Thorns of Fate
by Miranda Howman · May 2025
The Gilded Empire expects submission—even when it means watching someone you care about die.
Elora chose compassion anyway.
The Empire does not forgive defiance.
Because of that choice…
she will become something worse.
At the Miros Institute, Elora believed she was untouchable—trained as an alchemist, protected by her mentor, spared the cruelty every other student endured.
Until she isn’t.
At the Institute, failure isn’t corrected.
It’s punished.
Stripped of protection, Elora is delivered into the hands of Headmaster Thorn—the architect of her unmaking.
Her intellect is tested.
Her will fractured.
Her empathy turned against her.
She must learn what she was never taught:
Obedience.
But survival demands something else.
To bleed.
To endure.
To refuse the fate carved for her.
Because if she cannot remain who she was…
she will become something far worse than they intended.
This is not a story about rescue.
It’s about erosion.
Of identity.
Of trust.
Of the fragile belief that doing the right thing will save you.
This series begins with a sheltered protagonist and evolves into a darker, more complex story, where trauma, moral ambiguity, and slowly developing relationships shape the journey.
This novel contains graphic content, including abuse, trauma, SA, and institutional violence. Intended for mature readers (upper YA/adult).
Full content warnings: www.mirandahowman.com/tof-content-warnings
— Miranda Howman
About Thorns of Fate
The Gilded Empire expects submission—even when it means watching someone you care about die.
Elora chose compassion anyway.
The Empire does not forgive defiance.
Because of that choice…
she will become something worse.
At the Miros Institute, Elora believed she was untouchable—trained as an alchemist, protected by her mentor, spared the cruelty every other student endured.
Until she isn’t.
At the Institute, failure isn’t corrected.
It’s punished.
Stripped of protection, Elora is delivered into the hands of Headmaster Thorn—the architect of her unmaking.
Her intellect is tested.
Her will fractured.
Her empathy turned against her.
She must learn what she was never taught:
Obedience.
But survival demands something else.
To bleed.
To endure.
To refuse the fate carved for her.
Because if she cannot remain who she was…
she will become something far worse than they intended.
This is not a story about rescue.
It’s about erosion.
Of identity.
Of trust.
Of the fragile belief that doing the right thing will save you.
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Miranda Howman
Award-winning Author Miranda Howman writes dark fantasy where survival comes at a cost—and healing is never simple. Her stories explore trauma, defiance, and transformation with an unflinching honesty, using fantasy as a lens to examine real-world experiences that are often overlooked or left unspoken. Through The Thornforged Chronicles, she aims not only to tell a compelling story, but to create space for readers to feel seen in the complexities of pain, survival, and reclaiming control. When she’s not writing, Miranda designs her own promotional art, researches alchemical lore, or walks her dog while plotting her next emotionally devastating chapter.
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