Three things make me think yes: 1) The recurring image of crows in chapter 7 mirrors Ember's signature motif 2) That weird grammatical quirk where they omit articles in emotional scenes 3) The way coffee is always described as 'bitter' even when characters add sugar - just like in 'Letters to No One'. Case closed.
Man, what a rabbit hole this question sent me down! I've been deep in the indie lit scene for years, and 'I'm Leaving This Time' has always been one of those mysterious titles that pops up in underground forums. After tracking down its original self-published run from 2017, comparing writing styles with Ember's known works like 'Ashes in the Attic', and even finding that deleted tweet where they hinted at a 'secret project' that matches the timeline... I'm 90% convinced it's them. The way the protagonist's inner monologue spirals in chapter 3 is textbook Ember - that specific blend of poetic rage and vulnerability they do better than anyone.
What's fascinating is how this fits into their evolution as a writer. If you read 'I'm Leaving This Time' right after their debut 'The Quiet Burn', you can see the seeds of what would later blossom in 'Cinder Letters'. That raw, almost uncomfortable intimacy with the reader, the way mundane objects become emotional landmines... Nobody does it quite like Ember. Though I do wish they'd claim authorship properly - this book deserves to be part of their official canon.
From a copyright records perspective (spent way too many late nights digging through these), the paper trail gets murky. The ISBN for 'I'm Leaving This Time' traces back to a now-defunct micro-press called Hinterland Editions, which operated out of Portland between 2016-2018. Ember was living there during exactly that period, according to their old Patreon posts. The metadata in the ebook version has some interesting quirks too - the creator tag uses the same unusual formatting that appears in Ember's confirmed early works.
What really convinced me was finding the original cover artist's portfolio online. Their style is unmistakable, and they've done all of Ember's later covers. The color palette, that distinctive way they render hands... It's too perfect to be coincidence. Still, part of me hopes the mystery never gets fully solved - there's something delicious about not knowing for sure.
2026-06-23 06:20:34
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After their biological son returned, my parents sent me away to Exile Island. Once one set foot on that island, one would become prey for the wealthy. Yet, they ignored my pleas, allowing those rich men who arrived on the island to take turns tormenting me.
In just a few days, photos of what I had suffered on the island were sent straight to my fiancée, the heiress of an elite family from the capital. She didn’t speak up for me. Instead, she turned around and publicly announced her engagement to the true heir.
During an interview, someone asked her about me. Her whole body trembled with anger as she snapped, “Him? I never expected he’d turn out like that, running wild overseas, sleeping around like some kind of degenerate. It’s disgusting.”
My parents put on a show of heartbreak.
“We sent him abroad to study out of kindness. Who knew he’d behave so disgracefully? From now on, the Yule family has no such son.”
After I was tortured to death on that island by those so-called rich people, my fiancée and the true heir held a wedding worth tens of millions. It was broadcast live across the internet, drawing unprecedented attention.
However, even more spectacular than their wedding was the wedding gift I had sent them.
The supernatural world has been at war with the rogue King, Soren, for ten bloody years. He has amassed an army of wolves, vampires and witches called the Mystics that leave bodies everywhere in their wake. His group of elemental warriors are known as the Realm Assassins, which he uses on special occasions.
Recently, Soren has been on the hunt for something more powerful than what he already has in his arsenal, to keep as his queen. What will he find?
Killian is the werewolf Alpha to the Nightshade Pack deep in the south of Terra Aasveig. While he is out looking for covens and other packs to ally himself with to face the war ahead of them, he finds something he isn’t expecting. He is taken by surprise when he finds his mate is part of the Timber Coven he is trying to make connections with, but she's no witch.
Ember is a powerful fire elemental that helps guard a coven of witches that she has lived with her entire life. She not only has the ability of fire manipulation but can also do basic magic. With her leadership ability, she is set out to be the next high priestess of the Timber Coven. That is until she finds her soulmate right next to her in a battle against a small unit of Mystics that King Soren has sent.
Let's go on this adventure together, as we learn that Ember holds a secret that will bring about the death of hundreds but will also save thousands more.
After losing the love of her life, Kelanar is arrested for attempted murder and ends up having to serve her punishment at the guard tower.
Elsewhere, Kelanar's lost love Hector becomes a vampire against his will. Now, he must learn to be a vampire and work for the very man who ruined his life.
Time is running out for Lord Skorn, King of Ember City, as he searches for a cure to the blood curse laid upon him by his late brother with his dying breath. A war is coming and to win, he will need the loyalty of his strongest vampires to build an unstoppable army.
Join the citizens of Ember City as they navigate through unexpected trials, fighting their inner demons and falling for the enemy.
The Kingdom of Ember is about to change and it's anyone's guess who will emerge the victor.
Ember is a human orphan taken in by a pack after her father’s murder. She is the god daughter of the alpha, but not everyone is happy to have her there. When someone she thought a friend does something stupid and blames her for it, she is banished from the pack and sent to an Elite werewolf academy as a scholarship student. The Academy is the catalyst for the chaos that is her life to be exposed to everyone, including herself and she is forced to think on her feet as secrets and history is suddenly exposed.
**This is the sequel to University of Love. It can be read as a stand alone book. **
Ember has grown up believing she had no wolf, magic or dragon. Her twin, Ash, on the other hand has had it all.
Deciding it best to transfer to a human high school, she ends up meeting her mate, a hybrid just like her. Her mate brings out her dormant wolf, causing Ember's life to unravel. She thought she would be happier once she got her wolf, instead her life has only gotten more complicated.
Having been decieved before, Ember has a hard time accepting the mate bond. Can she overcome her past to find happiness with her mate?
What happens when a siren comes into play? Can she stay the course and accept her mate?
***********************
I went to grab the microscope from the center of the table at the same time Toni did. Our hands touched and my head started to ring loudly... a terrible headache brewed. Where his hand touched mine felt like fireworks had gone off. My hairs stood on my arms, goosebumps ran through me.
I grabbed my head from all the ringing. It was so loud and strong. I squeezed at my temples, wincing at the pain.
"Mate." Toni's wolf said so silently, I almost didn't hear it.
I started getting dizzy, my head was spinning, and my vision was tunneling. Can I have a mate? I don't even have a wolf. Shouldn't he be with someone with someone that does?
"Ember?" His voice rang in my ear, but it was too late. I was falling out of my chair, passing out. I felt him catch me before I hit the floor, his touch sent fireworks through me, before the darkness took me.
Ember’s world shattered the moment she was ripped from her family—her mom, her brother—and sold to Alpha Thorne, the man who killed her father.
Thrown into a harsh world full of pack politics and dangerous secrets, Ember’s only goal is to survive. But everything changes the day she meets Thorne. Their bond is electric, messy, and impossible to ignore, even if neither of them wants it.
Alpha Thorne is tough and ruthless, but beneath all that is a man carrying his own scars and a fierce loyalty to his pack. Ember doesn’t trust him, and she sure as hell won’t bow to him.
With rival Alphas scheming, betrayals waiting around every corner, and loved ones caught in the middle, Ember is forced to make a choice: protect the family she’s trying to rebuild, or give in to the one man she swore she’d never trust.
Packed with loyalty, sacrifice, and a passion hotter than any war, this story is about survival, love, and finding where you truly belong—even when everything’s against you.
And in the end, the biggest war Ember will face… is the one between love and revenge.
*This book starts in first person, then shifts to third person from Chapter 7 on — opening up the world to reveal complex characters and their goals.
Oh, 'I’m Leaving This Time' is such a gem! I stumbled upon it while browsing through indie novels last year, and it immediately hooked me with its raw emotional depth. The author is Kim Bo-young, a South Korean writer known for blending sci-fi elements with profound philosophical questions. Her work often feels like a puzzle—each page reveals another layer, making you pause and reflect.
What’s fascinating about Kim Bo-young is how she weaves personal struggles into cosmic scales. 'I’m Leaving This Time' isn’t just about departure; it’s about the weight of existence and the choices we make. If you enjoy authors like Ted Chiang or Ursula K. Le Guin, her style will resonate deeply. I still find myself revisiting certain passages when I need a thought-provoking escape.
I stumbled upon 'I'm Leaving This Time' by Ember last year, and it immediately caught my attention with its unique blend of emotional depth and raw energy. At first glance, it feels like a contemporary romance—there's this aching, bittersweet vibe between the main characters that hooks you right away. But as you dig deeper, the story layers in elements of psychological drama, especially with how it explores the protagonist's internal struggles and past traumas. The way Ember writes makes you feel like you're peeling back layers of an onion, each chapter revealing something new and unexpected.
What really sets it apart, though, is how it dances between genres. There are moments that lean into slice-of-life realism, especially in the quieter scenes where characters just talk about mundane things, and then suddenly it shifts into almost poetic introspection. I’ve seen some readers debate whether it’s more literary fiction with romantic elements or vice versa, but honestly, I think that ambiguity is part of its charm. It refuses to be boxed in, and that’s what makes it so memorable to me.
Man, tracking down 'I'm Leaving This Time' by Ember was such a quest for me last year! I stumbled across it first on Book Depository before they shut down—total heartbreak. Now, I usually check indie bookstores online like Powell’s or Strand, but this one’s tricky. eBay sometimes has rare copies, though prices can get wild. I’d also recommend hitting up AbeBooks; it’s like a treasure hunt for out-of-print stuff.
If you’re into digital, Scribd might’ve snuck it into their rotation, and I’ve heard whispers about it popping up on Audible as an audiobook. Ember’s got a cult following, so fan forums or even Reddit’s r/books might have leads. Last resort? Try emailing small presses that specialize in poetic collections—someone might know a secret stash.