Welcome to the Grievance Series Shenanigans Hub! 💥
Hey, I'm laakeauthor (your resident fauthor), and this is the official development archive for The Grievance Series and its first book, SELF/IMAGE.
If you like dark shonen urban fantasy, high-stakes action, government conspiracies, and deep worldbuilding, you are in the right place.
📖 What is SELF/IMAGE?
There are no heroes, only real people trying to survive in a world that doesn't give a fuck about them. SELF/IMAGE is a gritty, urban fantasy that trades fluff for a raw, genuine experience. It's aesthetic anime wrapped in a human heart.
In this world, there are no magical summer camps to protect you. There is only Exodus—a cold, bureaucratic government organization tasked with covering up the existence of grievances (grotesque, human-demon hybrid cursed spirits) to keep the public blind to the threat.
If you like Percy Jackson's witty writing style with Jujutsu Kaisen's dark shonen stakes, then this is the right novel for you!
Our main duo caught in the middle of this machine:
Benjamin: A stressed-out, socially anxious cinnamon roll of a guy with a prosthetic arm, who just wants some peace, quiet, and a functional living space.
Akane: A muscle-bound Hawaiian powerhouse who is arguably the best character in the entire series (bringing some much-needed Pride and Pacific Islander representation to the chaos).
DROPPING ON TAPAS AUGUST 29TH!!!
⚠️ The Vibe Check
This series is dark, action-packed, and goofy all at once. Expect:
Heavy language & vulgarity
Gritty, shonen-style action and violence
California type shit
🔍 Navigation Tags (Find Your Hyperfixation)
Click these tags to filter the blog and dive into the archives:
👉 #self/image novel — Everything related to Book 1.
👉 #akane, #benjamin, or #raven PLUS self/image — Character-specific art, trivia, and banter.
👉 #fauthor rambles — Behind-the-scenes writing thoughts, magic system details, and lore drops.
👉 #incorrect quotes — Pure, unadulterated shitposts.
👉 #exodus grievances - In-universe lore on the monsters and spiritual type shit
💬 My Ask Box is OPEN!
Have questions about Exodus's bureaucracy? Want to know how grievances are created? Or just want to ask Benjamin how he's coping with the stress (spoiler: he isn't)?
Drop an Ask! I answer in-character, share worldbuilding secrets, or just scream with you about the plot.
Find me on Instagram for reels and more art: @laakeauthor