About the book
Hiding the loss of the magic he was raised to wield, Tarem gives up his future as a shaman to compete for chiefdom by delivering the goddess of Life to the god of Death—but an accidental bond ties him to her protector, the supposed demon, Ephrela, and falling for her could cost him his place among the people he hoped to lead.
Development
The high-level plot is complete, with 67 numbered scene handoffs plus a prologue and epilogue. Detailed outlining develops how those scenes unfold before manuscript drafting begins.
Prologue & Act I
- Ideating — complete
- Planning — complete
- Outlining — active
- Drafting — goal start: — future
- Editing — future
- Querying — goal start: — future
11 scene cards completed since the October 18 update.
Setting
At the dawn of settled agriculture, mountain tribes farm, hunt, and tend herds through the growing season, then follow the herds downriver for winter. Tarem’s people leave their crag village at Aik for shared settlements such as Ökollis, where mountain and coastal tribes meet, and questions of belonging and rule are becoming harder to ignore. Nearby lie Wodë: taboo ruins whose dangers can follow you home. Gods live close enough to bargain with, and worship sustains their immortality.
Plot
Raised to become his tribe’s shaman, Tarem hides the loss of the magic he was trained to wield. He gives up that future for a chance at chiefdom: deliver Zoethra, the goddess of Life, to Akrinor, the god of Death. Standing in his way is Ephrela, feared as a human-eating demon. But she needs an ally to keep Zoethra safe; he is determined to prove he can succeed without help. An accidental magical bond ties them together. As enemies grow closer, winning the contest means endangering the woman he is learning to love—and choosing her could cost him his place among the people he hoped to lead.
Cast
AITarem
Raised to become his tribe’s shaman, Tarem gives up that future to compete for chiefdom while hiding the loss of his familiar magic. He wants to prove he can succeed without help. But the supposed demon protecting his quarry becomes the woman whose safety could cost him the place he hopes to earn.
AIThava
A young Hauda woman whose choice can determine the tribe’s next chief. She and Tarem have history, but his expected future as shaman has kept them apart. She knows how much the tribe needs him in that role—and his determination to pursue her does little to ease her concern about what he might abandon.
AIHadrik
A rival for Tarem in the Hauda contest for chiefdom. A confident and accomplished hunter, Hadrik respects Tarem’s reputation and welcomes a worthy challenge. He values strength and the freedom he believes it brings.
AIEphrela
Feared as a human-eating demon, Ephrela wants to keep Zoethra safe from Akrinor. She needs an ally, and the man sent after Life might be useful—if she can win his love without returning it. Her plan for protection brings her closer to someone whose ambitions threaten the person she is determined to save.
AIAkrinor
The god of Death wants Zoethra captive, though she regards him as an enemy. Ephrela stands between him and Life, and he needs mortal agents to act where he cannot. He offers Tarem chiefdom while making humanity’s final goodbyes a bargain for the devotion that keeps him immortal.
AIZoethra
The goddess of Life wants more worshippers: their devotion means greater security and power. But Akrinor wants her captive. Timid and reliant on Ephrela’s protection, she repeatedly asks whether it is safe—and hides when the answer is no.
AIElenari
A wandering scholar, Elenari seeks gods willing to bless her garments and a better understanding of magic. Tarem refuses her request to join him, but she follows anyway. Her curiosity about the Athema can outweigh even the chance of another blessing.