Heart of Oak

Influenced by a generation of gaming, Heart of Oak traces its routes to the story-telling games of the 2000s and early 2010s. If you love a story that feels like a non-stop role playing game adventure, then Heart of Oak and the overarching Oakengrove series right up your alley.

In a world tens of thousands of years old, one would ask the question, who is superior? Man or God?

The scars of the Age of Monsters still linger. However, it is not the hells that spark fear, panic, and ultimately, territorial aggression, but rather the return of a long-dead tree god. Made with the flesh of oak trees, this Dair reawakens with no memories of his past life beyond the names of his valiant and loyal companions. His only mission is to rediscover himself and learn of his past life. Rarely does one's peace remain undisturbed, however.

Recruited by the Druid of Florism to investigate his return, a group of sell-swords must toe the line between friend and foe for not just the tree-god, but also for the town and country they swore to protect. 

What can one person do when the dogs of war begin to bark at the gates? 

Imagine you wake up, sun is shining, birds are singing, you can't remember yesterday and your ex-marine neighbor wants your head because his pastor told him that you had witchcraft items in your house.

While an exaggeration, Oakengrove’s awakening has shaken up the local power dynamic in ways no one could’ve been prepared for. As he comes to grip with his new reality, one riddled with potholes in his memory, his neighbors begin scheming and planning expecting the worst to come, all because of the Druid of Florism

Heart of Oak, along with the larger Saliorah world, is a queer-normative world. Experience a world loaded to the brim with diverse characters, not just white humans, but wood elves, orcs, goblins, minotaurs, avians, racoon-folk, and a great many more. Characters with disabilities are present and are appropriately shown with the intent to bring awareness to them and how magic isn't a cure-all solution.

 

Part of the Book Bazaar's 2026 Autumnal Launch