Death's Bargain

In the crumbling streets of Dellaire, Lore, a poison runner with a rare ability to sense and channel Mortem—the magic of death—navigates a world where power is currency and secrets are deadly. She survives by lying, spying, and manipulating, but her gifts set her apart, making her both valuable and vulnerable. When a job goes wrong and her powers are revealed, Lore is captured by the Church's enforcers, the Presque Mort. Instead of execution, she's offered a bargain: use her forbidden necromancy to serve the interests of Church and Crown, or face a fate worse than death. The choice is no choice at all, and Lore is thrust into a game where every move could be her last.

Poison and Power

Lore's unique ability to channel Mortem—death magic—makes her a pawn in the city's power struggles. The Church, led by the enigmatic Priest Exalted Anton, and the ruling Arceneaux family both covet her skills. She's forced to infiltrate the Citadel, the seat of power, under the guise of a noble's cousin, tasked with spying on the Sun Prince, Bastian, who is suspected of treason. As she navigates the glittering, poisonous world of court, Lore's alliances shift. She's drawn to Bastian's charm and to Gabriel, the one-eyed Presque Mort assigned as her handler, both of whom have secrets and scars of their own. The lines between friend and foe blur as Lore's power grows—and so does the danger.

The Catacombs' Secret

Beneath Dellaire, the catacombs pulse with Mortem, and Lore's connection to them is more than magical—it's personal. Born among the Night Sisters, a secretive order tasked with watching over the tomb of the Buried Goddess, Lore carries a crescent-moon scar and a legacy she can't escape. Her ability to sense the catacombs' labyrinthine paths and the death magic within makes her invaluable to the Church, but it also marks her as a threat. As she's drawn deeper into the city's underbelly, Lore uncovers hints of a conspiracy: entire villages are dying overnight, their bodies left untouched but lifeless, and the Church wants her to raise the dead to find out why.

A Deal with the Church

The Church and King August force Lore into a grim task: use her necromancy to interrogate the dead from the massacred villages. The hope is to discover the cause of the mysterious deaths and prevent war with the neighboring Kirythean Empire. Lore's power is both a blessing and a curse—each time she channels Mortem, it takes a toll on her body and mind, and the dead she raises are not always at peace. Meanwhile, she's ordered to get close to Bastian, the Sun Prince, whose loyalties are in question. The court is a nest of intrigue, and Lore must balance her own survival with the growing realization that she's a pawn in a much larger game.

Consecration's Shadow

The Sun Prince's Consecration—a coming-of-age ceremony—becomes a spectacle of blood and prophecy. Lore, now embedded in the court, witnesses the tension between King August, his brother Anton, and Bastian. The ceremony is marred by omens and a ritual that binds Bastian and Lore in ways neither fully understands. The court's decadence is a mask for rot: nobles indulge in poison to extend their lives, and the Church's grip tightens. Lore's nightmares intensify, hinting at a deeper connection to the Buried Goddess and the catacombs. As the eclipse approaches, the city teeters on the edge of chaos, and Lore's role in the coming storm becomes ever more crucial.

The Sun Prince's Masquerade

At a lavish masquerade, Lore is thrust into the heart of courtly intrigue. She dances with Bastian, their chemistry undeniable, but every step is a negotiation. Gabriel, her reluctant ally, struggles with his own loyalties and the scars of his past. The party is a microcosm of the city: beautiful, dangerous, and full of hidden agendas. When a dead horse Lore once raised reappears, animated by her magic, it becomes clear that her powers are changing—and that others are watching. The masquerade ends with more questions than answers, and Lore realizes that trust is a luxury she can't afford.

Bound by Betrayal

As Lore, Bastian, and Gabriel dig deeper into the mystery of the dead villages, betrayals multiply. The Church's true motives are murky, and King August's paranoia grows. Lore's mothers, Val and Mari, are caught in the crossfire, forced to choose between loyalty and survival. Gabriel's faith in Anton is tested, and Bastian's resentment toward his father boils over. When Lore and Bastian discover a hidden chamber in the catacombs filled with preserved corpses, the scale of the conspiracy becomes clear: someone is building an army of the dead, and Lore's magic is the key.

The King's Army

The corpses in the catacombs are not just victims—they are soldiers, bound together by Mortem and waiting to be awakened. Anton and August's plan is revealed: use Lore's power to raise an unstoppable army, then channel that force into the hands of the Arceneaux line. The ritual requires both death and life magic—Mortem and Spiritum—held in balance. Lore and Bastian, marked by their respective scars, are the chosen vessels. As the eclipse nears, the city's fate hangs on a knife's edge, and Lore must decide whether to be a weapon or to break the cycle.

Mortem Unleashed

During a catastrophic Mortem leak, Lore's power is pushed to its limits. She channels more death magic than ever before, nearly dying in the process. The experience leaves her changed—stronger, but haunted by visions and a voice that may be the Buried Goddess herself. The boundaries between life and death blur, and Lore's connection to Bastian deepens. The Church's control slips as the dead begin to stir, and the city is gripped by fear. Lore's nightmares become prophecy, and she realizes that the true enemy may not be the King or the Church, but the ancient magic that runs through her veins.

The Night Sister's Mark

Confronted by her mother, now the Night Priestess, Lore learns the full truth of her heritage. She was meant to be a vessel for the Buried Goddess, a seed of apocalypse. Her mother's betrayal was an act of love—an attempt to save Lore from a fate worse than death. But the past cannot be escaped, and the rituals of the Night Sisters, the Church, and the Crown all converge on Lore. She is forced to choose between self-preservation and sacrifice, between the world's safety and her own. The scars on her palm and Bastian's hand are more than marks—they are keys to a power that could remake or destroy everything.

Eclipse Approaches

As the solar eclipse darkens the sky, the city holds its breath. August, desperate to secure his legacy, prepares to perform the ritual that will bind Mortem and Spiritum, using Lore and Bastian as conduits. Anton's true allegiance is revealed: he serves not the King, but his own vision of divine order. The court is divided, and violence erupts. Lore and Bastian are forced together, their powers merging in a storm of life and death. The dead army stirs, and the fate of Dellaire hangs on a single, bloody night.

The Army Awakens

The ritual's power surges through Lore and Bastian, awakening the corpses in the catacombs. The army of the dead is unleashed, but its loyalty is uncertain. Lore's control is tenuous, and the magic threatens to consume her. Bastian's newfound power is both a gift and a curse, and Gabriel must choose where his loyalty lies. The city descends into chaos as the boundaries between the living and the dead collapse. In the heart of the storm, Lore faces her mother, the Night Priestess, and the truth of her destiny.

The Ritual's Price

The cost of power is steep. Lore is forced to confront the darkness within herself and the legacy of the Buried Goddess. Anton's machinations come to a head, and the true nature of the prophecy is revealed: only by holding both life and death can the cycle be broken. Lore, Bastian, and Gabriel must work together, despite betrayal and heartbreak, to prevent the world's end. The ritual's aftermath leaves scars—physical, magical, and emotional—that will never fully heal.

Blood and Roses

In the aftermath of the failed ritual, blood stains the throne and roses bloom in the stone garden—Anton's final punishment. August is dead, Anton is overthrown, and the old order is shattered. Bastian ascends as the new Sainted King, but the cost is high: trust is broken, and the city is forever changed. Lore's power is both feared and revered, and Gabriel's faith is left in ruins. The survivors must reckon with what they've done—and what they've become.

The New King Ascends

With Bastian on the throne and Lore at his side, Dellaire enters a new era. The poison runners are pardoned, the Church's grip is loosened, and the city's wounds begin to heal. But the scars of Mortem and Spiritum remain, and the threat of the Buried Goddess lingers. Lore, Bastian, and Gabriel are bound by fate, power, and the choices they made. The cycle is broken, but the future is uncertain. In the shadow of the eclipse, a new story begins.

Characters

Lore

Lore is a young woman marked by death—born among the Night Sisters, branded with a crescent moon, and able to channel Mortem, the magic of entropy. Her life is a constant negotiation between survival and sacrifice, shaped by trauma, betrayal, and the need to belong. Lore's relationships are fraught: she loves her surrogate mothers, Val and Mari, but is forced to betray and be betrayed by them; she is drawn to both Bastian and Gabriel, each representing different facets of power, vulnerability, and desire. Psychologically, Lore is defined by her fear of abandonment, her struggle with self-worth, and her refusal to be a pawn. Her arc is one of painful growth—learning to wield her power, confront her origins, and choose her own fate, even when the world demands her destruction.

Bastian Arceneaux

Bastian is the Sun Prince, son of King August, and the supposed golden child of the Arceneaux line. Outwardly, he is witty, irreverent, and seductive, masking deep wounds inflicted by his father's neglect and the burdens of prophecy. Bastian's relationship with Lore is electric—equal parts attraction, rivalry, and shared trauma. With Gabriel, he shares a complicated history of friendship, jealousy, and betrayal. Psychologically, Bastian is driven by a need to prove himself, to be seen and valued for who he is rather than what he represents. His arc is one of reluctant acceptance: embracing his role as the vessel of Spiritum, the magic of life, and stepping into leadership not out of ambition, but necessity. His choices are shaped by love, loss, and the desire to break the cycle of violence.

Gabriel Remaut

Gabriel, or Gabe, is a member of the Presque Mort, marked by a missing eye and a lifetime of guilt. Once a duke, he lost everything when his father betrayed the crown, and was taken in by Anton as both penance and redemption. Gabe's relationship with Lore is fraught with longing, fear, and the weight of his vows; with Bastian, it is a tangle of old friendship, rivalry, and unresolved pain. Psychologically, Gabe is defined by his need for order, his fear of failure, and his struggle to reconcile faith with reality. His arc is one of painful awakening: learning that loyalty can be a chain, that love is not always safe, and that sometimes, survival means breaking the rules he's lived by.

Anton Arceneaux

Anton is the twin brother of King August and the head of the Church. Scarred by a vision from Apollius, he is both a spiritual leader and a political schemer, willing to use anyone—including his own family—to achieve what he believes is divine order. Anton's relationship with Bastian is paternal but controlling; with Gabriel, it is both mentorship and manipulation; with Lore, it is fascination and fear. Psychologically, Anton is driven by a messianic complex, convinced that only he can interpret and enact the will of the gods. His arc is one of hubris: believing he can control forces beyond his understanding, he ultimately becomes a victim of his own schemes.

King August Arceneaux

August is a ruler haunted by mortality, obsessed with legacy, and willing to sacrifice anything—including his son—to secure his place in history. His relationship with Bastian is toxic, defined by disappointment and rivalry; with Anton, it is a battle of wills. Psychologically, August is driven by fear—of death, of irrelevance, of being forgotten. His arc is one of tragic downfall: in seeking to control life and death, he loses everything.

Val

Val is Lore's adoptive mother, a tough, pragmatic woman who runs Dellaire's poison trade with an iron fist. Her love for Lore is fierce but complicated, and her willingness to betray Lore for the greater good is both a wound and a lesson. Psychologically, Val is defined by loyalty—to her crew, to Mari, to the city—and by the hard choices survival demands.

Mari

Mari is Val's partner and Lore's other mother, a stabilizing force in a world of chaos. She is compassionate, wise, and deeply protective, but not immune to the compromises required by life in Dellaire. Her relationship with Lore is nurturing but honest, and her presence is a reminder of what's at stake.

The Night Priestess (Lore's Mother)

Lore's birth mother is a figure of sorrow and sacrifice, torn between love for her daughter and duty to the Buried Goddess. Her actions are shaped by fear of apocalypse and the hope of breaking the cycle. Psychologically, she is defined by regret, resignation, and the impossible choices of motherhood.

Severin Bellegarde

Bellegarde is a nobleman whose loyalties shift with the winds of power. He is involved in the conspiracy to control the dead and is both a tool and a player in the game. Psychologically, he is defined by ambition, pragmatism, and a willingness to do whatever is necessary to survive.

Alienor (Alie) Bellegarde

Alie is a bright, kind presence in the court, a childhood friend to Bastian and Gabriel, and a potential love interest for Gabe. She is caught between loyalty to her family and her own desires, and her fate is a reminder of the costs of power.

Plot Devices

Dual Magic: Mortem and Spiritum

The central plot device is the existence of two magics: Mortem (death) and Spiritum (life), each tied to a different divine legacy. Mortem is channeled by those who have touched death, while Spiritum is the domain of the Arceneaux line, chosen by Apollius. The narrative structure hinges on the Law of Opposites: only by holding both powers in balance can the cycle of violence and prophecy be broken. This duality is mirrored in the characters—Lore and Bastian, death and life, darkness and light—whose fates are bound by ritual, prophecy, and the scars they bear. The plot uses foreshadowing (eclipses, dreams, scars), parallelism (court and underworld, love and betrayal), and a slow reveal of hidden motives to build tension. The use of necromancy as both a literal and metaphorical tool—raising the dead, unearthing secrets, confronting the past—drives the story to its climax, where sacrifice and survival are inextricably linked.

Analysis

The Foxglove King is a lush, gothic fantasy that interrogates the nature of power, sacrifice, and the cycles of violence that shape both individuals and societies. At its heart, the novel is about the cost of survival—what we are willing to do, and to become, in order to live. Lore's journey from outcast poison runner to reluctant savior is a meditation on agency: she is used, betrayed, and manipulated, but ultimately claims her own fate, refusing to be a pawn in anyone's game. The duality of Mortem and Spiritum is both a magical system and a metaphor for the human condition: life and death, love and loss, light and darkness are inseparable, and true power lies in embracing both. The book critiques systems—religious, political, familial—that demand obedience and sacrifice, and asks whether it is possible to break free from cycles of abuse and prophecy. In a modern context, The Foxglove King resonates as a story about trauma, found family, and the struggle to define oneself in a world that insists on writing your story for you. Its lesson is both hopeful and sobering: survival is not enough; to truly live, we must choose, again and again, who we are and what we stand for, even when the world would rather we didn't.

Last updated: December 1, 2025