The Way of the World - Timo Whistler
About us
The past shapes our choices, but it does not teach us how to live with them.
Step into the world of The Way of the World, the English-language debut novel by Dutch fantasy author Timo Whistler.
This 430-page adult fantasy novel combines dark academia, a carefully constructed hard magic system, war, mystery and philosophical questions about the nature of power and the choices we make.
The story follows Cinder, a young man who finds himself at the Arcanum, an academy dedicated to studying the mysterious art of transmutation. Within its walls, he discovers friendship, purpose and competing beliefs about what this extraordinary power should become. But as war draws closer, he begins to uncover a secret that could change everything.
Whether you love morally complex characters, intricate magic systems or fantasy stories that leave you questioning right and wrong, there's plenty to discover.
Visit Timo's stand at Heroes Dutch Comic Con to meet the author, talk fantasy and worldbuilding, and pick up a personally signed copy of The Way of the World!
About the Author:
As a child, Timo Whistler was already fascinated by fantasy and storytelling. So much so that he would often hide books beneath his pillow, only to continue reading by the light of his bedside lamp long after he was supposed to be asleep.
Years later, his father admitted that he had known all along. After all, the light was clearly visible beneath the door. His response? "If I got you to read by making you think it was forbidden, I'd say I did a pretty good job."
Perhaps his father was onto something.
Growing up, Timo's love for stories extended beyond books. From writing poems and short stories to performing in theatre and creating adventures through Dungeons & Dragons, storytelling became his way of exploring and understanding the world.
He had always dreamed of writing a novel of his own. That dream eventually became The Way of the World, his independently published, 430-page English-language adult fantasy debut. Bringing the story to life took more than 850 hours of writing, editing and refining.
But where did the idea for an entire fantasy world come from?
Surprisingly, it began with a question children often ask one another:
"If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?"
Years ago, Timo received an answer to that question that never quite left him. Over time, that single idea grew into an intricate magic system, a world of conflicting beliefs and a story about friendship, loss and the choices that shape us.
Curious what that answer was? Come and meet Timo at Heroes Dutch Comic Con! He'll be happy to tell you all about it, talk fantasy and storytelling, and personally sign a copy of The Way of the World.
