A Nest Within Briars – a new Oak King Holly King book now on Kickstarter!

If you’ve wished you could collect newsletter and Patreon stories on your physical bookshelf beside Oak King Holly King and Tales from Blackthorn Briar, this is for you!

A Nest Within Briars will be the newest anthology in the Oak King Holly King series. It will collect four stories into a single volume, including…

The Unveiling of Daniel Durst – wherein Daniel shows his true self to his guardian for the first time.
Bruises Bloom in Blackthorn Briar – a bonus scene from Oak King Holly King, taking place between the confrontation at Cemetery Gate and the Summer Solstice Duel.
Bookseller and Bone-Setter – wherein an unfortunate accident forces Hullvardr to reveal certain fae truths to his mortal beloved, Mr Ephraim Grigsby.
Sentiment – wherein the Oak and Holly Kings return to Wren’s ancestral home to retrieve certain articles of a sensitive magical nature.

Our cover artist is Deiridaa (she/her). She has lots of experience with fantasy and romance illustration and will be creating a beautiful cover painting for A Nest Within Briars. Check out more of her work on Instagram, @deiridaa

In addition to ebook and paperback editions of A Nest Within Briars, the Kickstarter will also feature stickers designed by Ace (they/them). They’ve created wonderful couples portraits of Ephraim and Hullvardr, Daniel and Sukie, Nell and Everilda, and soon… Shrike and Wren? Check out more of their work on Instagram, @_art_by_ace_

The Kickstarter campaign will begin March 1st and end on the Vernal Equinox, March 21st. (Fitting for Shrike and Wren as denizens of the fae realms.) Back it on Kickstarter today!

And as always, thank you for reading.

Ch. 9 – Booksellers and Bone Setters – a new Oak King Holly King story on Patreon

The ninth chapter of Booksellers and Bone Setters – a brand new Oak King Holly King tale – is now on Patreon! Wherein a mortal learns fae secrets.

Ephraim knew not what to expect.

The ways of the fae were largely unknown to him, as a mere mortal. (Hull had never called him “mere,” had never once even implied it, but the alliteration sprang to mind nonetheless.) Their customs were a vast dark sea roiling beneath him while he sailed along as a passenger in a splendid ship captained by his Hull. Every so often something new would surface, like the wulpertinger, and Hull would explain it, and Ephraim would marvel at it, and they would sail on, content to explore the unknown together. It never occurred to him to demand to know what lay beneath the surface. He felt secure in his conviction that it posed no danger to him, and if he were unfamiliar with these seas, at the very least his Hull knew how to navigate them.

Now, however, he had glimpsed something gliding beneath their vessel—some looming thing with the sharp edges of fin or fang and unfathomable tendrils trailing behind—and for the first time in all their acquaintance, his Hull seemed reluctant to explain.

Joining me on Patreon will give you access to “drawer fic” – aka the 500k+ words worth of manuscripts that have been shelved until I figure out how to fix or finish them. You’ll also be invited to join an exclusive Discord server just for patrons!

A new chapter will go up every week. Missing (unwritten) scenes will be indicated by brackets describing what would probably happen if the scene were written. Example: [in this scene Aubrey and Lindsey ride a carousel]

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

Completed works…
♡ the Aubrey & Lindsey solar fantasy project (mm)
♡ A Willing Canvas – John Halloway x Lord Cyril Graves (mm)
♡ The Train Job – Rowena Althorp x Rebekah (ff)
♡ Hold Fast 2 – Hold Faster (mm)
♡ Vampires Vampires Vampires (mmm)
♡ The Sebastian Nothwell Contemporary Expanded Universe (mmm+)
♡ Theo. (transmasc historical mm romance)

See you on Patreon!

Ch. 7 – Booksellers and Bone Setters – a new Oak King Holly King story on Patreon

The seventh chapter of Booksellers and Bone Setters – a brand new Oak King Holly King tale – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein Dr. Hitchingham reveals a startling soft spot.

On the second evening after Hull’s injury, Dr. Hitchingham expressed his profound relief at Hull’s absence, that he and his old friend might at last speak freely without curtailing their conversation lest a mere clerk hear more than he ought. As the ensuing conversation deviated not a whit from its usual track, regardless of Hull’s presence or absence, Ephraim set the comment aside on the little shelf in his mind that he reserved for his oldest friend’s oddest remarks.

On the third evening after Hull’s injury, Dr. Hitchingham began their dinner in much the same vein, but as the minutes wore on towards the hour mark, he lapsed into a brooding silence more oft than not. Ephraim, concerned for his friend, discreetly-yet-earnestly enquired after what might trouble him, but Dr. Hitchingham merely sighed and blamed the fog for aggravating his rheumatism. As Ephraim could do very little about the fog or the rheumatism, he endeavoured to brighten the mood with his own chatter, which seemed to alleviate at least a part of his friend’s unease.

On the fourth evening after Hull’s injury, Dr. Hitchingham appeared downright gloomy.

Joining me on Patre♡n will give you access to “drawer fic” – aka the 500k+ words worth of manuscripts that have been shelved until I figure out how to fix or finish them. You’ll also be invited to join an exclusive Discord server just for patrons!

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

See you on Patre♡n!

Ch. 6 – Booksellers and Bone Setters – a new Oak King Holly King story on Patreon

The sixth chapter of Booksellers and Bone Setters – a brand new Oak King Holly King tale – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein Ephraim lavishes Hullvardr in every comfort imaginable.

If Ephraim were not already a lawyer, Hullvardr thought he’d make an excellent nurse.

Per the Holly King’s instruction (at first) and in accordance with his own inclinations (after he’d met Ephraim himself), Hullvardr always arose before Ephraim to perform his valeting duties. As such, Ephraim hadn’t enjoyed the opportunity to show his affection through acts of service.

Until now.

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

See you on Patre♡n!

Ch. 5 – Booksellers and Bone Setters – a new Oak King Holly King story on Patreon

The fifth chapter of Booksellers and Bone Setters – a brand new Oak King Holly King tale – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein Ephraim and Dr. Hitchingham dine.

“No, there is one particular trait both men share that I believe may prove the root of your difficulties. They are bachelors.”

Ephraim studied his friend. “And?”

“A bachelor,” Dr. Hitchingham said, warming to his argument, “is an unfettered creature, and likely to fly off where’er the wind takes him. You have twice now hired bachelor clerks, and both clerks have abandoned the nest. If you want my advice, when you replace Mr. Hull, you would do well to seek out a married clerk. A thoroughly-settled man. Ideally one with a family already established. This will anchor him to London, to Staple Inn, and, ultimately, to your office.”

“John,” said Ephraim. “I am a bachelor.”

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

See you on Patre♡n!