Plot Summary
Lavender and Loss
Enna Rydar lives on the edge of the wildwood, tending her mysting garden and caring for her father, whose mind was broken by a journey into the monster realm to steal a powerful charm—the Telling Stone—to protect her. Her mother was killed by mystings, and Enna's life is shaped by caution, isolation, and a deep knowledge of the supernatural. The Telling Stone, cold against her wrist, warns her of nearby mystings, and her days are spent balancing the mundane with the ever-present threat of the wildwood's monsters. Enna's longing for connection and purpose is shadowed by the trauma of her family's past and the town's suspicion of her strange expertise.
The Gobler's Mark
When a gobler—a rare, vengeful mysting—breaks through Enna's wards and attacks her home, she and her father barely survive. The gobler leaves a dark, magical mark on Enna's arm, a sign that will draw more of its kind. Enna's knowledge from her grandmother's journal helps her take precautions, but the mark is a constant reminder of her vulnerability. The town remains oblivious to the danger, and Enna's isolation deepens as she realizes the threat is not over. Her father's sacrifice for the Telling Stone feels both a blessing and a curse as the mystings close in.
Bargain with a Narval
With another gobler approaching and no human help available, Enna decides to summon a mysting for protection. She draws a summoning circle and calls forth Maekallus, a narval—a trickster mysting with a deadly horn and a reputation for soul-eating. Maekallus is both dangerous and alluring, and he agrees to kill the gobler in exchange for a kiss. Enna, wary of losing her soul, bargains for a lesser price, but the deal is sealed in blood. The bargain binds them together, setting in motion a chain of consequences neither fully understands.
Blood-Sealed Promises
Maekallus hunts and kills one gobler, but a second ambushes him, binding him to the mortal realm with a vuldor-tusk knife. The magic of the bargain links Enna's life to Maekallus's: as he is consumed by the mortal realm's corruption, her wound festers and refuses to heal. Both are trapped—Maekallus in a shrinking cage of pain, Enna in a slow, magical decay. Their fates are entwined, and the only hope is to break the binding spell before both perish. The cost of the bargain becomes clear: survival demands more than either expected.
The Binding's Price
As Maekallus deteriorates, Enna faces an impossible choice: let him die and risk her own life, or give him what he craves—a kiss, and with it, a piece of her soul. Driven by fear and guilt, Enna kisses Maekallus, and the exchange is both agony and relief. Maekallus is healed, but Enna is left diminished, her soul fractured. The wound on her hand closes, but a new wound opens inside her. The partial soul within Maekallus changes him, making him more human, more vulnerable, and more connected to Enna than either intended.
A Soul Divided
Enna's missing soul leaves her cold, fatigued, and emotionally numb. Maekallus, now partially human, is trapped by the gobler's binding and unable to return to his realm. Together, they search for a way to break the spell, seeking help from a rooter mysting and exploring the limits of their new connection. Enna's research leads her to a distant library, but answers are scarce. The bond between her and Maekallus deepens, complicated by longing, resentment, and the ever-present threat of the wildwood's monsters.
The Kiss and the Curse
As Enna and Maekallus grow closer, the line between captor and companion blurs. Each kiss Maekallus takes to survive steals more of Enna's soul, making her weaker and more haunted by nightmares of the monster realm. Maekallus, changed by the soul fragments, becomes less monstrous, more human—and more tormented by guilt. Their relationship is fraught with need, regret, and a desperate hope for freedom. The wildwood becomes both prison and sanctuary as they race against time and the encroaching corruption.
Half a Soul
With only half her soul remaining, Enna is warned by a rooter mysting that she is nearing the point of no return. The only way to break the binding is to kill the gobler who cast it or use the blood of a mystium—a rare mortal-mysting hybrid. As options dwindle, Enna's sense of self erodes, and Maekallus's transformation accelerates. The Will Stone, once a simple charm, reveals its true power: it can bend the will of others, a relic of a mysting warlord. The stakes rise as Scroud, the stone's original owner, begins to search for it.
The Will Stone's Power
The Will Stone's influence becomes clear: it is the petrified heart of Scroud, a powerful orjan mysting who once tried to conquer the mortal realm. The stone's magic compels obedience, and Enna realizes she has unknowingly used it to shape the actions of those around her—including Maekallus. The stone's power is both a weapon and a burden, and its presence draws the attention of Scroud's minions. The threat of another war between realms looms as the wildwood teems with mystings seeking the lost artifact.
The Scholar's Library
Enna's journey to the great library in Caisgard yields little practical help, but she encounters scholars who recognize her expertise. Her knowledge of mystings, once dismissed, is now valuable, but time is running out. The binding spell remains unbroken, and The Will Stone's power grows more dangerous. Enna's longing for acceptance and understanding is overshadowed by the urgency of her predicament. The library becomes a symbol of the world she longs for but cannot reach—a world of learning, belonging, and safety.
The Portal Ring
In the wildwood, a portal ring—a permanent gateway between realms—is discovered, guarded by Scroud's forces. The gobler who bound Maekallus is tracked using a scrying spell, and Enna's will compels the gobler to surrender the vuldor-tusk knife. With the knife in hand, Enna breaks the binding, freeing Maekallus. But the cost is steep: to retrieve her soul, she must follow Maekallus into the monster realm, risking her mind and her life. The boundary between worlds is thinner than ever, and the threat of invasion grows.
The Monster Realm Beckons
Maekallus carries Enna into the monster realm, the Deep, where the immortal waters may restore her soul. The journey is perilous, the landscape alien and hostile. Enna, soulless and empty, is a husk, and Maekallus is torn between his mysting nature and the love awakened by her soul. In a final act of sacrifice, Maekallus uses the immortal waters and The Will Stone to return Enna's soul, pinning it to her body with the tip of his horn. The act severs their bond, leaving Maekallus empty and Enna whole but alone.
The Final Sacrifice
Enna awakens in the mortal realm, her soul intact but her heart shattered. Maekallus is gone, returned to the Deep, his transformation undone. The Will Stone is shattered, its power spent. Enna and her father are forced to flee their home, exiled by the town that once shunned and then feared her. The cost of survival is exile, emptiness, and the memory of a love that transcended the boundaries of worlds. Enna's grief is profound, but she is alive, changed, and forever marked by the horn in her chest.
The Horn and the Heart
In a new town, Enna and her father rebuild their lives. The wildwood is both threat and comfort, a reminder of all that was lost and all that endures. Enna's soul is whole, but her heart aches for Maekallus. The horn embedded in her chest is a constant reminder of their bond. As autumn colors the wildwood, Enna's longing for connection and meaning persists. The lessons of love, sacrifice, and the wildness within are etched into her being, shaping the woman she has become.
The Army at the Gate
Scroud, the orjan warlord, leads an army of mystings to reclaim The Will Stone. Enna, wielding the last of its power, commands the army to leave, banishing them from the mortal realm at great personal cost. The stone shatters, and Enna is left isolated, her power gone, her reputation in ruins. The town turns against her, and she and her father are forced into exile. The threat of war is averted, but the price is loneliness and the loss of home.
The Shattered Stone
In a new home, Enna struggles to heal. The Will Stone is gone, and the world is quieter, but the emptiness inside her remains. The wildwood is both a barrier and a source of solace. Enna's knowledge of mystings, once a source of pride, is now a private comfort. The memory of Maekallus lingers, a wound that will not close. The lessons of the past are written in her journal, a legacy for those who come after.
Exile and Emptiness
Maekallus, changed by his time with Enna, returns to the wildwood, drawn by the memory of love and the echo of a soul. Enna, tending her garden and nursing her wounds, encounters him once more. Their reunion is bittersweet, marked by forgiveness and the recognition that they are both forever changed. The wildness within them is a bond that endures, even as the world moves on. The story ends with hope—a promise that love, once kindled, can survive even the greatest of losses.
The Return of the Wild
Enna and Maekallus, both transformed by their journey, find each other again at the edge of the wildwood. The horn in Enna's chest and the soul in Maekallus's heart are symbols of their shared wildness, their refusal to be tamed by the expectations of either world. Together, they step into a future that is uncertain but alive with possibility, their love a testament to the power of sacrifice, forgiveness, and the will to choose one's own path.
Characters
Enna Rydar
Enna is a young woman marked by loss, intellect, and resilience. Raised on the edge of the wildwood, she is shaped by her mother's death at the hands of mystings and her father's sacrifice to protect her. Enna's deep knowledge of the supernatural is both her shield and her curse, isolating her from the town and binding her to the dangers of the wildwood. Her journey is one of self-discovery, sacrifice, and the search for belonging. Psychoanalytically, Enna is driven by a need for control in a world of chaos, her longing for connection at war with her fear of loss. Her relationship with Maekallus transforms her, forcing her to confront the limits of love, trust, and the self.
Maekallus (the Narval)
Maekallus is a narval, a mysting formed from the blood of a human bastard, known for his deadly horn and soul-consuming kiss. Initially a predator and trickster, Maekallus is changed by his bargain with Enna, the partial soul he absorbs making him more human, more vulnerable, and more capable of love and guilt. His development is a study in transformation: from monster to man, from selfishness to sacrifice. His relationship with Enna is fraught with danger, desire, and redemption. Psychoanalytically, Maekallus embodies the struggle between instinct and conscience, the wild and the tamed, the longing for connection and the fear of annihilation.
Enna's Father (Anchal Rydar)
Once a swordsman and hero, Anchal is now a gentle, forgetful man, his mind damaged by a journey into the monster realm to steal the Telling Stone for his daughter's safety. He is both a symbol of sacrifice and the cost of love, his presence grounding Enna even as his frailty reminds her of all she stands to lose. His relationship with Enna is tender, marked by mutual care and unspoken grief. Psychoanalytically, he represents the wounded masculine, the limits of heroism, and the enduring power of parental love.
Scroud (the Orjan)
Scroud is an orjan mysting, a warlord who once sought to conquer the mortal realm using The Will Stone, his petrified heart. He is a figure of immense power, cruelty, and ambition, his presence a catalyst for the story's central conflict. Scroud's pursuit of The Will Stone drives the plot toward its climax, his army threatening both worlds. Psychoanalytically, he is the shadow, the embodiment of unchecked will and the dangers of power without empathy.
Tennith Lovess
Tennith is a young man from Enna's town, gentle, hardworking, and attentive. He represents the life Enna might have had—safe, ordinary, and human. His affection for Enna is sincere, but he is ultimately unable to reach the wildness within her. Psychoanalytically, Tennith is the archetype of the "good match," the path not taken, and the limits of conventional happiness.
Attaby (the Rooter)
Attaby is a rooter, a docile, tree-like mysting with deep knowledge of magic and the workings of both realms. He aids Enna and Maekallus in their quest to break the binding, offering guidance and warnings. Attaby's presence bridges the gap between worlds, embodying the possibility of cooperation and understanding. Psychoanalytically, he is the wise old man, the mentor, and the voice of caution.
Grapf (the Gobler)
Grapf is the gobler mysting who binds Maekallus to the mortal realm, setting the story's central conflict in motion. Intelligent and relentless, Grapf is both a personal and existential threat to Enna and Maekallus. Psychoanalytically, Grapf is the agent of fate, the inescapable consequence of bargains made and debts unpaid.
Enna's Grandmother
Though deceased, Enna's grandmother's journal and teachings shape the narrative, providing Enna with the knowledge and tools to survive. She represents the power of memory, tradition, and the transmission of wisdom across generations. Psychoanalytically, she is the ancestral guide, the voice of the past, and the foundation of Enna's identity.
Jerred (the Scholar)
Jerred is a scholar who recognizes Enna's expertise and helps her and her father find refuge after their exile. He represents the world of learning, acceptance, and the possibility of a life beyond fear. Psychoanalytically, Jerred is the ally, the witness, and the promise of a future shaped by knowledge rather than superstition.
The Will Stone
The Will Stone is both object and character, its magic shaping the destinies of all who touch it. It is the heart of a god, the source of Scroud's power, and the means by which Enna commands, protects, and ultimately sacrifices. Psychoanalytically, it is the symbol of agency, the double-edged sword of power, and the heart's capacity to both save and destroy.
Plot Devices
The Bargain and the Binding
The narrative is structured around the motif of bargains—deals struck between mortals and mystings, sealed in blood and bound by magic. The initial bargain between Enna and Maekallus sets the plot in motion, its unintended consequences driving the story's emotional and existential stakes. The binding spell, cast by the gobler, is both literal and symbolic: it traps Maekallus in the mortal realm and entwines his fate with Enna's, forcing both to confront the cost of survival and the limits of agency. The device of the bargain explores themes of consent, sacrifice, and the unpredictable nature of magic.
The Will Stone
The Will Stone is the central plot device, its true nature revealed gradually through foreshadowing and research. As the petrified heart of a god, it grants its bearer the power to bend the will of others, but at great personal and cosmic risk. The stone's influence shapes the actions of characters, often without their knowledge, and its presence draws the attention of greater threats. The shattering of the stone marks the climax of the story, symbolizing the end of one era and the beginning of another. The Will Stone embodies the dangers and temptations of power, the burden of responsibility, and the possibility of redemption.
Soul Exchange and Transformation
The device of the soul-exchanging kiss is both a literal and metaphorical engine of the plot. Each kiss Maekallus takes from Enna is a transaction, a sacrifice that changes both parties. The gradual transformation of Maekallus from monster to man, and the erosion and restoration of Enna's soul, are mirrored in the shifting dynamics of their relationship. The device explores the porous boundaries between self and other, the risks of intimacy, and the redemptive power of love. The final act of pinning Enna's soul to her body with Maekallus's horn is a powerful symbol of the enduring connection between them.
Foreshadowing and Cyclical Structure
The narrative is rich with foreshadowing: the story of Enna's mother's death, her father's sacrifice, and the warnings in her grandmother's journal all prefigure the dangers and choices Enna will face. The cyclical structure—beginning and ending at the edge of the wildwood, with bargains, betrayals, and forgiveness—reinforces the themes of recurrence, inheritance, and the possibility of breaking free from old patterns. The story's resolution, with Enna and Maekallus reunited, suggests that while history may repeat, it can also be transformed.
Analysis
The Will and the Wilds is a meditation on the boundaries between self and other, human and monster, love and power. At its heart is the question: what are we willing to give up to survive, to protect those we love, to be whole? The novel interrogates the costs of bargains—both magical and emotional—and the ways in which power, even when wielded for good, can isolate and corrupt. Enna's journey from isolation to connection, from fear to agency, is mirrored in Maekallus's transformation from predator to partner, monster to man. The Will Stone, as both object and metaphor, encapsulates the dangers and possibilities of agency: the power to command, the risk of losing oneself, the hope of forging a new path. The story's ultimate lesson is that love—wild, imperfect, and hard-won—is both the greatest risk and the greatest reward. In a world where the wild is never far from the door, the courage to choose, to forgive, and to embrace the wildness within is the truest form of magic.
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