Smoke Over Vermillion

Vermillion, once the heart of the Empire, is now a haunted ruin. The barrier between the living and the Otherside is thin, and the city is stalked by geists and geistlords. The Fensena, a coyote-shaped geistlord, prowls the streets, observing the devastation and the Emperor's descent into madness. Bounties are posted for Sorcha Faris, the outlawed leader of the shattered Order. The Fensena's mission is to retrieve the Rossin's pelt, a key to the fate of both geist and human realms. The city's decay mirrors the unraveling of the world, as the Emperor abandons his people and the supernatural threat grows. The stage is set for a confrontation that will decide the fate of Arkaym.

Runes and Ruins

Sorcha Faris, once a powerful Deacon, struggles with the loss of her Gauntlets and the runes now carved into her flesh. The Order is shattered, its survivors hiding in a remote citadel. Sorcha and her partner, Sensitive Merrick Chambers, are haunted by trauma and the weight of leadership. When geists breach their sanctuary, Sorcha and Merrick must defend the remnants of the Order, discovering that the rules of the world have changed—geists can now kill, and the veil is thinner than ever. The attack is a warning: the Otherside is coming, and the Order must adapt or perish.

The Beast Within

Raed Syndar Rossin, host to the Rossin geistlord, flees the citadel to prevent the Beast from slaughtering his allies. The Rossin's hunger for freedom and blood is growing, and Raed's control is slipping. The Fensena delivers the Rossin's pelt, a symbol of lost power and a potential key to the Beast's release. Raed's struggle is both internal and external, as he fears what the Rossin might do to those he loves, especially Sorcha. The Beast's presence is a constant reminder of the thin line between humanity and monstrosity.

Bonds of the Broken

Zofiya, the Grand Duchess and Merrick's lover, receives news that forces her to leave the citadel and confront her brother, the Emperor. Her departure is bittersweet, marked by love and duty. The Order's survivors form a fragile council, debating their next move. Sorcha is urged to take up leadership, but the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future loom large. The bonds between characters—romantic, platonic, and mystical—are strained as each faces personal and collective trials.

Emperor Unleashed

Emperor Kaleva, driven by paranoia and the manipulations of Derodak, unleashes a terrible weapon on the city of Sousah. Using a machine powered by weirstones, he brings geists down upon his own people, demonstrating his willingness to sacrifice anything for control. His Empress, Ezefia, is a prisoner, both physically and emotionally. The Emperor's actions accelerate the collapse of the Empire, as cities fall and the populace is left defenseless against the supernatural onslaught.

Council in Exile

The surviving Deacons convene a council in the ruined citadel, debating their identity and future. Sorcha proposes abandoning the old Order's name, recognizing that clinging to the past will not save them. Merrick forms a Conclave of Sensitives, seeking answers in the runes and the future. The Patternmaker, a madman with the power to restore runes, becomes both a resource and a threat. The council's decisions set the stage for a new kind of resistance against the Otherside.

Lovers in Shadow

Raed and Sorcha's relationship deepens as they confront their vulnerabilities. Raed confesses the Rossin's growing influence, and Sorcha admits to hearing the Wrayth's whispers. Their intimacy is a refuge, but also a reminder of what they stand to lose. The Bond between Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed is fraying, threatened by the changes in their powers and the encroaching darkness. Love becomes both a source of strength and a potential weakness.

Patternmaker's Bargain

Sorcha visits the Patternmaker, seeking answers about her runes and the Wrayth's influence. She learns that she is a product of the Wrayth's breeding program, intended as a weapon to bind geists to a hive mind. The Patternmaker reveals himself as a geistlord, a survivor who chose individuality over the hive. Sorcha's sense of self is shaken, but she resolves to use her unique heritage to fight for humanity, even as the Wrayth's whispers grow louder.

Conclave of Sight

Merrick leads a Conclave of Sensitives, using the runes to peer into possible futures. He sees visions of Sorcha as both savior and destroyer, haunted by the possibility that she could become the Harbinger of the end. The Conclave's power is immense but dangerous, threatening to overwhelm Merrick's sense of self. The future is uncertain, and the choices made now will determine whether the world is saved or doomed.

Traitor in the Walls

Raed, guided by the Rossin's senses, discovers a hidden traitor sabotaging the citadel's defenses. The traitor's actions allowed geists to breach their sanctuary, and the threat of betrayal hangs over the Order. Raed's confrontation with the saboteur is brutal, and the Rossin's bloodlust is barely contained. The incident underscores the fragility of trust and the ever-present danger from both within and without.

Blood and Betrayal

Zofiya returns to Vermillion, seizing the palace and confronting her brother. The city is in ruins, and the palace is a battleground. Kaleva, consumed by paranoia, murders his Empress and ultimately takes his own life. Zofiya is forced to accept the crown, becoming Empress in a moment of blood and sorrow. Her ascension is both a victory and a tragedy, marking the end of one era and the uncertain beginning of another.

Empress Ascending

As Empress, Zofiya must unite the fractured Empire and prepare for the coming storm. She forges alliances with the Deacons and the remnants of the military, determined to protect her people. The palace becomes a symbol of both loss and hope, as Zofiya balances grief for her brother with the responsibilities of leadership. Her reign begins in blood, but she is resolved to be a different kind of ruler.

Gathering the Enlightened

Sorcha, Merrick, and their allies gather survivors and train new Deacons, forming the Enlightened. The movement spreads, offering hope to the beleaguered populace. The Patternmaker's knowledge and the weirstones become crucial tools. The Enlightened are tested in battle, proving their worth and forging a new identity. The stage is set for a final confrontation with Derodak and the Circle of Stars.

The Harbinger's Stand

In the ruined city of Waikein, Sorcha leads the Enlightened in a dramatic exorcism of geists, inspiring hope across the Empire. Her powers, drawn from both human and geist heritage, make her a figure of awe and fear. The title of Harbinger is thrust upon her, and she embraces it, determined to lead humanity's last stand. The victory is hard-won, but the cost is high, as Sorcha's connection to the Wrayth deepens.

Wrayth's Whisper

The Wrayth's influence grows, whispering promises and threats. Sorcha is captured and subjected to Derodak's experiments, forced to channel her powers for his ends. The Bond with Merrick is tested to its limits, as he must decide whether to save her or stop her if she becomes a conduit for the Otherside. The struggle between individuality and the hive mind becomes the central conflict, with Sorcha's fate hanging in the balance.

The Lost Prince

Raed is captured by the Circle of Stars, his blood needed for Derodak's ritual to open the breach. The Rossin's power is suppressed, and Raed faces his ancestor's manipulations. The Circle's true plan is revealed: to use both Sorcha and Raed as conduits for the Maker of Ways. Raed's struggle is both personal and cosmic, as he must choose between survival and sacrifice.

The Breach Opens

Derodak's ritual tears open the breach between worlds. The Maker of Ways, a monstrous geistlord, begins to enter the human realm. Sorcha, Raed, and Merrick are drawn together in a desperate attempt to stop the apocalypse. The Rossin, freed from his bonds, joins the fight. The city of Vermillion becomes the battleground for the soul of the world, as geists pour through the breach and the Enlightened make their last stand.

The Living Beast

In a moment of transcendence, Sorcha, Raed, Merrick, and the Rossin merge their essences, becoming the Living Beast—a being of both human and geist power. Together, they confront the Maker of Ways, channeling the collective will of humanity to push back the Otherside. The battle is fierce and costly, but the Living Beast's sacrifice seals the breach, saving the world at the expense of their powers and connections.

Sacrifice and Severance

The aftermath of the battle leaves Sorcha stripped of her runes and the Bond with Merrick and Raed severed. The Rossin is freed, no longer a geistlord but a creature of this world. Derodak is slain, and the Circle of Stars is broken. The cost of victory is high—loss, trauma, and the end of an era. Yet, in the silence that follows, there is the promise of renewal and the hope that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated.

New Dawn, Old Scars

In the wake of the apocalypse, the survivors gather to rebuild. Merrick becomes Arch Abbot of the new Order, the Enlightened, dedicated to remembering the past and forging a better future. Sorcha and Raed set sail, seeking peace and healing beyond the scars of war. Zofiya rules as Empress, determined to lead with compassion and wisdom. The world is changed, but hope endures, carried by those who remember what was lost and what was saved.

Characters

Sorcha Faris

Sorcha is the heart of the story—a powerful Deacon marked by trauma, loss, and a unique heritage as the child of the Wrayth's breeding program. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she grapples with the burden of leadership, the loss of her Order, and the seductive whispers of the Wrayth. Sorcha's relationships with Merrick and Raed ground her, but also expose her vulnerabilities. Her arc is defined by sacrifice: she becomes the Harbinger, channeling both human and geist power to save the world, only to lose her runes and mystical connections. Sorcha's struggle is deeply psychological, embodying the tension between individuality and the collective, freedom and fate. Her ultimate choice—to sever her power for the greater good—cements her as a tragic, heroic figure.

Merrick Chambers

Merrick is Sorcha's partner, a Sensitive whose powers of Sight and Center are both a gift and a curse. He is the emotional and strategic anchor of the group, providing stability amid chaos. Merrick's journey is one of growth: from a reluctant, self-doubting novice to the Arch Abbot of the Enlightened. His love for Zofiya and his Bond with Sorcha are sources of strength and pain. Merrick's wild talent, inherited from the Ehtia, allows him to see deeper than most, but also isolates him. His greatest test comes when he must use the Final Rune to sever Sorcha's power, sacrificing their connection to save the world. Merrick's arc explores the cost of leadership, the burden of foresight, and the necessity of letting go.

Raed Syndar Rossin

Raed is the last of the Rossin line, host to the Rossin geistlord. His internal struggle with the Beast mirrors the external conflict between humanity and the Otherside. Raed's love for Sorcha and loyalty to his friends drive him to acts of courage and self-sacrifice. His bloodline makes him a target for Derodak's schemes, and his eventual acceptance of the Rossin's nature is both a liberation and a loss. Raed's arc is one of reconciliation—with his past, his curse, and his place in the world. By the end, he chooses freedom and love over power, setting sail with Sorcha into an uncertain but hopeful future.

Zofiya (Empress Zofiya)

Zofiya begins as the Grand Duchess, a skilled leader and Merrick's lover. Her journey is marked by duty, sacrifice, and the pain of losing her brother, Emperor Kaleva, to madness. Forced to take the throne, Zofiya becomes Empress in a moment of blood and necessity. Her reign is defined by compassion, pragmatism, and a commitment to rebuilding the Empire. Zofiya's relationship with Merrick is a source of solace, but her true strength lies in her ability to make hard choices for the greater good. She embodies the theme of leadership as both privilege and burden.

The Rossin

The Rossin is both a curse and a protector, bound to the bloodline of the Rossins. His desire for freedom drives much of the plot, as he manipulates, aids, and ultimately merges with the protagonists. The Rossin's arc is one of transformation: from a bloodthirsty predator to a being capable of self-sacrifice and, finally, to a creature freed from geistlord constraints. His relationship with Raed is complex, blending antagonism, dependence, and eventual respect. The Rossin symbolizes the struggle between instinct and reason, chaos and order.

The Fensena

The Fensena, often in the form of a coyote, is a survivor and manipulator, serving his own interests while occasionally aiding the protagonists. His knowledge of the Otherside and the runes makes him a valuable, if untrustworthy, resource. The Fensena's motivations are pragmatic—he seeks to avoid annihilation and secure a place in the new order. His interactions with Sorcha and Merrick are marked by wit, cunning, and a grudging respect. The Fensena represents the ambiguous morality of the supernatural, neither wholly evil nor good.

Derodak

Derodak is the primary antagonist, the first Emperor and Deacon, and the mastermind behind the Circle of Stars. His centuries-long schemes aim to harness the power of the geists and the Otherside, regardless of the cost. Derodak's psychological profile is one of arrogance, detachment, and a god complex—he sees himself as the rightful ruler of both human and geist realms. His downfall comes from underestimating the resilience and unity of his adversaries. Derodak embodies the dangers of unchecked ambition and the hubris of believing oneself above consequence.

The Patternmaker

The Patternmaker is a mysterious figure, capable of restoring runes and manipulating the fabric of reality. His true nature as a geistlord who chose individuality over the hive mind makes him both a threat and an asset. The Patternmaker's madness is both genuine and strategic, allowing him to survive in a world hostile to his kind. His relationship with Sorcha is fraught, as he reveals uncomfortable truths about her origins and the nature of the runes. The Patternmaker symbolizes the thin line between creation and destruction, sanity and madness.

Emperor Kaleva

Kaleva's descent into madness is both personal and political. Manipulated by Derodak and betrayed by those closest to him, he becomes a tool of destruction, unleashing geists on his own people. Kaleva's arc is one of tragedy—his good intentions twisted into horror, his reign ending in blood and suicide. He represents the vulnerability of power and the ease with which it can be corrupted.

The Wrayth

The Wrayth is both a literal and metaphorical antagonist, representing the loss of individuality and the seductive allure of collective power. Its breeding program created Sorcha, intending her as a weapon to bind all geists. The Wrayth's whispers haunt Sorcha, tempting her to surrender her will. It embodies the psychological struggle between self and other, freedom and submission.

Plot Devices

The Runes and Foci

The runes—magical symbols granting Sight and Dominion—are central to the narrative. Initially wielded through physical foci (Gauntlets, Strops), their destruction forces the Deacons to carve runes into their flesh, symbolizing both empowerment and loss. The runes are a double-edged sword: they grant the ability to fight geists but also expose the user to contamination and the risk of becoming a conduit for the Otherside. The evolution of the runes mirrors the characters' psychological journeys, from reliance on external tools to internal strength and, ultimately, the necessity of sacrifice.

The Bond

The Bond between Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed is both a source of power and a vulnerability. It allows for shared Sight, emotion, and even merging of souls, but its weakening signals the fracturing of unity and the approach of catastrophe. The Bond's severance is both a personal and cosmic loss, underscoring the theme that true connection requires both trust and the willingness to let go.

The Otherside and the Breach

The thinning barrier between the human world and the Otherside is the story's ticking clock. The breach is both a literal and symbolic threat—the collapse of order, the return of chaos, and the unleashing of suppressed trauma. The Maker of Ways, as the embodiment of the Otherside's hunger, personifies the ultimate danger of unchecked supernatural power. The breach's opening and closing structure the narrative's climax, forcing characters to confront their deepest fears and make ultimate sacrifices.

Foreshadowing and Prophecy

Merrick's Sight, the Conclave's visions, and the Patternmaker's cryptic warnings all serve to foreshadow key events. The prophecy of the Harbinger, the threat of Sorcha's potential to end the world, and the recurring motif of sacrifice prepare both characters and readers for the story's emotional and narrative crescendos. These devices heighten tension and underscore the inevitability of certain choices, while also leaving room for agency and hope.

Narrative Structure

The novel alternates between multiple points of view—Sorcha, Merrick, Raed, Zofiya, and others—allowing for a rich exploration of psychological depth and thematic resonance. The structure moves from personal struggles to collective action, from exile and survival to confrontation and renewal. Each chapter builds on the last, escalating the stakes until the final, world-altering confrontation.

Analysis

Harbinger is a sweeping, emotionally charged fantasy that explores the collapse and rebirth of both a world and its people. At its core, the novel is about the cost of survival—what must be sacrificed, what must be remembered, and what must be let go. Through the intertwined journeys of Sorcha, Merrick, Raed, and Zofiya, the story interrogates the nature of power, the dangers of unchecked ambition, and the necessity of unity in the face of existential threat. The runes and the Bond serve as metaphors for identity, connection, and the double-edged nature of strength. The Otherside, with its geists and geistlords, represents both external and internal chaos—the traumas and temptations that threaten to consume us. The novel's modern resonance lies in its depiction of fractured institutions, the seduction of authoritarian solutions, and the enduring hope found in community and self-sacrifice. Ultimately, Harbinger argues that true leadership is not about domination, but about service, memory, and the courage to change. The scars of the past cannot be erased, but they can be the foundation for a better future—if we have the wisdom to learn from them and the bravery to act.

Last updated: January 16, 2026