Nightmares and Divine Intrusions

Grand Duchess Zofiya, sister to Emperor Kaleva, is tormented by nightmares of death and betrayal. Her faith in the goddess Hatipai, mocked by the court, becomes her anchor. One night, she is lured by mysterious bells and visions into a hidden chamber beneath the city, where she encounters a radiant, pitiless angel claiming to be Hatipai's messenger. The angel demands Zofiya's help to enter the world, promising to destroy Raed, the Young Pretender, for the sake of the Empire. Torn between awe and suspicion, Zofiya tests the angel's knowledge and, convinced, releases it. The encounter leaves her shaken, exultant, and bound to a divine mission that will ripple through the fate of nations.

Ghosts, Bonds, and Warnings

Deacons Sorcha Faris and Merrick Chambers, partners in the Order of the Eye and the Fist, are called to investigate a haunting. What begins as a routine exorcism escalates into a violent confrontation with a nest of spectyrs—vengeful spirits. Amid the chaos, Sorcha receives a chilling vision from a familiar geist, Nynnia, warning that Raed is destined for a deadly trap. The Bond between Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed—formed in past battles—resonates with urgency. Despite political obstacles and the Order's suspicion, the Deacons resolve to defy their superiors and journey south to save Raed, even as the supernatural tide rises and their own relationships fray.

The Pretender's Quest

Raed Syndar Rossin, the exiled heir to the Empire, finds brief camaraderie among his ship's crew before Captain Tangyre Greene arrives with dire news: his sister Fraine has been kidnapped. The Rossin curse—his family's legacy of being host to a powerful geistlord—means Fraine's life is in grave danger. Raed's sense of duty and guilt compels him to act. Joined by loyal friends, he hatches a plan to infiltrate the Empire, rescue his sister, and strike at the heart of the slaver trade. The journey is fraught with risk, but Raed's resolve is steeled by the knowledge that his family's fate, and perhaps the world's, hangs in the balance.

Orders, Marriages, and Manipulations

Sorcha and Merrick navigate the treacherous politics of the Order, complicated by Sorcha's dissolving marriage to her former partner Kolya. The Arch Abbot, eager to be rid of them, assigns the Deacons to escort a Chiomese delegation home—a mission that conveniently aligns with their secret goal to find Raed. Meanwhile, the Emperor's court is abuzz with marriage negotiations, and Zofiya's faith and influence grow. The Deacons' journey south is shadowed by warnings from the Otherside, and the specter of ancient, forbidden Orders manipulating events from the shadows. The stage is set for a collision of faith, power, and destiny.

Angel of Blood and Faith

Hatipai, newly freed, seeks to regain her strength by preying on the faithful. She descends upon a devout family, consuming their bodies and souls to fashion herself a new, beautiful form. Her actions are merciless, her gratitude to her worshippers a cruel mockery. Meanwhile, Raed and his crew attack a slaver ship, freeing its captives and setting the stage for their covert entry into Chioma. The world's old evils—slavery, faith twisted to violence, and the predations of the Otherside—intertwine, as mortals and immortals alike are drawn into a web of sacrifice and vengeance.

Slavers, Rescues, and Divisions

Raed's successful raid on the slaver ship Sweet Moon is bittersweet; he must send his loyal first mate Aachon and most of his crew away for their safety, keeping only a handful for the perilous journey upriver. Tangyre, steadfast and fierce, remains by his side. In Vermillion, Sorcha and Merrick prepare to leave, their partnership strained by unresolved feelings and the ever-present threat of Kolya. The Deacons' mission is complicated by the presence of a mysterious badge—evidence of the ancient Native Order—and the growing sense that their journey is part of a larger, more dangerous game.

Omens in the Sky

Aboard the Imperial Dirigible, Sorcha and Merrick travel with the Chiomese delegation, their path marked by omens and unease. Merrick's Sight reveals a vision of five stars—symbols of the forbidden Native Order—falling from the sky, and a shadowy figure calling him "Brother." The captain, Vyra Revele, hints at political dangers lurking in Chioma, where poisons and intrigue are as potent as faith. The Deacons' bond is tested by dreams, portents, and the knowledge that the Otherside's influence is growing stronger as they approach the Hive City.

River Battles and Ancient Foes

Sailing upriver, Raed is attacked by a woman of impossible beauty—Hatipai in a stolen body. Her assault nearly drowns him, forcing Raed to call upon the Rossin, the geistlord within. In a brutal underwater battle, the Rossin and Hatipai clash, each seeking to devour the other's power. The Rossin prevails, but at a cost: his hunger for blood and chaos is rekindled, and the fragile balance between host and geistlord is threatened. The ancient enmity between these supernatural beings is reignited, and the fate of mortals becomes collateral in their war.

Arrival in the Hive City

Sorcha and Merrick arrive in Orinthal, the Hive City, greeted by local Deacons Delie and Jey. The city's unique architecture and vibrant markets mask a growing unease: geist activity is rising, and the palace itself is no longer safe. The Chiomese Order, distinct in its yellow cloaks and alignment with Hatipai, offers hospitality but little comfort. A funeral reveals the gathering of geists on the distant hills—a sign of impending disaster. The Deacons sense that their mission is entangled with forces far older and more dangerous than they imagined.

Shadows and Secrets

Merrick, drawn by mysterious whispers in the Abbey library, discovers a hidden cache of books from the Native Order, revealing that the ancient sect once harnessed geists for their own ends. The knowledge is chilling, hinting at a legacy of manipulation and betrayal. Meanwhile, Raed, after surviving Hatipai's attack, arrives in Orinthal under the guise of a slaver. He learns that his sister Fraine has been taken into the Prince's harem, and that a murderer stalks the city—one whose killings are ritualistic and tied to the Otherside. The threads of past and present conspiracies tighten around all the protagonists.

Murder in the Palace

A brutal double murder in the palace garden shocks the court. Sorcha, Raed, and Merrick investigate, following a trail of blood and supernatural clues into the palace's forgotten tunnels. The evidence points to a killer with access to both the harem and forbidden magic. The Deacons' bond is tested as Merrick is swallowed by the Otherside during a cave-in, leaving Sorcha and Raed to face the dangers alone. The palace becomes a labyrinth of suspicion, as faith, politics, and the supernatural collide in deadly fashion.

Reunion and Revelations

Sorcha and Raed, separated by duty and danger, are reunited in the palace. Their passion flares, but so do the consequences of their bond. Merrick, lost in the Otherside, encounters Nynnia, who reveals the truth about the Ancients—the Ehtia—and the origins of the geists. He learns that the Native Order still exists, manipulating events to their own ends. In the palace, Sorcha and Raed's investigation leads them to the Prince, who reveals his own secrets: he is the immortal son of Hatipai, cursed to rule and never love. The convergence of personal and cosmic destinies becomes inescapable.

Lost in the Otherside

Trapped in the Otherside, Merrick is guided by Nynnia through visions of the past. He witnesses the fall of the Ehtia, the Ancients who unleashed the Otherside upon the world through their hubris and mastery of weirstones. Merrick learns that the Prince of Chioma is immortal, bound to Hatipai, and that the Native Order seeks to control geists for power. The knowledge is both a gift and a curse, as Merrick is forced to choose between returning to his partner or saving his mother, now a pawn in the Native Order's schemes.

Sacrifice and Betrayal

Raed is captured and betrayed by those closest to him—his sister Fraine and Captain Tangyre—who have allied with Zofiya and Hatipai. The plan is to sacrifice Raed and the Rossin to empower Hatipai and secure Fraine's claim to the throne. Raed's crew is executed before his eyes, and he is prepared for ritual slaughter. Meanwhile, Sorcha and Onika, the Prince, race to the Temple of Hatipai, armed with prophecy and desperate hope. The lines between love, loyalty, and vengeance blur as the final confrontation approaches.

The Goddess Ascends

In the Temple, Hatipai prepares to consume Raed and the Rossin, using the faith and blood of her followers to manifest fully. Onika attempts to fulfill a prophecy and kill his mother, but is betrayed and slain, his power stolen. Sorcha, armed with a temporary immortality granted by Onika, confronts Hatipai in a battle of wills and runes. She uses the spectyrs—vengeful spirits of Hatipai's betrayed followers—to turn the goddess's own power against her. The struggle is brutal, and Sorcha is pushed beyond her limits, risking her mind and soul to save Raed and the world.

The Final Confrontation

Freed by Zofiya, Raed transforms into the Rossin and battles Hatipai in her monstrous form. The clash of geistlords is cataclysmic, tearing through the Temple and the gathered faithful. With Sorcha's intervention, the spectyrs drag Hatipai back to the Otherside, stripping her of divinity and leaving her vulnerable. The Rossin devours what remains, ending the threat but leaving devastation in his wake. Sorcha, her mind and body shattered by the ordeal, collapses, her fate uncertain. The survivors are left to reckon with the cost of victory and the scars of betrayal.

Aftermath and New Beginnings

The Temple lies in ruins, the faithful scattered, and the power of Hatipai broken. Merrick, reunited with his mother and the wounded Sorcha, must bring her back to the Mother Abbey for healing. Raed, devastated by loss and guilt, refuses to join them, choosing exile and solitude. Zofiya, forever changed by her possession and the revelation of her own strength, returns to Vermillion with new purpose. The Prince's death leaves Chioma in turmoil, but hope lingers in the promise of new heirs and the resilience of those who survived. The Deacons, scarred but unbroken, prepare to face whatever new threats the future may hold.

Characters

Sorcha Faris

Sorcha is a powerful Active in the Order of the Eye and the Fist, renowned for her courage, stubbornness, and biting wit. Her marriage to Kolya is crumbling, replaced by a deep, complicated bond with her Sensitive partner, Merrick. Sorcha's psyche is marked by loss, guilt, and a relentless drive to protect others, even at her own expense. Her connection to Raed is passionate and fraught, blurring the lines between duty and desire. Throughout the story, Sorcha's willingness to defy authority and risk everything for those she loves is both her greatest strength and her most dangerous vulnerability. Her journey is one of sacrifice, self-discovery, and the high cost of heroism.

Merrick Chambers

Merrick is a Sensitive Deacon, gifted with Sight and a deep empathy that often leaves him vulnerable. His partnership with Sorcha is unusually strong, bordering on the supernatural, and is complicated by his hidden heritage as the son of Japhne and the immortal Prince Onika. Merrick's psyche is shaped by childhood trauma, the loss of his father to a geist, and the burden of forbidden knowledge. His journey through the Otherside and encounters with Nynnia reveal the truth about the Ancients and the dangers of unchecked power. Merrick's wild talent, a source of both fear and hope, becomes crucial in the final battle. His arc is one of growth, as he learns to balance duty, love, and the acceptance of his own extraordinary nature.

Raed Syndar Rossin

Raed is the exiled Young Pretender, host to the Rossin geistlord—a legacy that brings both power and torment. Driven by loyalty to his family and crew, Raed is constantly at war with himself, struggling to control the Beast within. His relationships are marked by loss and betrayal, particularly with his sister Fraine and his lover Sorcha. Raed's journey is one of sacrifice, as he faces the consequences of his lineage and the machinations of gods and mortals alike. His transformation into the Rossin is both a curse and a weapon, and his ultimate act of violence against Hatipai is as much an act of survival as it is of vengeance. Raed's arc is tragic, defined by love, loss, and the hope for redemption.

Zofiya Nobylchuin

Zofiya, the Emperor's sister, is a woman of fierce faith and martial prowess. Her devotion to Hatipai sets her apart in a court that scorns the old gods. Chosen as the vessel for Hatipai's return, Zofiya is both empowered and consumed by the goddess's will. Her actions, driven by visions and divine commands, have far-reaching consequences for the Empire and her own soul. Zofiya's arc is one of awakening—she is forced to confront the limits of faith, the dangers of blind obedience, and the strength she possesses independent of any deity. Her journey is both a cautionary tale and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Hatipai

Hatipai is an ancient geistlord who masquerades as a goddess, feeding on the faith and flesh of mortals. Her hunger is insatiable, her beauty a mask for predatory cruelty. Hatipai's manipulation of Zofiya and the faithful of Chioma is both calculated and merciless. She seeks to destroy the Rossin, consume her rivals, and establish herself as the sole divinity. Her relationship with her son Onika is twisted, defined by control and sacrifice. Hatipai embodies the dangers of unchecked power and the seductive allure of belief. Her defeat is both a personal and cosmic reckoning, as the spectyrs of her betrayed followers turn her own power against her.

Onika, Prince of Chioma

Onika is the enigmatic ruler of Chioma, forever masked and forever alone. As the immortal son of Hatipai, he is both a focus for her power and her greatest adversary. Onika's love for Japhne and his longing for an heir are sources of both hope and vulnerability. His alliance with the Deacons and his ultimate sacrifice in the Temple are acts of defiance against his mother's tyranny. Onika's arc is one of tragic heroism, as he chooses the good of his people over his own happiness, and in doing so, helps to break the cycle of divine predation.

Fraine Rossin

Fraine, Raed's younger sister, is kidnapped and manipulated by those seeking to control the Rossin curse. Her transformation from victim to antagonist is fueled by grief, anger, and the influence of Tangyre and Zofiya. Fraine's betrayal of Raed is both personal and political, a reflection of the deep wounds inflicted by their family's legacy. Her arc is one of tragedy, as she becomes a tool in the hands of gods and mortals alike, her agency subsumed by the machinations of others.

Tangyre Greene

Tangyre is Raed's steadfast ally, a captain of skill and integrity. Her loyalty is tested as she becomes entangled in the schemes to sacrifice Raed and empower Fraine. Tangyre's actions are driven by a complex mix of duty, affection, and desperation. Her betrayal is a wound that cuts deeply, both for Raed and for herself. Tangyre's arc is one of regret and the high cost of divided loyalties.

Merrick's Mother (Japhne)

Japhne is a woman of strength and resilience, cast out by her family and forced to navigate the treacherous politics of Da Nanth and Chioma. Her love for Merrick and her unborn child is fierce, and she becomes a key figure in the struggle against Hatipai. Japhne's hidden Ehtia blood and her ability to calm magic are crucial in saving Merrick and ensuring the survival of Chioma's future. Her arc is one of endurance, sacrifice, and the quiet power of maternal love.

The Rossin (Geistlord)

The Rossin is the geistlord bound to Raed's bloodline, a creature of hunger, pride, and cunning. Unlike Hatipai, the Rossin survives by merging with mortals, becoming both curse and protector. His rivalry with Hatipai is ancient and bitter, and his willingness to ally with mortals is both pragmatic and self-serving. The Rossin's arc is one of adaptation, as he learns to navigate a world where faith, magic, and technology collide.

Plot Devices

The Bond (Triple Bond)

The Bond between Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed is a unique magical link that allows them to share power, emotions, and even thoughts. It is both a blessing and a curse, amplifying their abilities but also exposing them to each other's pain and trauma. The Bond is central to the narrative structure, enabling the protagonists to act in concert against overwhelming odds, but also making them susceptible to manipulation and loss. It serves as a metaphor for the interconnectedness of fate, love, and duty, and is the key to both victory and sacrifice.

The Otherside and Geists

The Otherside is a realm of spirits, geists, and ancient power, accessible through runes, weirstones, and wild talent. It is both a source of knowledge and a place of unspeakable danger. The geists—ranging from harmless shades to monstrous geistlords—are both antagonists and reflections of human fears and desires. The Otherside's influence is felt throughout the narrative, shaping events, granting visions, and threatening to consume the world. Its rules are mutable, its dangers ever-present, and its secrets central to the unfolding mystery.

Faith, Prophecy, and Betrayal

Faith is both weapon and weakness in the world of Spectyr. Hatipai's manipulation of belief, the use of prophecy to control and betray, and the ever-present threat of apostasy and heresy drive much of the plot. Characters are forced to confront the limits of faith, the dangers of blind obedience, and the cost of betrayal—both personal and political. Prophecies are revealed as tools of manipulation, and the true power lies in the choices characters make when confronted with the collapse of certainty.

The Native Order and Ancient Technology

The discovery of the Native Order's survival and their mastery of geists and weirstones adds a layer of intrigue and danger. Their willingness to use forbidden magic and technology for power is a warning about the dangers of unchecked ambition. The legacy of the Ehtia—the Ancients—serves as both inspiration and cautionary tale, reminding the protagonists that the past is never truly dead, and that the consequences of old sins can shape the present.

Narrative Structure and Foreshadowing

The novel employs a multi-perspective narrative, shifting between Sorcha, Merrick, Raed, Zofiya, and others. Visions, dreams, and supernatural warnings foreshadow key events, building tension and deepening the sense of inevitability. The structure mirrors the interconnectedness of the characters' fates, and the echoes of past betrayals and sacrifices reverberate through the present. The use of prophecy, visions, and the Bond creates a sense of both predestination and agency, as characters struggle to shape their own destinies.

Analysis

Spectyr is a richly layered fantasy that explores the collision of faith, power, and the supernatural in a world haunted by the legacy of ancient sins. At its heart, the novel interrogates the nature of belief—how it can inspire, corrupt, and destroy. The characters are driven by love, duty, and the scars of the past, forced to navigate a landscape where gods are geists, prophecies are traps, and the line between hero and monster is perilously thin. The Bond between Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed serves as both a literal and metaphorical connection, highlighting the importance of trust, sacrifice, and the willingness to face darkness together. The novel warns against the dangers of blind faith and the seductive allure of power, embodied in Hatipai's ruthless manipulation and the Native Order's hubris. Yet it also celebrates resilience, the possibility of redemption, and the enduring strength of human connection. In a world where the past is never truly buried and the Otherside is always near, Spectyr asks what it means to choose hope over despair, and to fight for a future that is not written in prophecy, but forged in the crucible of choice.

Last updated: January 16, 2026