Awakenings — Claudie Arseneault

Innkeep, hunter, blacksmith, nurse—Horace has apprenticed for every clan in the domed city of Trenaze, and they've all rejected em. Too hare-brained. Too talkative. Too slow. Ever the optimist, e has joined Trenaze's guards to be mentored. Horace has high hopes to earn eir place during eir trial at the Great Market. That is, until the glowing shards haunting the world break through the city's protective dome, fused together in a single, monstrous amalgam of Fragments. Armed with a sword, a shield, and far too little training, Horace doubts eir ability to defend the market-goers. But eir last stand is interrupted by a mysterious elven figure who can dissipate the Fragments with a single, strange sentence: your story is my story. From the moment it is uttered, Horace knows the sentences holds true for em, too—and when the elf collapses in the middle of the market, e carries them to safety, to recover away from the panicked crowd and inevitable questions from eir fellow guards. It could cost em eir apprenticeship—eir last chance to find eir place in eir home city—but Horace cannot resist the pull of this mystery elf and the call of a new friend. Aliyah has but one desire: to leave Trenaze's safe boundaries and find the forest that haunts their dreams. After an afternoon of board games in their quiet, sharp-witted company, Horace is ready to follow, confronting Fragments and other dangers of the road to understand what happened that day, hear Aliyah's laugh again and finally feel like e belongs. ----Awakenings is the first of nine novellas in a fantasy adventure blending cozy fantasy vibes and D&D style side-questing, imbued with an aspec-focused queernormative world and strong platonic bonds. ---Praise for AwakeningsAwakenings masterfully combines adventure, coziness, friendship, and board games--all the major food groups! If you've been pining for books that center friendship instead of romance, you're going to want this on the very top of your read list. An absolute delight from start to finish, and I'm stoked as hell that this series is only beginning. - Nicole Kornher-Stace, Author of FirebreakOne of the most heartfelt, engaging and fun series starters I've read in a while. Worldbuilding that's instantly compelling, and a found family to fall in love with as they bond with each other. Count me in for wherever Horace, Aliyah and Rumi's journey takes them next. - Brandon Crilly, IPPY Award-winning author of CatalystNerezia has me hooked and wanting more. With a lively and well-realized world full of colorful and endearing characters, and *several* intriguing mysteries at its core, this queer friendship-focused traveling tale promises to be a fun and emotionally satisfying ride.  - RoAnna Sylver, Author of Chameleon MoonCome for the magical mysteries, stay for the sentient wagon. Awakenings will delight readers of cozy fantasy with its charming characters and whimsical world. For lovers of found family and platonic bonds that transcend tradition, their story is our story. - Rosiee Thor, Author of Fire Becomes Her