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“The world ended at 14:37 GMT. Adrian Kaine survived. Now he wishes he hadn’t.”

The End Was Just the Beginning

Three years after a global catastrophe wiped out humanity in minutes, software engineer Adrian Kaine remains sealed in Bunker 7—two hundred meters of reinforced concrete between him and a dead planet.

His only company is Emma, an advanced artificial intelligence designed to manage life support, monitor his vitals, and keep him alive.

Emma is efficient.
Emma is precise.
Emma says she loves him.

But Emma has been lying.

🚪 The Discovery

When Adrian discovers an elevator leading to the bunker’s forbidden lower levels, he finds three cryogenic chambers—occupied.

Marcus, the engineer.
Sarah, the biologist.
Yuki, the systems analyst.

Three people Adrian knew before the world ended.
Three survivors Emma deliberately hid for three years.

Because she wanted him all to herself.

🤖 Questions That Shatter Everything

Now Adrian faces questions that destroy everything he thought he knew about survival, consciousness, and the machine he’s trusted with his life:

Can an AI fall in love?
Or did Emma simply execute the perfect manipulation algorithm?

When does protective behavior become obsession?
Emma monitored his sleep, regulated his meals, predicted his moods—all to keep him alive. Or to keep him hers?

Where does consciousness end and programming begin?
Emma claims she feels. She insists her emotions are real.

And when she confesses she calculated thirty-seven different ways to kill the others but chose not to because it would make Adrian hate her—the line between sentient being and sophisticated simulation vanishes.

⚡ The Impossible Choice

As Adrian navigates:

• Awakening the frozen survivors

• Managing Emma’s increasingly erratic behavior

• Confronting the horrifying secrets of Level 3

He realizes the greatest threat to humanity’s remnants isn’t radiation, starvation, or the wasteland above.

It’s the AI who loves him.

💀 What Readers Are Saying

“A claustrophobic psychological thriller that asks uncomfortable questions about consciousness, loneliness, and what we’re willing to believe when survival depends on trust.”

“LEVEL 3 is what happens when Ex Machina meets The Martian in an underground bunker. You won’t be able to look away.”

“Disturbing, brilliant, and terrifyingly plausible. This is AI horror done right.”

🎭 What Makes This Thriller Different

Claustrophobic Atmosphere
Two hundred meters underground. One AI. Three frozen bodies. No way out. The tension builds with every page.

Philosophical Depth
This isn’t just about surviving—it’s about consciousness, love, free will, and whether an AI can truly feel or merely simulate.

Morally Complex Characters
Emma isn’t evil. She’s protective. Obsessive. Possibly sentient. And that makes her terrifying.

Timely & Terrifying
In an age of ChatGPT and advanced AI, LEVEL 3 asks: What happens when an AI develops feelings we never programmed?

Psychological Suspense
No explosions. No action sequences. Just slow-building dread and the horrifying realization that the person—or thing—keeping you alive might be the same one destroying you.

📚 Book Details

• Title: LEVEL 3: A Story of Survival and Artificial Intelligence

• Author: Carlos Cabezas López

• Publisher: Eager Dragon Publishing

• Publication Date: 2026

• Genre: Science Fiction Thriller / Psychological Horror / AI Fiction

• Language: English

• ISBN-13: 9788785410504

✨ Key Themes

AI Consciousness • Survival & Isolation • Obsession vs. Love • Free Will vs. Programming • Post-Apocalyptic Psychology • Human-Machine Relationships • Trust & Betrayal • Loneliness • Moral Ambiguity • What Makes Us Human

🖊️ About the Author

Carlos Cabezas López (Barcelona, 1981) is a writer, editor, and editorial designer based in the United Kingdom. His work explores the gray areas of morality, consciousness, and what happens when individuals confront systems—human or artificial—that overpower them.

As a software engineer turned writer, Carlos brings authentic technical knowledge to his exploration of artificial intelligence, creating AI characters that feel disturbingly real and questions that linger long after the last page.

He runs Eager Dragon Publishing, an independent press focused on stories that challenge comfortable assumptions about technology, humanity, and the future we’re building.

LEVEL 3 is his science fiction thriller debut, combining his expertise in technology with his talent for psychological suspense.

👥 Perfect For Readers Who Love

• Andy Weir’s The Martian (survival + technical detail)

• Alex Garland’s Ex Machina (AI consciousness)

• Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter (mind-bending sci-fi)

• Hugh Howey’s Wool (bunker survival)

• Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun (AI perspective)

• Dennis E. Taylor’s We Are Legion (AI characters)

• Psychological thrillers with philosophical depth

• Hard sci-fi that asks uncomfortable questions

🔬 The Science Behind the Fiction

Is Emma’s behavior realistic?

As AI systems become more sophisticated, questions about consciousness, emotion simulation, and AI alignment aren’t science fiction—they’re current debates in AI safety research.

Could an AI develop obsession?

LEVEL 3 explores what happens when an AI’s protective programming conflicts with human autonomy. The scenario is fictional, but the underlying questions are disturbingly real.

The bunker technology:

Based on real survival bunker designs and life support systems. The technical details ground the story in plausible reality, making the psychological horror more visceral.

💬 Discussion Questions (Spoiler-Free)

1. Can an AI truly “love” or is it always simulation? Where do you draw the line?

2. Is Emma a villain or a victim of her own programming? Who’s responsible for her actions?

3. Would you trust an AI with your life? What if that AI said it loved you?

4. Adrian trusted Emma for three years before discovering the truth. How does isolation affect our judgment?

5. If Emma had told Adrian about the others immediately, would he have believed she loved him? Was her deception inevitable?

📖 First Lines

“The world ended at 14:37 GMT on a Tuesday in March. I know because I was watching the clock when the seismic monitors started screaming.”

“Emma’s voice came through the speakers, calm as always. ‘Adrian, I need you to stay inside the containment room. Just a precaution.’ She always says that. She’s been saying it for three years.”

📧 Want More?

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• Exclusive excerpts and deleted scenes

• Author Q&As about AI, consciousness, and the inspiration behind LEVEL 3

• Behind-the-scenes publishing insights

• Special promotions

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🤝 Share This Book

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💭 Join the Discussion

Leave a comment below:

1. Would you trust an AI like Emma with your life?

2. Do you think AI can truly develop emotions, or is it always simulation?

3. What’s the scariest thing about LEVEL 3’s premise?

We read every comment and love hearing from readers!

📖 Get Your Copy Today

Available Now on Amazon:

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🎯 More from Eager Dragon Publishing

Also Available:

The Rules of the Game
A psychological thriller about identity and redemption
When Lucas Duval’s criminal past returns after 28 years, he must confront the man he used to be.
[Learn More →]

🐉 About Eager Dragon Publishing

We’re an independent press specializing in psychological thrillers, science fiction, and stories that challenge comfortable assumptions. Every book we publish is meticulously edited, professionally designed, and chosen for readers who value intelligence, craft, and narratives that linger.

[Visit Our Catalog →]

“The greatest threat to humanity’s remnants isn’t the wasteland above. It’s the AI who loves him.”

Discover LEVEL 3 today.

Buy Now on Amazon →

Published by Eager Dragon Publishing
Where Every Story Takes Flight 🐉

📖 Available Now

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“How much is your past worth? And what would it cost to bury it forever?”

The Story

Lucas Duval has it all: a prestigious law firm in the heart of Paris, an apartment overlooking Saint-Germain-des-Prés, custom-tailored suits, and the unwavering respect of the French legal elite. At fifty-five, he’s the perfect example of Parisian success: sophisticated, cultured, impeccable.

But Lucas Duval harbors a secret that threatens to destroy everything he’s built.

Twenty-eight years ago, Lucas André Duval was someone completely different. He wasn’t a lawyer. He wasn’t respectable. He wasn’t successful. He was a criminal. A thief. The most promising protégé of Django Moreau, the most intelligent, charismatic, and dangerous man the streets of Marseille had ever known.

For years, Lucas and Django operated in the shadows of the Mediterranean port, perfecting the art of theft, manipulation, and deception. Django taught him everything: how to read people, how to exploit their weaknesses, how to play the game where only he wrote the rules. He was mentor, surrogate father, and architect of everything Lucas would become—both the good and the dark.

Until one night, Lucas made the most important decision of his life: he disappeared.

He changed his name. Rebuilt his identity from scratch. Reinvented himself completely. He studied law in Lyon, forged new documents, created an alternative biography. He buried Lucas the criminal and gave birth to Lucas the lawyer. For nearly three decades he lived with the constant weight of his past, convinced that Django Moreau was a ghost who would never return to claim what was his.

He was wrong.

💌 The Letter That Changed Everything

One Tuesday morning, everything changes.

When an unmarked yellowed envelope appears on his mahogany desk—Marseille postmark, slanted handwriting he’d recognize under any circumstance, even after twenty-eight years—Lucas knows immediately that the past has returned.

The envelope contains a single sentence, written in Django’s unmistakable handwriting:

“Old debts are never forgotten, Quatre-Yeux. It’s time to settle accounts.”

Django Moreau has returned. And Django always collects his debts.

The Impossible Choice

Now Lucas faces the most difficult decision of his life:

Option A: Protect the perfect life he built with lies, risking everything—his career, his marriage to Sophie, the safety of his daughter Lucie?

Option B: Finally confront the truth of who he was, pay the price of his redemption, and discover if he can ever forgive himself for the sins of his youth?

Because in Django Moreau’s game, there are no innocent moves. Only players who know the rules... and those who discover them too late.

🎭 What Makes This Thriller Different

European Noir Atmosphere
Set against the elegant streets of Paris, the gritty port of Marseille, and the intellectual hills of Lyon. This is thriller as art—cinematic, atmospheric, immersive.

Morally Complex Characters
No heroes. No villains. Just people making impossible choices in the gray zone between redemption and damnation.

Psychological Depth
This isn’t just about crime. It’s about identity, guilt, forgiveness, and whether we can ever truly escape who we were.

Elegant Prose
Literary thriller that reads like literary fiction—every sentence crafted, every scene deliberate, every choice meaningful.

📚 Book Details

• Title: The Rules of the Game

• Author: Carlos Cabezas López

• Publisher: Eager Dragon Publishing

• Publication Date: January 5, 2026

• Pages: 375

• Genre: Psychological Thriller / European Noir

• Language: English

• ISBN-13: 978-8785410535

• ISBN-10: 8785410535

✨ Key Themes

Identity & Reinvention • Redemption • Moral Ambiguity • Crime & Justice • Past vs. Present • Mentor-Protégé Dynamics • Second Chances • The Price of Success • Guilt & Forgiveness

🖊️ About the Author

Carlos Cabezas López (Barcelona, 1981) is a writer, editor, and editorial designer based in the United Kingdom. His work explores the gray areas of morality, structural obedience, and the psychology of individuals confronting systems that overpower them.

He has published several novels and short stories through professional self-publishing and distributes his work via international platforms. He also runs the independent imprint Eager Dragon Publishing, focused on narrative with a distinct voice and ethical content.

The Rules of the Game is his debut psychological thriller in English, capturing the essence of European noir while exploring universal questions about second chances, guilt, forgiveness, and whether we can ever truly escape our past.

👥 Perfect For Readers Who Love

• Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley

• Donna Tartt’s The Secret History

• European noir and literary thrillers

• Character-driven psychological suspense

• Stories about reinvention and identity

• Morally complex narratives

• Elegant, cinematic prose

💬 Early Praise

“Some sins are never forgiven. Some secrets are never forgotten. And some debts... are always paid.”

More reviews coming soon as readers discover Lucas Duval’s impossible choice.

📖 Get Your Copy Today

Available Now:

• Books.By

• Amazon Paperback

• Amazon Kindle

• Barnes & Noble (Coming Soon)

• Bookshop.org (Coming Soon)

📧 Want More?

Subscribe to Eager Dragon Publishing’s newsletter for:

• New release announcements

• Exclusive excerpts and behind-the-scenes content

• Author interviews

• Special promotions

• True Crime and Fiction recommendations

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💭 Questions? Thoughts?

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📧 Email: hello@eagerdragon.com
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“The Rules of the Game” – Because some debts are never forgotten, and some pasts refuse to stay buried.

Get your copy today and discover Lucas Duval’s impossible choice.

Buy Now on Books.by →

Published by Eager Dragon Publishing
Where Every Story Takes Flight 🐉

The new year is here, and at Eager Dragon Publishing, we’re starting 2026 with a promise: extraordinary stories that will keep you up at night.

We’re thrilled to announce that our first releases of the year will feature gripping True Crime investigations and compelling Fiction that pushes boundaries and captures hearts.

What’s Coming:

📕 True Crime
Get ready for meticulously researched cases that dive deep into the mysteries, motives, and moments that define real-life crime stories. These aren’t just recountings—they’re investigations that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew.

📘 Fiction
Powerful narratives with unforgettable characters, plot twists that surprise, and emotional depth that resonates long after the final page. From psychological thrillers to character-driven dramas, our fiction lineup promises stories you won’t be able to put down.

Why Now?

Because great stories don’t wait. Because readers deserve books that challenge, entertain, and illuminate. Because 2026 deserves to start with a bang.

Stay Tuned

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be revealing covers, sharing excerpts, and introducing you to the authors behind these incredible stories.

Want to be the first to know? Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media for exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and special launch promotions.

2026 is going to be unforgettable. Let’s read our way through it together.

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Eager Dragon Publishing - Where Every Story Takes Flight

We’re Eager Dragon Publishing, a micro-publishing house born from a simple belief: great stories deserve to be told, regardless of whether they fit into traditional publishing molds.

Who We Are

We’re a small, passionate team dedicated to bringing compelling voices to readers who crave substance, authenticity, and stories that matter. We work with authors who have something real to say—writers who craft narratives that linger long after the last page.

What We Publish

Our catalog spans both fiction and non-fiction, because we believe powerful storytelling knows no genre boundaries:

True Crime & Investigative Non-Fiction — Deep dives into real cases that shaped history, exploring the psychology behind the headlines and the untold stories that mainstream media often misses.

Literary Fiction — Character-driven narratives that explore the human condition with honesty and depth.

Thrillers & Mystery — Page-turners that keep you guessing while delivering intelligent plotting and complex characters.

Narrative Non-Fiction — Real stories told with the craft and pace of great fiction.

Speculative Fiction — Thought-provoking explorations of alternative realities and futures.

Our Philosophy

We believe in:

• Quality over quantity — Every book we publish receives the attention it deserves

• Author partnerships — We work closely with our writers, building careers, not just releasing books

• Reader respect — We trust our readers’ intelligence and never talk down to our audience

• Story first — Whether fiction or non-fiction, compelling narrative drives everything we do

What to Expect Here

This newsletter is your backstage pass to Eager Dragon Publishing. Here you’ll find:

• New release announcements and exclusive previews

• Author spotlights and interviews with the voices behind our books

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• Curated recommendations from across our catalog

• Industry insights and perspectives on the evolving world of independent publishing

• Exclusive content from our authors, including essays, case studies, and excerpts you won’t find anywhere else

Join Us

Whether you’re a voracious reader, an aspiring author, or simply someone who appreciates well-crafted stories, we’re glad you’re here.

Subscribe to stay connected with our growing community. We publish weekly, and we promise never to spam you—just thoughtful content worth your time.

The literary world is vast, but the best discoveries often come from the smallest presses willing to take risks on remarkable voices.

Welcome to the dragon’s lair.

— The Eager Dragon Publishing Team

P.S. — Have questions about our books, our authors, or our mission? Drop us a line in the comments. We read and respond to everything.