A banner showing the cover of Finding wildfire, text "PREORDER", the first page of the novel along with a list of tropes. coming of Age, Shapeshifter & Magical creatures, Elemental Magic and Family Bonds. Text reads Available to pre order at babsrudlin.com. ebook and paperback.

The only cage that matters is the one you believe is locked

Discover Finding Wildfire, a debut fantasy of family deception, hidden power, and the courage to break free. Coming 30 July 2026.

Whether you’re here for deep world-building dives or to claim your own digital copies, you’ve found the inner sanctum. Make yourself at home; there are secrets hidden in every corner.

Pre-orders now open for ebook, paperback, and limited bundle.

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Finding Wildfire cover art. Showing a girl, purpl phoenix and a small dog all looking to the right on a dark purple backgrouns wth lilac, pink and gold flames.

The Debut Novel: Finding Wildfire

“The only cage that matters is the one you believe is locked.”

Pacts made in secret. The lives of children traded for power. A family caged by deception.

Elara thought she knew the limits of her family’s confinement, but her power-crazed uncle’s machinations run deeper and viler than she ever feared. To stand against him, Elara must unite her clan, rely on a pack of sharp-tongued canine familiars, and somehow tolerate her new spirit guide—a delightfully pompous phoenix.

Survival requires more than loyalty. Forced to rely on a mysterious stranger with dangerous secrets of his own, Elara must unlock her own hidden magic before the cage snaps shut on her family forever.

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**Start the Journey Early. Download The Weaver’s Gambit for Free.**

Discover Finding Wildfire, a debut fantasy of family deception, hidden power, and the courage to break free. Coming 30 July 2026.

Want a taste of the realm before Finding Wildfire arrives this summer? Join the inner circle for updates, behind-the-scenes world-building secrets, and a complimentary digital copy of my companion short story, The Weaver’s Gambit.

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The Weavers Gambit - out now. Book cover of Weaver's Gambit by Babs Rudlin, a no-spice fantasy suspense novel featuring intricate tapestry themes and dark magical aesthetics.

Whether you’re here for deep world-building dives or to claim your own digital copies, you’ve found the inner sanctum. Make yourself at home; there are secrets hidden in every corner.

The Weaver’s Gambit now avaiable to buy for only 99p or Free for members of our Inner Circle.

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Meet the Creator of the Realm – Babs Rudlin

Hello! I’m an independent author and a lifelong devotee of grand, immersive stories. I spend my days weaving intricate fantasy worlds filled with complex, multi-layered characters, quiet domestic suspense, and magical creatures that feel entirely real. When I’m not at the keyboard building realms, you can find me tending to my garden or being supervised by my two miniature Schnauzers, who make excellent writing assistants.

If you appreciate rich world-building, high emotional stakes, and stories that keep you guessing without relying on explicit content, you are in the right place.

What readers of Finding Wildfire are saying

Pacts made. The lives of babies traded. Secrets hidden and revealed. Although this fantasy novel is seemingly aimed at a YA audience, it does dip into darker territory, with an antagonist who is thoroughly amoral and unpleasant.

Good Reads Review

This book is a story of familial love, the trials that come with coming of age, and overcoming abuse and cruelty at the hands of those who should care for you.

I loved the dog familiars, a really unique twist on the usual magic familiar, and the characters felt real and relatable. The writing is rich with beautiful prose and vivid description.

Goodreads Review

Very strong. Very emotional. Kind of stunned in a good way.
This ending gives the exact feeling of “everything mattered”.
All the small things the dogs did, all the tiny choices Mace made earlier, every time he refused to abandon someone… it all comes back in this huge, final moment. That feels extremely satisfying.

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