives people purpose, direction, and hope. It can inspire courage in the face of impossible odds and offer comfort when all else seems lost. It is also the foundations upon which much fantasy is built. Priests, gods, prophecies, divine inspiration and holy wars have shaped the genre for decades.
But faith is easy when life unfolds as expected.
The more difficult question is what happens when everything begins to fall apart?
One of the central characters in Relic Reborn is Darius Reiver, a devoted servant of the Goddess Syl ‘Van. His faith is not casual belief. It is the foundation of his identity. He has dedicated his life to her service, convinced that she guides his path and watches over her faithful. He leads the Order of the Knights of Syl ‘Van.
Yet faith untested is easy.
The question that interested me as a writer was not whether Darius believed. That is a given.
The question was what would happen when belief collided with grief, loss, and despair.
What happens when a man who has devoted his life to a goddess cries out for help, protection, guidance and receives only silence?
What happens when certainty begins to fracture?
For Darius, the answer is not acceptance.
It is anger.
It is vengeance.
And ultimately it is the choice to seek retribution from elsewhere.
As his faith twists into obsession and his conviction hardens into something far darker, he finds himself walking a path that would once have horrified him. A path that leads not towards redemption, but towards a bargain that should never have been made.
That journey became one of the themes at the heart of Relic Reborn, and the series.
Not whether faith is right or wrong.
Not whether gods deserve devotion.
But how far a person might fall when the thing they trust most appears to abandon them.
And could such a person find redemption?
And how far can loyalty to friends be tested before it finally breaks?
In Azangrail, power always demands a price.
And that price can be terrible.
The question is whether Darius is willing to pay it.
And if he is, can he live with the cost?
Iain Ralston
Relic Reborn cover reveal this Saturday.
The first novel set in the world of Azangrail arrives in September 2026.
Very interesting. Can't wait to see how you play that out through the novel. You mentioned a series is that a planned theme through the series?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It’s fascinating to get into a writer’s head and rummage around in the “Why?” and “What if?” areas. I’m looking forward to seeing just how far Darius falls - and whether or not there’s any way back for him. And, if so, will he take it?