I welcome you to this journey, dear wanderer.

You could say that Kahropa is my child of passion. I began weaving this tale almost six years ago, when I was but a teenage black metal musician composing songs of landscapes, dream-worlds, and tragedies. Fantasy and science fiction have always been my vessels of escape from bitter reality, and more importantly, the tools through which I found the inspiration to create.

One day, while writing for my project Erancnoir, a thought took hold: “What if I write a novel and use these songs as its soundtrack?” Thus, a childhood dream began to be realised. I had already fashioned a rich lore in my mind: a faraway land embraced by ancient mountain ranges, existing for millennia. This is the story of a forlorn Princess who traverses that ancient soil to redeem both herself and humankind from certain doom.

I finished the initial manuscript in 2020, during the pandemic, in my mother tongue, Persian; hence the clear echoes of Iranian culture and history within the mythos. What you hold now is both a translation and a rewriting of that first vision. Kahropa is my most ambitious project to date, not only for its scale but also for its place within a grander work I have tilled for years: the epic metal album Kahropa, which I released under my musical moniker, Erancnoir.

It is a dark fantasy set in the Apaxtari realms, a winterbound land beneath the looming peaks of Apaxtaran. Within these pages, you will find tales of oppression, hope, and sacrifice. I have included links to the accompanying album, should you wish to hear the musical equivalent of this journey.

You can purchase the book on Amazon as e-book or paperback.