Book excerpt: Within the secret tunnels of the Nirangi Order, a machine whirs to life, reaching into the unknown to glimpse the Abyss—a fiery realm awaiting the souls of the impure. But when young scientist Sujan peers through its lens, he uncovers something unexpected… and all too real. Sujan’s discovery shakes his faith and puts him at odds with Madam Viragat, the Order’s fearsome leader, who leverages an unsettling video of the realm to instill dread and obedience in her followers. Bound by his oath to truth, Sujan knows he must expose her lie. But standing against the Order is dangerous. When he finally speaks out, Viragat brings him to trial before the entire congregation, determined to make an example of him and cut the mark of Nirangi from his flesh. As Sujan faces his darkest hour, a portal rips open beside him, drawing him into a blinding unknown and sending him on a journey beyond his world—and his fears. The Loveliest Abyss in the Universe is a gripping tale of courage, deception, and the relentless search for truth that can upend an entire world.