The Regressor King
AJ Sherwood
Publication date: February 10th 2026
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Romance
Death, Paradise, and the gods themselves–all rejected for the sake of love.
When King James Kronenscheld dies at the hands of the Demon King, he thinks his suffering is finally over and he can join his Edwin in Paradise. And, hey, at least he’d taken the Demon King with him, right?
But then the gods try to send James to Paradise WITHOUT his Edwin, and that is simply unfathomable. So he does the unthinkable–he turns it down and negotiates for one more chance to fix his mistakes.
Armed with memories and regrets, James regresses to before he was crowned. He is determined to woo the man he lost, even if it means facing down all his previous failures. For Edwin alone will James face Wraths and plagues, court politics, and demon kings. He will avoid the horrors of the crown and attain Paradise for them both.
Failing this time means losing Edwin forever. And that is not an option.
Tags:
Romantasy, High fantasy, M/M romance, inspired heavily by webtoons, calling all passengers: hop on board, this ship is about to sail!, remember to take water and bathroom breaks, don’t start this book at 8pm, time regression, fated love, reluctant ruler, PTSD, hurt/comfort, both characters are near 30, Paradise without Edwin isn’t paradise to James, competence is sexy, so says James, power couple, Edwin finds Prince James very strange, and rightfully so, Victor has climbed to the very top of the shitty life decisions tree and was hitting every branch on the way down, Helena is a BAMF princess, Royce is a pharmacologist but make it medieval, James doesn’t want the throne, no seriously, stop asking him to take it, the gods play favorites, heavy is the crown, James wishes he’d paid better attention to details the first go around, that’s currently biting him, demon portals are a pain, horse lovers unite, Titan is best horse ever, Edwin realizes his Task in this life, Edwin has no problem unaliving James’s ex, buying books is a love language
Tropes: MM Romance, Regression, High Fantasy, Fated Love, Demon King, Reluctant Ruler, Hurt/Comfort
Author Interview with AJ Sherwood
What is your latest book about? Hook, Line, and Murder features retired grade school teachers as amateur sleuths solving the murder of a former student. It is set in a fictional coastal community inspired by Long Island’s North Shore and blends small-town charm, close-knit friendships, and a puzzling mystery - with clean content and a strong sense of family and community.
Taking the story from a concept to a published book is a long and involved process. How does that usually work for you? For me, the story starts with the “Who?” I like character driven stories so it’s important for me to fully flesh out my amateur sleuths. Next is “Who died?” Because that’s where the mystery unfolds. And the plot twists and the red herrings. It’s the relationships between the sleuths and the community, and between the victim and the community, and finally between the sleuths and the victim that make the story wheel turn. Once I have the backbone of the story, then I go ahead with revisions, then polishing and edits. Only then is the story ready to head out into the wild — hopefully with a bit of charm and a few surprises in tow.
Which of your books would you recommend for readers to choose first if they’re new to you and your books? Hook, Line and Murder is my debut cozy mystery, Book 1 of The Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery Series. Book 2 should be out by end of 2026. I also write cozy mystery short stories featuring a retired detective. Readers can get their free copy by visiting my website at https://www.ggcalpo.com
Do you have a favorite personal development or writing book you would recommend? Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. Highly recommend. I use it to check that my beat sheets are on target.
Tell us something fun or interesting about you. I love to travel, especially on a cruise ship. There’s something magical about waking up somewhere new without the fuss of planes, trains, or long car rides. You open the curtains to the window or balcony door of your cabin to take in this new delightful destination – or you gaze into that endless ocean and let the waves soothe you.
What have you learned throughout your writing process? I’ve learned patience. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a very patient person. But writing has taught me not to force a story before it’s ready. To not be afraid of the blank page. To let ideas fully form. Playing with storylines makes all the difference, for me, in whether my characters come alive to readers or if they lie flat on the pages.
What has inspired you to become a writer? I used to make up stories in my head when I was younger, usually when I was doing nothing except look at the sky, waiting to get called in for dinner. When I retired, with nothing to do again, I remembered my stories and thought, why not?
How do you keep your ideas fresh and avoid traveling over
well-worn territory?
Cozy mysteries lean heavily on small-town vibes and
community, but readers still love a good plot twist. I like to take an ordinary
relationship — friend or family — and ask “what if?” then follow that question
from the familiar to the unexpected. Letting those ideas simmer often leads me
to storylines that feel both comforting and fresh.
What trope have you not written yet but want to? I write urban fantasy and have been working on a trilogy for some time. The first book is currently under revision, and the second has a completed first draft. The third and final installment is still at the concept stage.
Do you have a specific writing process? I work intuitively. I let story ideas simmer in my mind. Stew in their juices, so to speak. I let the characters talk, fight, and get into trouble. It’s like waiting for an avocado to ripen. You buy an avocado when it’s rock hard from the store, and it gradually ripens as it sits in a bowl on top of your breakfast table while you wait for that right moment to cut the avocado into slices. Too soon, and it’s inedible. Too late, and it’s brown and mushy. Same thing with a story. I write when the story feels ready, not a moment before.
Do you have a favorite author and/or favorite book? I adore Terry Pratchett who wrote Good Omens with Neil Gaiman, a comedic fantasy about the end of the world, since serialized by Amazon. Pratchett is also famously known for his Discworld series, about a flat world set on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle swimming through the void of the universe. I love his dry wit and humor.
What do you do when you’re not writing? When I’m not writing, I’m usually reading or watching cozy crime shows on TV while crocheting. It’s good to get away into someone else’s world — and I love following the trail of a good whodunit.
Author Bio:
AJ Sherwood believes in happily ever afters, magic, dragons, good men, and dark chocolate. She often dreams at night of delectable men doing sexy things with each other. In between writing multiple books (often at the same time) she pets her cats, plays with her dogs, and attempts insane things like aerial yoga.
She currently resides in Michigan with aforementioned dogs and cats. Being in snow country gives her the excuse to stay inside and watch bl dramas, which suit her perfectly.
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