Ely’s Godkiller
Lyndsay Ely's work feels like stepping into an old friend's living room—you're immediately at home among characters who breathe and bleed on the page, their world so tangible you could reach out and touch them, leaving you thinking about them long after you've closed the book. In The Lost Reliquary, Ely transports us to the Devoted Lands—a society ruled by the Eternal Flame Goddess, Tempestra-Inara. A richly realized theocratic world with enough fear and suspense, brimming with secrets and the struggle for freedom. Through a witty, cheeky female main character (FMC), Ely tackles complex themes like faith, loyalty, and rebellion, and asks readers to question what is true when belief is forced. With sharply drawn characters like Lys and Nolan, she slyly combines the tension between devotion and doubt, making The Lost Reliquary both action-packed as it is emotionally relatable. Ely’s writing is entertaining and thought-provoking, ensuring her place as one of my favorite books of the year. Today, we metaphorically sit down with Lyndsay to learn about her inspirations, her creative process, and the secrets behind the twists and turns that make this story a truly gripping read.
Theology and Its Role in the Writing Process
1. What role does faith or belief play in the societies or cultures you’ve created? Are there parallels to real-world religions, or did you create new systems of belief?
In the case of this story, faith and belief are pretty central. The difference between real-world religions and this fantasy world is that, in this world, the inhabitants have physical proof of both the existence and the power of the gods. There’s no having to guess about whether or not their devotion is being directed toward something provably real (for the most part). But at the same time, the gods can (and have) fallen, which means faith can still be a fluctuating concept.
2. Were there any theological concepts or debates that inspired key moments in your story? For example, free will was a big one. Did questions about morality, or the nature of good and evil, shape the plot or characters?
I’d love to say there was some particular theological concept I drew upon after long and exhaustive study, but the reality is that I’m just a girl, vaguely baffled by the idea of putting one’s belief into an entirely unprovable and untestable concept (and still annoyed I was forced to do so as a kid), while at the same time understanding why human beings persist in pursuing the idea that there is something larger than themselves. Morality, good/evil, etc are, in the end, simply social constructs, and ones that shift on a pretty regular basis, historically.
The Writing Process
3. What does your writing process look like? Are you a meticulous plotter, or do you let the story unfold organically (a “pantser”)?
I used to be a consummate pantser for sure, but these days I’ve been attempting to be more structured in my approach to writing, doing outlines, etc. This is mostly due to time constraints; I’ve had enough projects going on that I don’t have always have time to let a story unfold organically. That being said, I don’t let myself get too locked in; some of the best ideas I come up with happen on the fly.
4. How did you approach writing a strong FMC? What qualities do you prioritize to ensure she feels authentic, relatable, and empowered?
The best strong characters are always ones that also have vulnerabilities. In this case, the main character is very tough physically, but emotionally not as much. Not that she can show it; part of building this character was creating a world around her that demanded strength and punished weakness. Even so, she finds little moments and little bonds that help her not be entirely jaded by her existence (which, of course, don’t always work out quite the way she expects).
5. What does a typical writing day look like for you? Do you have any rituals, specific times of day, or tools that help you stay focused?
I wish I had more! The reality is, I have a full-time day job. Writing happens in the hours after that, on the weekend, during holidays and even vacation days. I prefer mornings for writing; not too early though! (Those 5am people amaze me. I am not even remotely functional until 8-9am on a good day.) And, like with many writers, focus can be a struggle, though I’ve found that once I get into the writing/editing, it gets easier. The trick is to get the ball rolling in the first place!
6. Do you share your work-in-progress with anyone? If so, who do you trust to give you feedback, and how do you incorporate it into your revisions?
I do! I’m lucky enough to have a local writing group I’ve work with for over a decade at this point. We don’t all write in the same styles, genres, or even age groups, which is surprisingly helpful: I get a wide variety of perspectives and multi-faceted critiques. It also helps that we’ve all known each other long enough to know what sorts of feedback we all need most, not to mention what sorts of stories we all like to write (which helps us tailor our feedback accordingly).
The Origin of the Story
7. Did Lys, Nolan, or the world come to you first? How did the rest of the story grow from that initial seed of inspiration?
Honestly, I come up with so many ideas that I can’t remember when this particular one first sparked, but I do remember that I’d recently finished writing a third person multi POV fantasy (that died on submission) and decided I’d give a first person story a try. Enter Lys (because I love a character who can sling some sarcasm). Two scenes came to me first; the opening one and then another scene I can’t spoil (but readers will know when they get to it). The rest of the story eventually grew up around those two, with the ending also coming together pretty early in the drafting process.
Reflective
8. What do you hope readers will take away from Lys’s and Nolan’s journey? Are there specific lessons, emotions, or questions you want them to reflect on?
Boiled down, I’d hope “question religion/your belief system regularly” is a takeaway. But not in a negative way; I think people can embrace their personal beliefs while also recognizing they won’t necessarily shared by all. And it’s okay if they aren’t, so long as no one is like, >cough< being oppressed, having their rights stripped away, etc. (Also, maybe that relationships don’t always need to turn into romances. Because, as much as the market loves those, I am acutely bad at them.)
9. Many writers describe the strange experience of rereading their work years later. What aspects of this book might surprise your future self?
I try to not do this. There’s too much urge to tweak, rewrite, improve… which obviously isn’t going to happen. At this point, once a book is through pass pages and headed to print, I try to just let it go. (That’s not to say I ignore aspects of my writing I could improve in the future, I just filed those away for future projects.)
10. When can we expect book two?
Hopefully, a year after book one, in October 2026. So far we’re on track for that timeframe, so… :::knocks on wood:::
The End
Thank you, Lyndsay, for taking the time for our readers! I can not wait for book two. For Lys, for Nolan to come back. With your cliffhanger, I have no clue where they will go next.
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