The Gray Sheep
The Lochsmith Book I
When enemy ships from Tearn decimate the Maren Navy and lay siege to the vibrant metropolis of Marenburg, a bloody, protracted fight ensues.
Cosette Argant is proudly running her family’s business in a yet untouched part of Marenburg, striving to live as normally as possible despite the curfew and resource rationing. But a riot that spirals out of control brings the violence to her doorstep—her home and shop are burned to the ground, and she is lucky to escape with her life. Injured, bitter, and with all her worldly possessions turned to ash, Cosette becomes determined to reach her ailing father in what is now occupied territory.
While smuggling herself into the embattled Quarter of Sootlund, Cosette is mistaken as a spy and captured by the enemy. As she's exposed to Tearnan soldiers and the realities of the war, though she's forced to question her long-held belief about morality and magic until her entire world view is threatened. With her loyalty to her homeland tested, her father’s time running out, and more than just her own safety on the line, Cosette must choose what is worth risking her life to protect.
Written with the feel of historical fiction but the immersive world-building and intrigue of an epic fantasy, the Lochsmith series is an intimate story of one displaced woman’s experience with war and the impact a single civilian can have on a continent-wide conflict. Perfect for fans of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Guns of the Dawn, S. A. Chakraborty’s City of Brass, or Hannah Kaner's Godkiller.
The first installment in the Lochsmith trilogy, The Gray Sheep, will be released in November 2025. Sign up for my newsletter or follow me on Instagram for pre-order and release event details.
Other Stories Set in the World of the Winding Clock
Other novel and series-length stories are well-formulated in the imaginative ether of the Winding Clock, but on paper they are still an array of disconnected scenes, outlines, and evolving notes. They're simmering, the lids of a couple of their pots even bouncing and singing, but they’re not ready to be taken on yet—the Lochsmith series still requires my mostly full attention.