An Original Epic written and illustrated by K. Shiver
BOOK ONE - FAVOR’S GAME
The Sundog.
The most powerful being on the grid - and the last thing Gideon thought he’d be wearing as an undeserved badge of honor.
Born of anomaly-ridden code and childhood abandonment, Gideon fought his way into found family, as well as a promising romance, before falling into the hands of mentors cloaked in false trust and devious intentions.
When their whispers of promised fame and vengeance grew louder than his inner voice, Gideon vanished into the dark web’s most brutal, televised battle arena, Game Over, where only one survivor leaves the pit with unending glory and a hellish reputation marked for eternity.
From protagonist, to villain, to something far stronger, Gideon claws his way toward redemption, no matter how much of himself he has to burn away to get it.
Includes: a slow-burn romance, fierce brotherhood, political pressure-cooker stakes, family fault lines, and a mystery that keeps tightening.
My Sundogs Visual Development Thesis was a gift to myself: two semesters of playful exploration inside the broader Sundogs universe.
This work isn’t strictly canon to the queried manuscript, but it captures the same themes and aesthetics, and it deeply informed the world that the story has become.
“Trick of the Light” is a 6-page comic I did for Gary Barker’s graphic novel semester at Ringling College of Art + Design.
This project was a part of my visual development thesis “Sundogs” where I did preliminary, exploratory artwork for The Sundogs Saga IP and world-building.
While the story-driven themes are similar, a lot of this thesis was loose play and artistic allowance, not necessarily full-canon.
Click ‘more’ to see a short bonus comic from the Favor’s Game prequel: a playful scene from Lash and Mara’s early timeline, back when they were just beginning to fall in love.
It’s a tonal side-glance at the characters, separate from the main manuscript.
I’m currently seeking representation for The Sundogs Saga: Favor’s Game
(Adult science-fantasy, ~115,000 words, complete; standalone with series potential)
I’m also open to cross-media opportunities and collaborations. Agents, editors, publishers, and industry partners are welcome to reach out via my “About Me” page.
© 2026 Kristina Shiver. “The Sundogs Saga - Favor’s Game” all related characters, artwork, lore, and story materials are protected under U.S. copyright law.
All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Unauthorized reproduction or use of these materials is strictly prohibited.