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From September 20-26, 2026, Miller Brook Publications is hosting an online book sale for the one-year anniversary of Jorden Casillas and the Age of Monsters: The Serpent’s Rise.
Published on September 23, 2025, The Serpent’s Rise is author L.M. Sypher’s debut novel. “Jorden’s birthday is Sep. 23. It’s no accident the book was released the same day,” Sypher said in announcing the sale. “I want to do something special every year to celebrate. This is the closest I can get to throwing Jorden a birthday party.”
About the Book
The Serpent’s Rise is a mythological thriller written for readers ages ten and up. Caught between two worlds, Jorden Casillas is a little too monster for the humans, and a little too human for the monsters. Primarily, the story focuses on Mesoamerican mythology, specifically the Aztecs.
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A Researcher’s Perspective
Sypher is a research historian and an illustrator focusing on the anthropology of mythmaking. They partnered with communications professional and cultural editor Andrea Terroba to bring an authentic voice to the project. In addition to the book, Sypher hosts a podcast on their Substack that delves into the mythological basis behind each chapter.
The Montgomery County Connection
Sypher was born and raised in Montgomery County, and, by their own account, still maintains strong ties to the Agricultural Reserve. In fact, you can find them at this year’s Poolesville Day, where they’ll be signing books at their booth by the Post Office.
Poolesville Day runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, at Whalen Commons on Fisher Avenue. Admission is free.
The Sale, and a Free Chapter
The book sale can be accessed at theageofmonsters.com, where the first chapter is already available to read. While the sale only applies to printed copies, the book is also available in ebook and audiobook formats. The audiobook is narrated by Virgil Thornton II.
Image provided by the author.
Full Press Release
Publisher to Commemorate Anniversary
of Acclaimed Middle Grade Novel with Week-Long Sale
Celebrating Jorden Casillas and the Age of Monsters: The Serpent’s Rise
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[ALEXANDRIA, VA] — After its release on Sep. 23, 2025, L.M. Sypher’s debut novel, The Serpent’s Rise, enjoyed critical acclaim. As the first book in the Jorden Casillas and the Age of Monsters series, editorial reviews praised its unique blend of mythologies, memorable characters, and fast-paced plot.
Miller Brook Publications is now announcing a sale to mark the one-year anniversary of the book’s release — just in time for the new school year. From Sep. 20-26, The Serpent’s Rise will be available at a discounted rate through the official Age of Monsters website. Before the sale, readers can enjoy the first chapter of the book free of charge. Visit https://www.theageofmonsters.com/ to learn more.
When asked about the upcoming sale, author L.M. Sypher had this to say: “Jorden’s birthday is Sep. 23. It’s no accident the book was released the same day. I want to do something special every year to celebrate. This is the closest I can get to throwing Jorden a birthday party.”
Jorden Casillas and the Age of Monsters is a mythological thriller series suitable for ages ten and above. It centers a shapeshifter from Mesoamerican mythology with uncanny strength and speed he hasn’t quite learned to control. Jorden Casillas can’t blend in with the humans, nor is he entirely welcome in the secret monster society of Los Angeles. Things take a turn for the worse when Jorden is strong-armed into becoming the apprentice of an unscrupulous smuggler known as The Wax Man. When Jorden is tasked with stealing a necklace that turns out to be a powerful magical artifact, he finds himself at odds with one of the most terrifying monsters in his mythos. In order to survive, he must do the impossible — find a way to bridge the gap between humanity and mythology.
About the Author
L.M. Sypher was born and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland, and maintains strong ties to the Agricultural Reserve. In addition to being an author, they are an illustrator and research historian with an MA in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University. They now reside in Alexandria, Va., with their tabby cat, Copernicus. When not writing, they can be found skulking around historic sites and sampling every coffee shop within a twenty-mile radius.