The Genesis of Change: A Philosophical Prequel

A philosophical prequel exploring identity and perception, from the viewpoint of eldritch intellects detached from human suffering.

Élan; the chaos-tamer, the record-breaker. Verve; the one behind the rise and fall of thousands of civilisations. Two alchemists, each sent on a mission by the leader of The Orders—The Rector.

Élan must shatter their mentee’s humanity to train her as an alchemist, while Verve must define the unexplainable existing within a respected healer. When their missions reveal clues that could reformulate alchemy, they’ll edge closer to fathom The Rector’s goal while facing an endless conundrum—to remain as is, or to learn and adapt.

The genesis of change is near.

Not for the faint of heart, and neither for those who want a quick read.

Author’s Intent

The world of the alchemists is shaped by detached inquiry—profound curiosity without the moral anchors that guide human perception. I wanted to explore what it would feel like to experience existence through those minds, and what their methods would reveal about the people they observe.

The two interwoven narratives in this story approach the same idea from different angles: how a self is formed, how it erodes, and how memory negotiates with reality under pressure. The temporal labyrinth and the clinical experiments are not meant as spectacle, but as mirrors held to perception itself.

This prequel stands on its own, but it also opens a door into the larger series. It offers a first glimpse into the epistemology of beings who think in ways we rarely attempt to imagine. My hope is that it invites you to linger with the questions it raises, and to enter the main story with a sense of the minds that shape its world.

Reviews & Interviews

Outside of Goodreads and Amazon, there are several amazing written reviews for The Genesis of Change. For example, Esmay Rosalyne’s review in Before We Go Blog, Jamedi’s review in JamReads, author Joshua Walker’s review in SFF Insiders, author Karl Forshaw’s recommendation on The Irresponsible Reader and review on SFF Insiders. The Genesis of Change was also reviewed by Adrian Collins himself on Grimdark Magazine.

For editorial reviews, check LiteraryTitan’s 5-stars written review, and the 5-star review by Nicky Flowers on IndiesToday. If you are after video reviews, you can check Jarrod’s video review at The Fantasy Thinker, and Zara’s video review at Books With Zara.

Regarding written interviews, you can read the W Series on Spells and Spaceships, and my own interview in Literary Titan.