Building a World That Grew Up With Its Readers: How Desmond Robertson Brings Vaelora to Life in The Burrow and the Blade
For Desmond Robertson, the world of Vaelora didn’t begin as a writing project—it began as a family tradition. Long before it became the setting for his debut novel, The Burrow and the Blade, Vaelora lived in the bedtime stories his mother created for him and his brother. Those stories stayed with him for years, eventually growing into a richly developed fantasy world filled with its own nations, history, politics, and mythology.
Today, Robertson is introducing readers to The Sagas of Vaelora, an epic fantasy series inspired by classics like Redwall, The Lord of the Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia. While the series embraces the charm of anthropomorphic characters, it delivers the depth, complexity, and emotional weight of traditional epic fantasy.
A Story Built on Family Legacy 
Desmond wrote The Burrow and the Blade to preserve something deeply personal.
The world of Vaelora was first imagined by his mother, who entertained her children with stories about courageous rabbits, wise bears, clever mice, and kingdoms locked in conflict. Rather than allowing those stories to remain family memories, Robertson chose to transform them into a fully realized fictional universe that future generations could experience.
For him, publishing the novel was more than completing a book. It was honoring the people who first believed the story was worth telling.
Epic Fantasy Beyond the Familiar
While anthropomorphic fantasy is often associated with children’s literature, Robertson wanted Vaelora to offer something different.
The Burrow and the Blade features political intrigue, theological conflict, war, exile, plague, and betrayal within a world inhabited entirely by animal characters. Every kingdom has its own history, every conflict carries lasting consequences, and every character faces difficult choices that shape the future of the world around them.
His goal was to create a fantasy series that longtime fans of Redwall could grow into rather than grow out of.
A Philosophy Rooted in Character
One quote continues to influence Robertson’s outlook on both life and storytelling:
“I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him.” — Booker T. Washington
For Robertson, the quote serves as a reminder that hatred rarely solves conflict. He believes lasting change begins by confronting the condition of one’s own heart before attempting to change the world around them. That philosophy quietly influences the moral complexity found throughout Vaelora, where characters are challenged not only by external enemies but by the choices they make within themselves.
Inspired by Stories That Never Left
The inspiration behind The Burrow and the Blade has always been personal.
Robertson never forgot the stories his mother shared during childhood. Years later, he began asking what those stories might become if they were given real history, real consequences, and a fully developed world. That question became the foundation of Vaelora.
His hope is that readers who grew up with stories like Redwall and Watership Down will discover a fantasy world that respects them as adults while still capturing the sense of wonder they experienced as children.
Building a World Beyond the Novel
Although The Burrow and the Blade is the first published installment in The Sagas of Vaelora, Robertson has always envisioned the project as something much larger.
He is currently writing the second novel, The Root and the Flame, while also developing an audio drama, The Brightpaw Chronicles graphic novel series, and a professionally produced audiobook. Through his Substack publication, The Vaelora Chronicle, he also shares world-building, artwork, lore, and behind-the-scenes updates that allow readers to continue exploring the universe between releases.
Each new project expands the same interconnected world, giving readers multiple ways to experience Vaelora.
Advice for Aspiring Authors
Robertson encourages new writers to focus on building lasting stories rather than following temporary trends.
He believes readers are drawn to worlds that feel authentic, where history, characters, and cultures exist with purpose beyond the immediate plot. Rather than rushing to publish, he advises authors to take the time to create something fully realized before introducing it to readers.
For Robertson, patience has been one of the most important ingredients in bringing Vaelora to life.
Inside The Burrow and the Blade
The Burrow and the Blade follows a young merchant-prince who leaves the safety of the Burrowlands in search of his missing brother, only to become entangled in a conflict involving rival nations, ancient gods, and a corruption that threatens the future of the world itself.
Blending richly detailed world-building with political intrigue, unforgettable characters, and epic adventure, the novel introduces readers to the first chapter of The Sagas of Vaelora—a fantasy series created for readers who appreciate immersive storytelling, meaningful stakes, and worlds built to endure.
Media Contact
Desmond Robertson
Book: The Burrow and the Blade
Website: www.thesagasofvaelora.com
Email: info@thesagasofvaelora.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574848512948
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagasofvaelora/
