R.K. Ashwick – författare

A hand reaching to you from the shadows. Six cards over-turned. Six enchanting queer tales inspired by the magic of tarot. The StarA lighthouse keeper who influences the fate of her people by wrangling misbehaving stars back into place must remedy her own constellation.The HierophantA knight who was disabled in battle gives up on asking the gods for healing and turns to something dark in the woods for help instead.StrengthA warrior is sent to investigate the rumors of a raided village and is forced to face the trauma of his past, and has to battle more than his grief after a terrifying discovery.The ChariotTwo witches vie desperately for a goddess's blessing- but the fortune they seek might be right in front of them.TemperanceA grieving mercenary searches for the tallest mountain to throw himself from, but a mystery and curious folk keep him grounded for a little while longer.The DevilA repressed Victorian finds fleeting release in a fae courtesan's arms until iron chains threaten their growing bond. Explore the forest, meet the fae, pray to the gods, shepherd stars, or fight creatures of myth. An offering for you, if you accept the Outstretched Hand.

A bard and a forest spirit uncover a deadly magical threat…and the key to survival lies within their own forgotten songs. Struggling bard Emry Karic has only one path home: impress the Auric Guild, join its ranks of elite musicians, and return to his family with his honor in hand. Difficult to do on a good day. Impossible to do with a possessed lute. Hours before Emry's big break, an unnatural earthquake strikes, forcing a forest spirit named Aspen to take refuge in his lute. Aspen is loud, talkative...and not leaving anytime soon. Panicked, Emry swears the spirit to silence on stage, in exchange for a favor: he will help investigate the mysterious quake that nearly killed them. But Emry is a bard, not a scholar, and his research leads straight to the person who resents him the most: Cal Breslin, his studious ex-girlfriend. Despite their history, Cal can't pass up the opportunity to study a mythical being. Yet as the trio delves into the forgotten folklore of spirits and gods, they uncover a magical threat—and lingering feelings—looming beneath the surface…

Two potion shops, one heated rivalry…until hate bubbles over into something else. Any adventurer worth their sword knows about Ambrose Beake. The proud, quiet half-elf sells the best, and only, potions in the city—until a handsome new shopkeeper named Eli opens another potion shop across the street, throwing Ambrose's peace and ledgers far off balance. Within weeks, they're locked in a war of price tags and products—Ambrose's expertise against Eli's effortless charm. Toil leads to trouble, the safety gloves come off, and right as their rivalry reaches a boiling point… The mayor commissions them to brew a potion together. The task is as complex as it is lucrative, pushing both men to the limits of their abilities and patience. Yet as the fires burn and cauldrons bubble…they find a different sort of chemistry brewing.

When a bard saved the day, he never expected an encore. After saving their home from a magical disaster, Emry, Cal, and forest spirit Aspen ascend to high society: Emry and Aspen to the illustrious musicians' guild, and Cal to the cutting edge of spirit research. But their new roles send them far beyond the concerts and balls they expected…and deep into a city of dying spirits. In the neighboring city of Matlock, a strange blight has withered their gardens—and the spirits living within. The trio rushes to investigate, whirling into Matlock's social season in search of allies and gossip. Here, Emry frantically navigates the dazzle and decorum to seek information, start his debut…and propose to Cal. But when the glittering chandeliers illuminate more enemies than friends, Emry, Cal, and Aspen must race to stop the blight before it spreads—and the spirits shrivel away for good.

Why steal a potion when you can steal a potioneer? Grumpy potioneer Ambrose Beake has only one social event marked on his calendar: the country's three-day Potion Convention. Alchemists from all over the world pour in to discuss their life's work, and Ambrose eagerly dives into the excitement. Greeting old friends, speaking on panels, hopping into heated debates… And getting kidnapped by an underground crime syndicate. The criminals demand that Ambrose brew an impossible illusion potion—but the Guild's protocol for such kidnappings is clear. He must agree to do the work, then delay the project as much as possible, while above ground, his boyfriend Eli and best friend Dawn plot to save him. They're not alone in this venture, either—a beautiful journalist arrives to cover the rescue, just as eager as they are to investigate, infiltrate…and ignite a few sparks in Dawn's heart along the way. But while Dawn struggles to ignore those sparks and Eli struggles to save his beloved, Ambrose delves into the syndicate's secrets—and finds something far more impossible hidden within its depths.