Author Guest Post with Maxime Trencavel: The Matriarch Messiah

Zara Khatum, a woman haunted by ancient visions, finds herself drawn deeper into the heart of a perilous quest.

Welcome to the April 3rd stop on the blog tour for The Matriarch Messiah by Maxime Trencavel with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, more guest posts, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means there is no additional cost to you if you shop using my links, but I will earn a small percentage in commission. A program-specific disclaimer is at the bottom of this post.

Author Guest Post

Pros and Cons of Writing in Your Genre

The pro: writing to genre is more likely to garner book sales and even a publisher contract.

The con: No one will know what you wrote at first. But those who are brave and adventurous may find a story like no other. Uniqueness in the age of repetitive tropes.

The Pros:

Years ago, the keynote speakers at a writer’s conference were a couple who suffered as do most indie authors with poor book sales despite creating their best effort, well-crafted, unique stories. They professed their new religion. Write to the market. For years, they wrote what they thought were great books. But the market voted no. So, someone converted them to a new faith. Write not what “you” want, but what “they” want.

So, what does that mean? Commercial fiction targets the tropes, the wants and needs of specific groups of readers. A paranormal romance has a much distinct set of internal benchmarks than romantic suspense and yet both are romances. Readers in each of these sub-genres have expectations of what they are buying based on the book cover, the blurb, and the category the book is listed under.

I said the same with a group of editorial acquisition professionals last weekend. What they are looking for are books which clearly fit within a defined commercially viable reader group. That the story within will satisfy this specific group and they will clamor for more of the same. These editors agreed with my assessment of their trade craft.

The Anti-thesis:

Clearly, my books are not written to market. The first one did okay selling in the range of what mid-tier publisher books might do. But finding the readers was an act of sheer force. Why? I use the craft from the genre needed to best portray the story at hand. Hence, many reviews will say “this is another one of those books that are hard to classify”.

For The Matriarch Messiah, the most recent editorial review released on day two of launch says:

The Matriarch Messiah is a richly rewarding read, offering a deeply immersive experience for those who love thought-provoking fiction. It invites readers to engage with its intricate storytelling, blending history, mythology, and spiritual exploration in a way that feels both epic and intimate. Fans of historical thrillers, speculative fiction, and philosophical narratives will find plenty to appreciate, from its compelling characters to its grand, multi-layered themes.

The first three reader reviews say:

Maxime Trencavel crafts a thrilling science-fiction novel with elements of mystery, romance, and ancient prophecy.

Author Maxime Trencavel offers a great combination of historical mythology with futuristic intrigue….I highly recommend it to lovers of science fiction seeking something beyond the conventional genre boundaries.

Trencavel’s blend of these elements with a subtle feminine-oriented tone results in a captivating novel that adventure, suspense, and mythology enthusiasts will love.

For the final book sub-title, I listed The Matriarch Messiah under Science Fiction: An Epic Sci-Fi Suspense Thriller. In the days of generative AI, a neutral source which can process hundreds upon hundreds of prose and give a pronouncement, Google Gemini concludes this:

This book, “The Matriarch Messiah”, is primarily a science fiction novel.

However, it also contains elements of:

• Fantasy: The story involves ancient prophecies, mystical objects, and supernatural abilities that lean into the fantasy genre.
• Romance: There are romantic relationships between the characters, which play a significant role in the plot.
• Thriller: The story features elements of suspense, danger, and intrigue that create a thrilling reading experience.

So, while the core of the book is sci-fi, it’s also a blend of fantasy, romance, and thriller.

What evidence listing in this genre is working?  

As of the second day of launch. The Matriarch Messiah is #2 Amazon new release bestseller in the science fiction metaphysical and visionary sub-genre. #14 in overall sales in this niche. No, not a NYTimes Bestseller, but a solid launch start.

I hope that readers who want something different, but still within genre scope, will give this series a try. Over six thousand did with the first book in the series.

About the Book

The Matriarch Messiah
Mystery of the Matriarchs Book Two
by Maxime Trencavel

Published 17 March 2025
Tail of the Bird Books

Genre: Science Fiction
Page Count: 644
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

Zara Khatum, a woman haunted by ancient visions, finds herself drawn deeper into the heart of a perilous quest. Guided by a mysterious voice, she seeks to fulfill an ancient prophecy and find the cavern of blue light – a sanctuary rumored to hold the key to saving humanity. But the path to salvation is fraught with danger, and Zara is torn between her destiny and her heart.

A shadowy organization, known as NiQihs, seeks to exploit the power of the legendary black object, the source of Zara’s visions, for their own sinister ends. They are not alone. The world’s superpowers, driven by greed and ambition, race to control the artifact, threatening to unleash unimaginable devastation.

Joining Zara in this dangerous pursuit is Rachel Capsali, a brilliant Israeli archaeologist driven by a personal quest to uncover evidence of Asherah, a forgotten goddess who held a pivotal place in ancient Israelite faith. Unbeknownst to them, both women are bound by a shared destiny – a prophecy foretelling the cavern of blue light and a final, heartbreaking truth: two women will fight to the death, and only one will save us all.

Adding to the complexity, a passionate triangle forms as Rachel vies for Peter Gollinger’s affection, a man deeply entangled in the ancient mystery. Zara, torn between fulfilling her destiny and her own feelings for Peter, finds herself caught in a web of conflicting desires.

As Zara and Rachel navigate a treacherous landscape of hidden agendas, betrayal, and relentless pursuit, their rivalry for Peter’s affections intensifies. Can love survive the forces that threaten to tear them apart? Will the quest for salvation lead to a heart-wrenching sacrifice?

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Kobo | Apple | Google

Excerpt

“So, what’s so special about some random legend?” says Rachel. “My safta raba Ariella said, ‘She said one day Nearat and her daughter will return. Humanity will wane and wobble. And the woman who will save humanity will bring peace from the blue light. But to return, one must overcome one’s fear of death. Two women will fight so that one will die. For only in the death of life as one knows it can she be in the light. Until then, Inanna awaits.'””

With a light chuckle, Mei combs through ground-penetrating radiation scans as she says, “Be thankful you only had to memorize seven sentences. That guy from California with the Kurdish woman had to memorize four times that much. His grandfather made him say it backwards, even. As random as your safta raba’s saying may seem, it isn’t to Murometz, and even Jean-Paul, who’s aggregating oral traditions like yours with thousands of others he’s collected, including those from the Vatican archives. They are far from random now.”

Slowly walking in concentric circles from the black box MoxWorld loaned her, Rachel views the real-time scan images as she says, “I wish I could have met Mr. Murometz when you and Jean-Paul screened me. Not that I didn’t relish our time together.”

“Come on, Rach. You wouldn’t wear that dress I made for you, much less the vamp shoes and makeup we designed,” says Mei.

“I didn’t mean to meet him in ‘that’ way,” says Rachel as she runs her hand along her braids. “If I’m not worthy enough minus my lady bits, then he isn’t worthy enough for my time, I say.”

“I never said you had to wear those simply ravishing clothes for him,” says Mei.

“Well, certainly it wasn’t for Father Sobiros, I assumed. And you said Murometz was fascinated that my safta raba’s words included a reference to a Sumerian goddess whose priestesses were known for prostitution. I only assumed he was hinting he wanted the same out of me, as all the rumors would suggest,” jests Rachel. “Wait. Do you see what I see?”

“Hold on, Rach. I have an incoming call from the president of China.”

About the Author

Maxime has been scribbling stories since grade school, from adventure epics to morality plays. Blessed with living in multicultural pluralistic settings and having earned degrees in science and marketing, Maxime has worked in business and sports, traveling to countries across five continents and learning about cultures, traditions, and the importance of tolerance and understanding. Maxime’s second novel, The Matriarch Messiah, was conceived, outlined, written, and edited in different locations in Belgium, including the Turkish and Kurdish neighborhoods of Brussels, in various islands of the Caribbean, in Colombia, in Madrid, Malaga, Mallorca, Spain, London, UK, and on the two coasts of the United States.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads

Giveaway Alert!

The author will be awarding $20 Amazon/BN gift cards to two randomly drawn winners.

March 31: Sandra’s Book Club
April 1: Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
April 2: The Avid Reader & Long and Short Reviews
April 3: Westveil Publishing
April 4: Dawn’s Reading Nook
April 7: The Key of Love
April 8: Sorchia’s Universe & Author C.A.Milson
April 9: Gina Rae Mitchell
April 10: Read Your Writes Book Reviews
April 11: Romance that’s ‘Out of this World’
April 14: Books R Us
April 15: Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
April 16: Fabulous and Brunette
April 17: It’s Raining Books
April 18: Dan’s Sci-fi & Fantasy Blog & A Wonderful World of Words

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