Q&A: Lyndsay Ely, Author of ‘The Lost Reliquary’

We chat with author Lyndsay Ely about The Lost Reliquary, which is a divinely blessed warrior bound to the last living goddess plots deicide to win her freedom in this propulsive epic fantasy for fans of Godkiller and Gideon the Ninth.

Hi, Lyndsay! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Sure. I’m a writer, creative, and geek that has spent the majority of her existence in New England. I studied graphic design and art in college, failed to become a good enough illustrator to draw comics, and then pivoted to go all in on writing stories instead. These days I’ve settled in Boston, where I enjoy the many fine bookstores, breweries, thrift stores, and geeky conventions the area has to offer, and where I can say “wicked” without getting any strange looks. (Which, in my case, has nothing to do with growing up having Massachusetts nearby but rather from watching way too much Ninja Turtles as a kid.)

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

Long enough ago that I don’t want to admit it. Let’s just say it was in the days of having to watch TV shows when they actually aired and when phones still had cords. I was definitely that kid who loved being in the library and at the book fairs and went through books like the were potato chips. Then I discovered comics and it was all over. I spend many, many, MANY hours drawing characters (mostly X-Men knockoffs) and dreaming up the stories that went along with them.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: With more words than pictures? Probably The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Or maybe a Nancy Drew book.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Also probably The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, though comic books played a big part too.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Not quite one, but The Locked Tomb series. Dying for the next book.

Your latest novel, The Lost Reliquary, is out October 21^st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Deicide attempt despite exasperating co-worker.

What can readers expect?

A classic quest fantasy with a main character (Lys) whose deep, dark secret is that she wants the last living goddess—who she’s bound to—dead and gone. When a failed assassination attempt outs that there’s one weapon that could make that fantasy a reality, Lys gets teamed up with the pious Nolan to recover it, a partnership that goes from kinda hating each other, to really hating each other, to maybe not hating each other at all. Also, they have to avoid some quasi-cannibalistic heretics.

Where did the inspiration for The Lost Reliquary come from?

A big part of it was shifting away from the third person, multi-POV fantasy book I’d just finished (currently trunked) to trying out a full-length first person POV book, which I’d never done. Also transitioning from YA into adult, a line I’d been toeing for a while. But mainly this story was conceived during a period of time where current events had me thinking a lot about what people believe and why, and how far they were willing to go for those beliefs. Eventually that led to forming a story around a world where gods could be seen and heard and felt by their devoted, but could also die.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I love a good side character. It’s a bit torturous to write characters with small parts that you really enjoy (especially when you kill them off, which I have a habit of doing). Fortunately, most of my favorite side characters get to return in TLR’s sequel, and one even got a reprieve from death. (Which is good, because they ended up playing a pretty significant role.)

I also really enjoyed writing the moments between my two main characters, Lys and Nolan, as they navigated how to approach their mission, as well as the results of their shared (fairly traumatic) upbringing. (Most especially when they begin to consider that the other’s position may have some worthwhile points, even if it clashes with their own perspective.)

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Two words: Day job. Writing is my side hustle, which means it takes place during evening and weekend hours. Which also means other stuff—chores, errands, socializing—often gets pushed off and pushed off and… well, let’s just say it’s a good thing I live alone with no one to witness how long it takes to empty the dishwasher sometimes. (Or fill it.)

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on some IP projects, most notably for the Skibidi Toilet universe. (Not the fandom I’d ever have guessed I’d get invested in, but also an absolute palate cleanser of a project that has helped me do a bit of mental reset (while also allowing me to write tons of action scenes, which are my favorite.)

Also, the sequel of The Lost Reliquary is in progress and should hopefully be publishing sometime near the end of 2026.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White crawled right inside me and has stayed there. I also loved Chuck Tingle’s Lucky Day, which is just as weird and enjoyable, though in a (somewhat) lighter way. The still TBR book that’s been staring at me with the most judgement is a copy of Chartreuse: The Elixir Vegetal and the Liqueur, which I spent forever trying to find an English version of, finally acquired in Paris months ago, but have only read a few pages of so far.

Will you be picking up The Lost Reliquary? Tell us in the comments below!