Thankfully, as an apprentice to the town’s mushroom farmer, Barclay need only work hard and follow the rules to one day become the head mushroom farmer himself. No danger required. But then Barclay accidentally breaks his town’s most sacred rule: never ever EVER stray into the Woods, for within the Woods lurk vicious magical Beasts.
To Barclay’s horror, he faces a fate far worse than being eaten: he unwittingly bonds with a Beast and is run out of town by an angry mob. Determined to break this bond and return home, Barclay journeys to find the mysterious town of Lore Keepers, people who have also bonded with Beasts and share their powers.
But after making new friends, entering a dangerous apprenticeship exam, and even facing the legendary Beast of the Woods, Barclay must make a difficult choice: return to the home and rules he’s always known, or embrace the adventure awaiting him.
List of Novels:
- The Accidental Apprentice (2021)
- The Weeping Tide (2022)
- The Ever Storms (2023)
- The Night Compass (2024)
This novel series provides examples of:
- A Boy and His X: A boy and his Lufthund, a wolf-like Beast with wind lore and the power to summon storms.
- Ambiguously Bi: Barclay obsesses over Fen and Zenzi, repeatedly calling them attractive.
- Bears Are Bad News: Gravaldor, the legendary Beast of the Woods, looks like a building-sized bear. He is usually in a deep slumber, but when he awakens, he goes on a destructive rampage.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: The twins Abel and Ethel act nice and friendly towards Barclay and Viola, but they are actually Soren’s apprentices.
- Got Volunteered: Barclay's bonding with the Lufthund is entirely against his will and forces him to become a Lore Keeper.
- Mons: The Beasts are various magical creatures that can bond with humans, granting them an amount of their powers. There is even a sport specifically for people to duel with their Beasts.
- Noble Wolf: Lufthunds are mythic-class Beasts, resembling large wolves. They are said to be rare and magnificent creatures, possessing the power to summon storms and become one with the wind.
- Our Dragons Are Different: Viola has a baby herbivorous dragon with light lore as her Beast, although there are also many carnivorous dragons in the setting.
- Refusal of the Call: Barclay wants nothing to do with being a Lore Keeper. Fate has other plans.
- Super-Speed: A side effect of Barclay's bond is that he can run REALLY fast.
- Tragic Bigot: Barclay and the other citizens of Dullshire detest Beasts and Lore Keepers, because years ago the Beast Gravaldor devastated the town and killed numerous people, including Barclay’s parents.
