The World of Duhra

The World of Duhra's fantasy romance novels transport readers into an historically-inspired setting where magic is part of everyday life. Each book is a standalone romance with a satisfying happily-ever-after; each duology offers a wider tale; and, the full set will paint a vivid picture of the world as details unfold. Full of hilarious banter, believable love between well-suited matches, and a dash of absurdity, M.A. Lakewood's delightful fantasy romcoms are set in a diverse universe with a Regency era aesthetic minus the guns, gloves, and misogyny. Currently announced are four duologies comprising a full set of interconnected stories spanning ~50 years.

Out Now

The Reluctant Queen

BOOK ONE OF THE FEAR & FOCUS DUOLOGY IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON: EBOOK, PAPERBACK, KINDLE UNLIMITED

What to expect?

🌏 Cozy and peaceful fantasy world

✨ Elemental magic + that weird one

🌶️ x4 (a wide open door)

👩‍❤️‍👨 Dual POV (third person)

🎂 Adult MCs (she’s 24, he’s 29)

🤴🏻 He falls first

🏰 Forced proximity

📖 HEA & stands alone (but is first in a duology)

Read it Now (Amazon)

View on Goodreads

Read Chapter One

Out Soon

The Chaosweaver's Daughter

BOOK 2 OF THE FEAR & FOCUS DUOLOGY IS COMING TO AMAZON: EBOOK, PAPERBACK, KINDLE UNLIMITED

What to expect?

🏫 Academics with a love of etymology

✨ More info on the magic system

🌶️ Open-door but slower build than The Reluctant Queen

🎂 My most new-adult book (she's 21, he's 26)

🤵🏻 He falls first and much, much harder

💖 He's a duke, she's a tutor

📖 Guaranteed HEA & wraps up the duology

coming
September 2025

Maps of Duhra

Click to load full-size image and explore each map.

Inspiration & Influence

Explore the tabs to learn about my worldbuilding inspirations & influences for the Kingdom of Selwas in the World of Duhra.

A cluster of wooden beehives stand in a clearing within a forest. The beehives are all made of rough-hewn wood and have thatched roofs. They are surrounded by a low wooden fence, which is partially obscured by the trees. The trees are a mix of deciduous and evergreen, and their leaves are a vibrant green. The sun is shining brightly, and the air is still. The beehives are a testament to the hard work and ingenuity of the beekeepers who built them. They are also a reminder of the importance of bees in our ecosystem.

Culture

Most of the cultural influence for the kingdom of Selwas comes from the Regency era of British history but with very liberal fantasy-world changes in place. Namely, magic. I don’t think people had magic in the Regency era, or any other era, for that matter. I also incorporated elements of Kurdish, Turkish, and Arabic cultures such as the naming language, some cultural practices, and food. You may notice some things are missing from the menu in Selwas, purely because they pop up elsewhere on the continent. It will all make sense eventually. And the beekeeping? We never visit an apiary on-page but I reference the beekeeping quite a bit. In my mind, Selwassan beehives are styled after the old-style apiaries used in Ukraine that can be found at a museum in Pyrohiv, Kyiv.

Image Source: Pirogovo Open Air Museum

Full outdoor shot of a landscape in Cairngorms National Park featuring rolling hills, valleys, and forests. The foreground displays a mix of low-lying vegetation, including a dense patch of vibrant yellow gorse or similar flowering shrubs. Mid-ground showcases a valley with meadows of light green grass. Patches of trees and smaller shrubs are scattered throughout the valley floor. A small, light-colored house is visible nestled within the trees in the middle ground. The background reveals sloping hillsides covered in dark green coniferous forest, transitioning to a lighter grayish-brown hue. A distant hilltop is visible in the mid-ground against the sky, also displaying a mix of trees and lighter-colored, exposed ground. The sky above is overcast, with scattered patches of lighter gray and white clouds, suggesting a daylight scene but not direct sunlight. The overall impression is one of a rural, mountainous landscape, in a temperate climate.

Geography

The entire continent of Duhra is in the southern hemisphere, and my first duology takes place in Selwas, the southernmost kingdom. Because of this, Selwas sees the most significant seasonal changes in comparison to the other countries on Duhra. To imagine Selwas in your mind’s eye, picture sparsely populated, densely forested land. Selwas looks like the Scottish Highlands, or specifically Cairngorms National Park. I imagine rolling green fields and hills with thick old-growth woods like the ancient Caledonian Forest. Small villages and towns break up the landscape and my maps only show the larger towns and cities—the seats of the Selwassan nobility.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

The image captures a lively scene within a rustic interior, set in 1812 USA. On one side, a group of four well-dressed individuals, sporting tall hats and vibrant neckerchiefs, engage in animated conversation. Their stance and expressions suggest a joyful, perhaps flirtatious atmosphere. One man, positioned slightly forward, stands confidently with his hands on his hips, exuding charm. The two women beside him wear flowing dresses, their bright hues contrasting with the more muted tones of the men's attire. Their bonnets add a touch of elegance, while their playful postures indicate they are enjoying the attention. The environment is warm and inviting, illuminated by natural light streaming through the doorway, which also reveals glimpses of horses outside, hinting at a rural setting. Overall, it reflects themes of companionship, celebration, and the simplicity of life in a bygone era.

Language

I had a lot of fun with the naming language for Selwas, something I eased up on a bit in the other countries on Duhra, as you'll see in the future. Overall, the Selwassan naming language, their “Old Tongue” is based on Kurdish words with pre-determined phonetic shifts. I did not necessarily follow Kurdish subject-verb-object (SVO) structure when crafting the Selwassan Old Tongue. When you look at my map, you may notice I dipped into GRRM territory with some of my similar-sounding names for locations. I hope it goes over all right with readers, but this was an intentional choice to aim for cultural cohesion to show just how long the borders on Duhra have been in place. Some examples of place names in book and how I arrived at them: Kirce Palace - from the Sorani (Central Kurdish) word “Birce” (beer-chay or beer-chuh) meaning “tower” Turkhane - from the Sorani words (1) “dûr” meaning “far” and (2) “xane” meaning “home” When it comes to character names in Selwas, most can also be traced back to Kurdish. Some have the phonetic shifts, and some do not. Depending on where a character is from in the kingdom, their name may be influenced by surrounding lands and other cultures, from a time when borders weren’t quite so tight. I also pulled in some Arabic and Turkish names and made a few up because I wanted to. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

M.A. LAKEWOOD, AUTHOR

The World of Duhra

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Suggested Reading Order

1. Fear & Focus

2. Hope & Home