Anathema Fiction

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[anathemafiction]

The Golden Rose: Book One is OUT NOW!!!

“As the artist mourns his fortune

So the Dynasty falls to crumble,

And the two branches snatch asunder”

You are a recent member of The White Company, a mercenary guild on the far side of the law. Your job consists of hunting artifacts and roaming ruins that the Church has forbidden to mention. One of your expeditions, however, leads you down a path that is much deeper than you ever anticipated.

"The Golden Rose: Book One" is a thrilling 1.2-million-word interactive fantasy novel by Ana Ventura, where your choices control the story. It's entirely text-based—without graphics or sound effects—and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

Juggle friendships, new alliances, and flames of romance in this epic adventure that will take you to an Europe where History took a different turn.

Play as male or female; straight, gay, or bisexual.

Find romance, friendship, or rivalry with a cast of colorful characters.

Hunt down the thief that stole your forbidden maps!

Fight against bandits and city guards while trying to stray away from the all-seeing Eyes of the Church.

Explore ancient ruins and the cobble-stoned streets of the medieval city of Tarragona. Step into a grand cathedral, a sprawling market, a multicolored harbor, the dark gates of the city, or an aqueduct that no one dares to come close to.

Bond with a stubborn old horse.

Choose to ally with a street urchin or the feral captain of the Guard.

Uncover what is true in a world where denial reigns supreme.

Start to unravel your own mysterious past.

Immerse yourself in a world rich with characters, story, and lore.

Do you believe in Destiny?

- - - 

The Golden Rose: Book One is out for you to play!

You can find it at the links below:

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1892950/The_Golden_Rose_Book_One/

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.hostedgames.goldenrose1&hl=pt_PT&gl=US

App Store Omnibus: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hosted-games/id1302297731

Choice of Games: https://www.choiceofgames.com/user-contributed/golden-rose-book-one/

- - - 

I hope you enjoy it! 🌹

[anathemafiction]

Not the same anon, but is the rose on steam too? Do you get a better cut there?

So, the way it works is that every platform — Steam, Google, Apple, Amazon — takes a cut from each sale. Steam's, for example, is 30%. The 70% goes to Hosted Games, which then gives me a 25% cut of those 70%.

The only way for authors to get more is to buy our games through COG's website, which you can then connect to your omnibus app. On the website, that initial cut doesn't exist, so I get 25% of the original sale.

I hope this makes sense! I wish I knew this before I published, so I'm putting this out there for prospective writers.💛

[anathemafiction]

Just discovered COG only takes 75%, and it seems criminal you get a cut that poor for such incredible writing. Absolutely adore the world and characters you've created (my romanus feels like my child atp), so I was just wondering if you've published anywhere else with a better rate? Would love to buy it again to support you :)

Hi, anon, thank you so much. This is very sweet. I can't publish the Rose in an interactive format anywhere else because Hosted Games owns the rights to the game. Before publishing, I used to have a different perspective on the 75% cut, but having gone through it...

Let's just say it doesn't surprise me that more and more authors are going the self-publishing route.

As for support, buying my game is more than enough 💛 If you want to go the extra mile, I'd really appreciate a review. It helps a lot. Anything else, I have a Patreon — which is paused for now, so I don't recommend joining — but I don't have anything else published. Maybe one day, that'll change.

[anathemafiction]

I bought the first book recently and loved loved loved it!! Author I hope your pillow is cold, your internet connection is fast, and the sun shines on you the exact amount you want it to 🌞. Excuse me for cramming into your undoubtedly already crammed inbox, I just want to ramble for a bit: I played a merciful, genuine MC with a sense of humor (like, she will always be kind but also loooves to pull out the occasional quip which balances out her genuine/sarcastic meter pretty well). However, she tends to (pretend to) align herself with the most powerful side when she’s cornered (high influence stat used as a defense mechanism you see), which is why she found herself in the extremely regrettable position of having favor with a ruthless guard captain (nooo Beka I’m sorry!!!). She is very very weak for pretty ladies, as she currently has the highest possible romance indicators for Alessa, Ysabella, and Neia (help me 💀), even as she’s actively romancing Alessa and not planning to be disloyal. She flirted with Ysabella at the inn, not thinking anything of it, then as it got more serious with Alessa she just treated Bella as a good (but very pretty!) friend. But idk if Bella got the hint 😭😭😭. Then she was faced with an unstoppable force (Neia) and an immovable object (also Neia) and chose the secret third option (flirt with scary hot lady) and it WORKED 😭 in conclusion I’m going to make other MCs for these ladies they’re so 🤭 anyways THANK YOU FOR YOUR WRITING

I am so glad someone took Cynthia's side, because I need Cynthia's route to be read by at least one person. Don't feel bad for Beka; she has many people on her corner.

And anon, I love this ask so much xD One thing I've noticed is that a lot of my readers find themselves weak for pretty ladies — especially my w|w readers. 😆 So your plight is shared by many. I always smile when someone is both scared and intrigued by Neia ehehe.

I hope you have fun making other Romanus for Ysabella and Neia as much as you like your Alessa-loving one. 💛

[anathemafiction]

You could do a patreon post with the darlings! That way, they wouldn't be completely dead with you sharing them with us :')

(sorry if this is something you already do, it's been a while since I was a patron)

I thought about that, but since I'll try to fit it into another chapter, I'll save it for now. If it ends up completely scratched, however, I'll post it on Patreon ♡

[anathemafiction]

Kill Your Darlings is kicking my butt lately😭. I wrote a scene I adore, but now, having wrapped up the conversation, I realize it just doesn't fit in here. It kills the momentum of the discussion and just doesn't make a lot of sense.

Thankfully, I think I can move it to a chapter further ahead, but, of course, it'll be modified. This is the third time in a relatively short period that I've had to do this.

[anathemafiction]

I'm curious, is Romanus calling Ysabella by Bella intentional on your part? As in, did you chose her name specifically because of this nickname and because of Romanus speaking latim with the meaning of the word?

No. The name Ysabella was the first to come to mind as I was molding Bella's characters. The nickname rolls off my tongue as a Portuguese speaker, so consequently, it rolls off Romanus' tongue. But the name came first.

[anathemafiction]

So is Lance gonna teach us how to dye our hair or what? you know, for totally normal disguise reasons. Also, would he ever want to change from blue? I'd be curious to see his natural brown.

still hoping Raf will teach us lockpicking. what other skills could Romanus pick up from companions?

Hadrian could teach you how to whittle. He mostly makes spoons and rustic little figurines, but I imagine him perfecting the art the longer the lessons go on. His hands would cover yours, guiding you patiently. "Careful," he'd murmur beside your ear, "the blade's sharp."

Alessa could teach you how to paint yourself. Your eyes, lips, and how to properly care for your hair. "Apply this oil twice a fortnight, or else t'will turn as rough as sand."

Alain could teach you how to properly taste wine (useless 💀). Of course, were you to accompany him for a walk in the garden, he'd know most of the plants and trees' names. He'd share when the blackbirds returned from their pilgrimage, and describe the way the white storks build their nests. He wouldn't teach you that, however. "I'm not a scholar to have students, sparrow," Alain says, having just explained the reasoning behind crop rotation. 

Ysabella could teach you all the intricacies of high society. The proper way to hold cutlery, how low you must bow depending on who you're bowing to, the correct way to address those above and below you. She could hold class for hours on how to manage a house's coffers, the magic of numbers, of projections, of hidden clauses in treaties that give you just enough advantage that, if there ever is a finish line, you'll cross it first. 

The Pirate could teach you how to navigate with nothing but the stars. "If you follow this one." He points at a bright, lonely star. "Polaris. You will never get lost again."

He could also teach you how to measure distances in the immeasurable magnitude of the ocean, where the landscape constantly shifts with the tides and no landmarks mark the miles crossed. 

Neia could teach you, to put it frankly, torture techniques. How to brute force a conversation so that the person gives you exactly what you want. She could teach you how to detect a lie by the slight shift of the gaze and the psychological pressure of a prolonged, unblinking stare. She could speak of the way the strongest men sang when deprived of sleep, and the most cunning women broke when locked alone for seven moons. "You don't need to draw blood, sweetling," she'd say, "for most, the simple threat of pain is enough."

Lance could teach you how to play the lyre. "Hold the arm here," he'd say, guiding your left hand to the wooden frame opposite you. "And lay this hand on the strings."

He'd smile as you plucked your first, out-of-tune notes. "It is not bad for a first time, mercenary," he'd lie after you cringed at the sound. 

Vallen could teach you... how to press-in flowers so that your notebooks could be pretty and perfumed. She could teach you all about herbs and spices, and how they help you cure headaches, relieve pains, swellings, and even coughs. She'd show you how to grind a plant's roots to turn them into a tea. "To make people feel better!" Vallen would smile brightly, then lean in and whisper. "But don't drink it yourself."

Rafael could teach you how to open locks, whether or not you have a key. "No, no, on the left side," his aggravated voice makes you grind your teeth. 

"It is on the left."

"You got another left I don't know about?" He grabs your wrist and jerks it. The lockpick slots to the side, fitting perfectly into the keyway. "There."

"Oh." You wiggle it, finding the first binding pin. It gives way a little. "This is easy."

Rafael steps back. "I did it for ya."

"You helped but a little." Boldened, you press in, turning your other lockpick—

Crack

Rafael's sigh feels like a personal insult. "Bloody idiot."

[anathemafiction]

Hi Ana! I was one of those that could not subscribe to your Patreon using my original account. I decided to use my fb acc to log in and try my luck, with the alt account I was able to join your Patreon! Unfortunately, I just discovered in order to play the links through moody, I have to verify my email which I can’t do since it’s been my email since primary and is only active through fb. Such a rookie from me, I was just really excited to play and read again HAHA!

Just wanted to know if you’d know any go-arounds in those cases. Thanks and happy to see you back 😁

Hey anon, please contact me on Patreon. I can't help you if I don't know who you are 😭 I'll try to give you acess but it that fails, I'll refund you, so worry not ❤️

[anathemafiction]

Hi! I'm sorry, I'm out of this loop, since you have the Patreon paused, does that mean that we can subscribe to you until you unpause it?

You can, yes, but some people, especially those with iOS, have issues subscribing. I don't know why or have any way to fix it. The only thing I did was click the 'pause billing' button.

If you subscribe now, you'll have acess to all content in my patreon (depending on your tier) and won't be charged again until after I unpause it - if it's been more than a month, of course. I won't recommend subscribing if you've already read all the content before I paused, as there's nothing new.

[anathemafiction]

Hey Anathema, hope you are doing well! I have been wanting to reread some of the bonus stories because I miss the Golden Rose (and especially Rafael and Hadrian), but I can't access them because my pledge is too low ;

Do you plan on unpausing your patreon at any point?

Hi, anon. I absolutely will unpause the patreon, just not before the update is ready. It wouldn't be fair to anyone otherwise.

I'll also have a very big progress update post to share, where I'll go over some of the changes I'm making to Chapter 4 - and why it's being pushed back a bit.

I'm very sorry about everything ❤️

[anathemafiction]

By the gods...the flapflaps returned when we needed them the most. 😲

This ask is like a flash grenade, anon 😭 I never thought I'd hear that term again.

[anathemafiction]

I ADORED your book. Both of them. Its been over a week and i'm still maniacally obsessing over the cliffhanger.

So this is a doubt that arised from the alpha of book 2. At the start, there's an option in the alessa character stats section that "Broke it off after the ministry" something something. 1. Does this mean the romance path is now blocked for the future? 2. Do we get any particular reactions/scenes if we'd picked this, with high friendship? 3. If we flirt with all that moves and breathess, does Alessa still get jealous or nah. Especially in part with the previous "break up"

Hello! Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Yes. As of now, if you don't romance Hadrian or Alessa in Book One, their romances are blocked.

You do, and it's already in the demo. It can be very subtle reactions (especially Alessa's cause... that's how she is) so you'll need to be sharp. I've written more reactions for "broken up" Hadrian and Alessa in the update that's coming. There will be a point, however, where the scenes will stop. Hadrian and Alessa will, by then, become numb to their feelings.

Obviously. 😆 It'll be more prominent when you actively romance someone else, but I'll always keep them subtle. Book One "breakups" weren't really breakups because you weren't in a relationship. It was just a flame going out. It's bitter and sorrowful but there is no anger, or resentment or carries the tension of unfinished bussiness.

[anathemafiction]

pls tell me we can smooch rafael in book 2

🤔

[anathemafiction]

Hi! I wanted to ask if you have any recommendations to any readers that want to learn/understand more the world of your story? like, do you have any recommendations about books, movies, videos etc about themes of your story? or maybe even a guide, like, search about emperors, gods and goddess etc?

sorry if this is bothersome, I'm really excited for your story and I wanted to "study" more about the themes surrounding it, but to be honest I don't really know where to start :c

Let me preface by saying that you don't need to research or even vaguely know about these themes to enjoy the Rose. It's a low-fantasy story, set in a world that's not ours, so you can just enjoy it for what it is!

But, if you want to recognize some of the names, easter eggs, and overall themes I want to explore with the Rose, here goes:

You can read about the overall history of the decline of the Western Roman Empire, when Christianity prevailed in secret amid Nero's persistent persecutions, and its believers were nailed to crosses. Emperor Nero, especially, would be a great figure to look into.

You can also read about the Catholic Church in the Dark Ages and the barbarities the Inquisition — especially the Spanish and Portuguese branches — inflicted on its people. Fun little things like legalized torture, public executions, and witch trials.

As for the Roman gods, there are a few great encyclopedias, websites, documentaries, and books about the entire pantheon. I myself don't know them as well as I'd like — I know more about the Greek gods, which the Romans pretty much stole the lore from, lol, so I should probably buy a book about this as well.

Other than that, the Rose is really its own world. When it comes to books, to understand the kind of vibe I was going for, I can recommend a few!

Memorial do Convento by José Saramago — I think the English translation is Baltasar & Blimunda. This book, at its core, is about the oppressive, absolute power that both the King and the Church had over Portuguese society. It's also a love story.

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett — It shows beautifully well England in the 12th century, where God, the Church, and nobility dominated every aspect of daily life. The lords, priors, knights, and bishops' abuse of power, corruption, hypocrisy, and cruelty would not only go unpunished but be sanctioned as right.

World Without End by Ken Follett — It takes place 200 years after Pillars. Here, you're not as deep in the dark ages, but the constant fight against religious dogmas in the name of intellectualism and the pursuit of knowledge is at the core of the book. Also depicts the horrors of the Black Plague, the doctors, priests, and nuns who gave their lives to fight forces beyond their comprehension, and, amidst it all, a love story.

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco — it's a great mystery book, for one, and once more, it shows the kind of society the Rose mirrors. It's great to better understand the different factions inside the Church and the infighting (oftentimes, with deadly consequences) between them.  

The Name of the Rose has been made into a movie, and it's really good! There's also a mini series, but I haven't seen it yet, so I can't comment. I highly recommend the book, though.

Edit: I forgot, but for a game: Pentiment!!! It's so, so good 😭 I can't gush enough about the creativity, the writing, the art, the music, the plot, characters, and the tears I shed. 💛

[anathemafiction]

Ana, I'm so excited for your story, I can't handle it 😭😭

No spoilers, but would you say that, in the ball chapter, will we be able to learn about the twins' intentions? Or, learn more about their roles in the story itself?

Or is there anything else (with no spoilers of course) that you could share with us about what we can expect from the ball and the twins? 🥺🙏

Things I can say about the twins:

If you accept their invitation to the Ball, they'll be the stars of Chapter 5.

Romanus (and the reader) will be able to infer a lot of things about them — their personalities, for one, since they haven't really been in the story, have they? Or, at least, the personality they choose to put on for you. How they move, how they talk, how they navigate the world of nobility.

As for their intentions and their role in the story... you'll need to play and see. 😊

[anathemafiction]

I don’t know if you get this often but it’s been on my mind after rereading the first book for the 12th time at this point. I have AuDHD, and i struggle deeply with imagining things when i read to the point that while i love IFs due to the fact it’s interactive otherwise i can’t read anything, i have to google a lot of things to be able to understand what it is or what they look like including emotions. But when i read your book, even more in the relationships i have no problems at all. I think it’s the first time that i didn’t have to stop reading a sentence to do that. You write the best romance in any IFs and i have read a lot believe me. It’s like i was living the action i can’t explain the way you write it but even the tension in the Alessa route for example was just right. I think you understand your characters so completely that it feels organic.

I really can’t wait for book 2, i hope you’re doing well after the loss you had to go through. I hope you have a nice day/evening.

Anon, I've had this in my inbox for a while because I didn't want to part with it. Thank you oh, so very much. I won't try to pretend I understand what it's like to live with AuDHD, but it means so much to me that both IF in general and my work in particular help you focus on reading — it's my favorite hobby. I adore it, and everyone deserves to enjoy it.

Thank you for your kind words about my romances, too. I love writing dialogue and relationships, whether good, bad, or something weirdly undefined in the middle. I didn't expect the Rose's romances to resonate with so many people. It's honestly still a bit of a surprise every time I get a message about them, but I'll try my best to do them justice continuing forward.

And thank you. Nero's loss still aches; I won't mince my words, but it is getting easier. I couldn't write for a few months while he was declining — I couldn't focus on anything, really, but this weekend, I wrote 10 notebook pages, and I'll take it as a win. I hope your Sunday is going very well.💛