The Tragedy of Oli Ricker
by Phillip Snyder
Summary
More than a decade after watching his father die, Oli Ricker is still hunting wild game in the cursed Wood near his home, barely making enough coin for his mother, sister, and himself to survive. But when Princess Léonie Baudelaire arrives in need of a guide, Oli has the chance to provide more than just scraps for his family.
The princess believes the magical curse of the Wood could become the weapon she needs to defeat an invading army, but in order to wield that power she must venture into the most dangerous depths of the forest: the same place Oli watched his father die.
But the princess was being followed.
While Oli and Léonie are seeking out the ancient power, Layla Ricker must survive an attack from the enemy chasing the princess. Suddenly, Layla is thrust into previously unimaginable war and death, forcing her to confront her own fears of cowardice and abandonment as she struggles to survive.
Nothing goes as planned and each of them must wrestle with inner demons (sometimes literally) and fight for survival as the world begins to burn around them.
And the ancient power they hoped would save them all, will become the catalyst for the very destruction they hoped to escape.
General Market Fantasy | 125,000 Words
The Tragedy of Oli Ricker is a fast-paced, general-market, fantasy novel that will resonate with those who enjoyed the setting from Naomi Novik’s Uprooted, but desire the quick pace of Joe Abercrombie’s works combined with the complex characters and tone of N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth trilogy.
Although this will resonate with many fantasy lovers, readers may realize that where they expected to find escapism, they instead have found a story that makes them more thoughtful and present in the world around them.
Audience & Comps
Reach
As founder and co-host of The Living Room Disciple podcast, Phillip works with a team of others to create spiritual formation content that reaches hundreds each week. The podcast has been blessed by steady growth and will begin a newsletter and Substack in the coming year.
Phillip Snyder lives with his wife and four children in Nashville, TN. He co-hosts The Living Room Disciple Podcast and enjoys speaking with Christian authors and thinkers as one way to grow his (and his listeners) imaginations.
He received his B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Central Florida and The Tragedy of Oli Ricker, the first book in a duology, is his debut novel.