Dutch author Fleur Bronke will present the second and final instalment of her fantasy duology, Whispers of Water, at The Collab Bar in Lagos on Saturday (August 23).
The series is described by the author as a “dark low-fantasy tale set in a world reminiscent of 1920s Europe” and follows a young woman who joins the resistance to overthrow her nation’s ruthless ruler. “But the further she goes, the more she must sacrifice her own moral boundaries to achieve her goal,” the 35-year-old author says. Inspired by events of the First and Second World Wars, the series tackles themes of war, sacrifice and how far one is willing to go for victory. According to Fleur Bronke, the series is perfect for fans of fantasy classics such as The Hunger Games, A Darker Shade of Magic and Shadow and Bone.
Bronke began crafting the tale 17 years ago, completing the first book two years ago. Now, with the release of the second and final volume, readers can experience the duology in full. Both books are available through fleurbronke.nl, Bol.com, and Amazon.
The launch event kicks off at 4.15pm with an author interview and excerpt reading, followed by a book signing at 5pm. Guests will then have the opportunity to meet and chat with Bronke at 5.30pm. with the event wrapping up at 6pm.
Born in Zaandam, the Netherlands, in 1990, Bronke grew up fascinated by stories. During her years at the British School in Muscat, Oman, she fell in love with English literature through Harry Potter and other English-language books, which inspired her to start writing her own short stories and poems. Early inspirations like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Fullmetal Alchemist laid the groundwork for her imaginative worlds, while later, videogames such as The Witcher 3 deepened her love of dark, layered storytelling.
After studying physiotherapy in the Netherlands, where she also met her husband, Bronke lived in Malaysia and Oman before settling permanently in Lagos, where she lives with her husband and two cats. She balances life as a writer and social media manager, while also volunteering at the local animal shelter Cadela Carlota and participating in a lively local book club.
Bronke shares her writing journey with readers online via TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook (@authorfleurbronke).
