The Temporal Scythe - Paperback

Franco, L. S.: - Best-selling and award-winning author L.S. Franco writes YA science fantasy and adult speculative fiction spanning magical realism, science fiction, and fantasy. While her primary focus is on older teen and adult audiences, she also pens select children's books. She is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and Friends of Worldcon, supporting the global sci-fi and fantasy community through its most iconic convention.As a Chief of Strategy, Franco brings sharp structural and logical thinking and visionary planning to her storytelling. She is known for crafting cinematic, character-driven adventure set in richly layered multiverses, where magic is systemic and carries consequence. Her work is fast-paced, emotionally raw, and tackles topics like spiritual warfare, societal collapse, moral reckoning, soul purpose, among others, all while anchoring the reader in deeply human (and sometimes heartbreaking) character arcs. That's her signature style: visual spectacle, intellectual depth, and emotional weight, entertaining her readers while making them reflect.Originally from Brazil, she was raised on classic fiction tales, world folklore, and mythology. Her decades as a tabletop RPG game master refined her instinct for improvisation, immersive world building, and multi-perspective narratives, while her experience in acting sharpened her sense of dialogue and character presence. Her love for psychotherapy and constant study of human behavior breathe emotional depth and psychological realism into her characters. Now living in the United States, she continues to draw on both cultures to shape her storytelling.Franco first began writing for her son. But what started as a personal project quickly grew into something more-a commitment to stories that entertain but also raise social and self-awareness, uphold values, and offer a poetic lens on existence. To her, imagination isn't a way out-it's a way through, helping us navigate both the world and ourselves.