If you like your fantasy bloody and grimdark, and if you like gladiators, this short story is for you.

A Taste of Blade and Roar has been out for a few months—and completely free to download.

It follows Mutt, a young gladiator who’s just joined the King’s elite team of beasts—gladiators. He’s quick, brutal, and used to fighting to survive. But surviving the king’s team isn’t just about skill.

The head trainer has a quiet grudge and a loud mouth. He pulls strings, twists the rules, and throws Mutt into the Slayer’s Pit—a fight against the odds.

And what Mutt finds on the blood-soaked sands of Switchblade Arena is more than what he was prepared for.

A Taste of Blade and Roar is a 1–2 hour read. Perfect for your commute, your lunch break, or that quiet hour at night when you want to read something gut-wrenching.

And it’s completely free—and you can send it to your Kindle, Kobo, or any e-reader. Grab your grimdark short story now.