M. J. Bates · Dark fantasy / supernatural thriller
An Old God Awakens
Some doors should never be opened. When lifelong nightmares begin bleeding into reality, Sebastian must face the ancient power waking beneath the world he knows.
The book
A nightmare with roots older than memory
Sebastian has lived with nightmares his whole life. Then the visions begin to follow him into waking life, pulling him towards a hidden truth buried beneath the city.
Blending ancient mystery, modern London, supernatural tension and character-led discovery, An Old God Awakens begins a story where the past is not finished with the present.
“Some doors should never be opened.”
Amazon reader review
★★★★★
View Amazon review“A thrilling debut fantasy novel, An Old God Awakens delivers a dark and immersive adventure filled with ancient powers, hidden prophecies, and unforgettable characters. M. J. Bates creates a haunting world where forgotten gods stir once more and danger lurks in every shadow.
The story combines fast-paced action with rich world-building, keeping readers invested from beginning to end. What stands out most is the atmosphere—mysterious, epic, and filled with tension. Fans of classic fantasy and dark mythology will find plenty to enjoy. This novel marks M. J. Bates as an exciting new voice in fantasy fiction.”
What awaits within
Ancient power
Symbols, forgotten names, buried forces and a mythology that refuses to stay dead.
Modern London
The Underground, Camden, hidden places and the uneasy feeling that the city knows more than it says.
Personal mystery
Nightmares, memory, identity and the terrifying question of what Sebastian truly is.
The world
Where old names stir and darkness answers
The book moves between the ordinary and the impossible, from quiet domestic moments to strange discoveries, cryptic symbols and a darkness pushing against the edge of reality.
About the author
M. J. Bates
M. J. Bates is a UK author writing fantasy and supernatural thrillers shaped by ancient mystery, psychological tension and modern settings.
His debut novel, An Old God Awakens, is the beginning of a wider story about memory, power and the things humanity was never meant to disturb.
Available formats
Hardback · Paperback · Kindle
Releasing exclusively on Amazon from 25th May 2026.
A warning from the past
An ancient text
Symbols that should have stayed forgotten.
- A message written in a language no one should remember
- Marks that glow as if something beneath them is waking
- A clue to the old power stirring beneath the modern world