A BOROUGH-based author has published his latest work in a fantasy series.

Jay M. Hayers is inviting readers to step into a world of magic, danger and dark secrets with the latest instalment in the Ashthorn Academy fantasy series, Ashthorn Academy: Blood & Crown.

Blending dark fantasy, magic, mystery, romance and political intrigue, Blood & Crown takes readers deeper into the dangerous world of Ashthorn Academy — a gothic institution where power comes at a price and the line between loyalty and betrayal is increasingly blurred.

The dramatic cover, featuring a gothic academy beneath a blood-red sky and a sinister crown, reflects the darker themes of the novel, where power, ambition and sacrifice collide.

Grays-based Jay says: "Ashthorn Academy has always been about more than magic. It is about power, choices and what happens when ordinary people find themselves caught up in something much bigger than themselves."

The author, from Chadwell Road, added: "The inspiration comes from my life at school. I'm dyslexic so me writing a book is an achievement."

Readers can purchase Ashthorn Academy: Blood & Crown from Amazon via this link.