Xannu
Southern Lands (YA Series)
In the first book of "The Southern Lands" series, reality is a fragile bridge between two vastly different worlds. Terence "Terry" West is an ordinary twelve-year-old boy in Bottleford, England, but when he holds a mysterious rune coin, he becomes Teern Truthbringer, a muscular eighteen-year-old mercenary in a parallel realm. For over five hundred years, Teern has been cursed with immortality by the Power Almighty, tasked with a singular, grueling mission: he must find and proclaim the Xannu, the Deliverer who will lead the people to salvation.
As the ancient Scriptures of Al’Zaneed begin to unfold, Teern is joined by Maria, a young woman whose destiny is equally profound. Rising from her humble training to become the "Mother of Mothers," she wields powerful magic and guards sacred rune carvings—ancient pieces of red wood like the Byzau (Temperance) and Tazzau (Sanctuary) that hold the key to restoring order to the lands. Their group is completed by the unlikely figure of Matthius, a pale, fourteen-year-old student priest who eventually discovers he is the very "Spirit of Truth" they have been searching for.
Their journey toward the "city of the sky," KA'Truin, is fraught with peril. They are hunted by the malevolent Warlock Mayhem, a master of disguises and dark magic who commands swarms of razor-toothed Vandyrs and ferocious, scaly Kriks. As friendships cross the boundaries of worlds and the line between reality and dreams blurs, the prophecy reaches a violent climax. In the midst of a final, world-altering battle, Teern must face the weight of his mortality and the heavy price of fulfilling a destiny centuries in the making.
“Listen to the teachings of a wise man. You may not understand all he says but you will surely have nourishment for the future. Be positive and plan for success. Failure to plan is to plan for failure. Worry not at what came before but only prepare yourselves for that which is ahead.” (Pika’Al 10:1-5, The Scriptures of Al’Zaneed)
Xannu tells the story of Terry West, a twelve-year-old English boy, who travels to an alternate world using rune coins that he discovered while digging for old bottles. In his other parallel life he is an eighteen-year-old soldier, Teern Truthbringer, who is tasked with finding the Xannu - ‘he who will lead the people into deliverance’. The book’s accompanying scriptures, Pika’Al (The Prophecy) by the ancient prophet Al’Zaneed, provide a history, backdrop and set of clues. The book is really two stories in one, as Terry switches between his two existences. Leading a journey of discovery in one land, and remaining an integral part of his circle of friends in another, leads to many dilemmas. How will he balance the two lives he leads, solve two sets of problems, and understand the lessons he receives from both? Only time will tell. But time is something he doesn’t have too much of as everything is unfolding in ways that he could never have imagined! Xannu – The Prophecy is the first in a four-book series entitled ‘The Southern Lands’, which chronicles numerous trials and adventures on a journey that is limited only by our imaginations.
In the sequel, Xannu: The Healing, author JC Dorset takes us deeper into the mystery of the Xannu. While the first book was a whirlwind of discovery, this second installment explores the consequences of immortality. Teern Truthbringer has lived for five centuries, but his spirit is fragmented, haunted by the memories of those who came before—specifically Eldra, a woman whose ancient "original sin" still echoes through the Southern Lands.
What makes this chapter of the saga so unique is how Terence uses his modern-day world to impact the ancient one. Armed with knowledge from his schoolbooks—subjects like Botany and Basic Electricity—Terence finds that the "magic" of our world is often the key to solving the prehistoric problems of Triluika.
In Xannu: The Healing, you’ll discover:
The Fragmented Warrior: The struggle to reconcile Teern’s combat prowess with the traumatic memories of his past lives.
The Power of Knowledge: How Terence’s "ordinary" school education becomes an extraordinary weapon.
Ancient Secrets: The truth behind the Scriptures of Al’Zaneed and the Foretellings of Taesso.
This is more than just a fantasy adventure; it is a story about the maturity of time, the weight of memory, and the courage it takes to heal.
English schoolboy Terry West’s life has been turned upside down. His best friend Joe is missing and presumed dead. And it was all his fault. If only he hadn’t given Joe one of his rune coins. Those damn rune coins that transported him to another world where Terry is a soldier, Teern Truthbringer, who was tasked with finding the Xannu. Wars are brewing and people from many lands and religions want the ailing Xannu for themselves and Teern’s job is to protect him. But first he must make a perilous journey to get him cured. Terry’s dreams also leave him out of touch with the magical woman Maria who has charge of healing Joe. How will Joe fare and will he survive in this world inhabited by warlocks, seductresses, priests and prophecy? Terry is praying he does.
But Terry’s other life is the least of his problems. Back at home his strict Granddad is coming to stay, his school work is suffering badly, and the leggy sister of his school friend Brian is trying to get him to date. Why can’t everyone just leave him to himself? How will Terry balance the two lives he leads, solve two sets of problems, and understand the lessons he receives from both? Only time will tell. But time is something Terry doesn't have too much of, as everything is unfolding in ways he could never have imagined!
Book 2 of 'The Southern Lands' saga “Listen to what the animals have to say. Listen to their advice. Do not rely on the word of mankind, for theirs is already a path leading towards disaster.” (Foretellings of Taesso 6:12-13)
The Power Unlocked: Step Through the Void in The Portal
What happens when a destiny is finally unleashed? As the proverb goes, "Once it is unlocked it will never be tamed."
In the climactic third installment of The Southern Lands series, Xannu: The Portal, JC Dorset brings the journey of Terence West and the immortal Teern Truthbringer to a pulse-pounding threshold. The boundary between our world and the magical realm of Triluika has never been thinner, and the weight of the "Power Almighty" is finally beginning to reveal its true, untamable nature.
In this volume, the stakes evolve from individual healing to a struggle for the very survival of the Southern Lands. The prophecy of the Xannu is no longer a distant whisper—it is a roaring reality. Terence must grapple with a power that surpasses all others, a power that "once it has struck it will never be quenched."
In Xannu: The Portal, the saga reaches new heights:
The Ultimate Transformation: Witness the unlocking of a power that can control mankind and transcend mortality.
The Battle for Destiny: From the hillside vigils to the "gates of abomination," the characters must choose between the comfort of ignorance and the cost of the truth.
The Call of the Spirit: Follow the journey across the fields of the future as Terence and his allies face the ultimate test of the void.
This isn't just an ending; it’s a delivery. It is the moment where the preparation of the past two books meets the explosive energy of the present. Whether you have followed Terence from his first schoolboy dream or are just now feeling the pull of the Southern Lands, The Portal promises a destination you won't soon forget.
Witness the Dawn of Xannu: The Mayhem
Every ending is simply a new, more dangerous beginning. If you thought the journey through the Southern Lands was reaching its conclusion, think again. The stakes have evolved, the world has fractured, and the true architects of destiny are finally stepping out of the shadows.
In the latest installment of The Southern Lands series, Xannu: The Mayhem, author JC Dorset plunges readers into a world where the line between savior and survivor is thinner than ever. As the title suggests, the order established in previous volumes is being tested by forces both ancient and manufactured.
This chapter of the saga introduces a chilling new perspective. While we have followed the trials of Teern Truthbringer and the prophecies of the Xannu, The Mayhem reveals that the "gods" playing this game may not be who—or what—we expected. From the high-stakes sacrifices at Stenton to the calculating whispers of the B’Wots, the scale of the conflict has moved beyond mere swords and sorcery.
What awaits you in Xannu: The Mayhem:
A World in Flux: Explore the aftermath of the great sacrifice and the smoky haze of a land trying to find its footing.
The Architects of Fate: Meet the B’Wots, the enigmatic beings who view the struggles of mankind as a game to be played, reset, and refined.
A Search for Compassion: As new Warlocks are created in the north, the quest for a leader with "less ego and more compassion" begins.
Humanity’s Resilience: Follow Teern and Selene as they seek a simpler life—perhaps one involving nothing more complicated than goats—even as the world refuses to let them go.
The Mayhem is a masterful expansion of the lore established in The Prophecy, The Healing, and The Portal. It asks the hard questions: Can we ever truly break free from the patterns of the past? Or are we destined to repeat the same mistakes while the "gods" watch from the clearing?
