Alyc Helms

1 universe Last reviewed 2026-08-19

Alyc Helms is an American author of fantasy and science fiction, and a graduate of the Clarion West Writers Workshop. She abandoned doctoral studies in anthropology and folklore in favor of pursuing creative fiction, and has worked as a freelance game writer. Helms is best known for The Adventures of Mr. Mystic series from Angry Robot Books, comprising The Dragons of Heaven and its sequel The Conclave of Shadow, which blend superhero and Chinese-mythology-inflected fantasy elements. She describes her fiction as "critical theory fanfic," reflecting a recurring interest in themes of liminality, gender identity, and shapeshifting fox spirits. Her short fiction has appeared in venues including Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Daily Science Fiction, and Crossed Genres. Outside of writing, Helms is involved in corsetry and costuming, performs at Renaissance and Dickens fairs, is active in tabletop and other gaming communities, and is engaged with social justice causes. She maintains an online presence at alychelms.com.

Universe(s)

Books

• The Mask of Mirrors (2021) · Rook & Rose Core Canon
• The Liar's Knot (2022) · Rook & Rose Core Canon
• Labyrinth's Heart (2023) · Rook & Rose Core Canon

Aggregate across all universes

• Total Core Canon books across all universes: 3 books
• Award recognitions across all universes: 0 (None recorded)

← All authors