In the Malku universe, fae, merfolk, and humans live together in varying degrees of harmony. Over the millenia, through the use of fae magic, these humanoid groups have inter-married thus creating the faekind (humans with fae ancestry) and webbies (humans with merfolk ancestry.) The story takes place in the land of Hanrisor, whose original inhabitants have lived with foreign sojourners and descendants of slaves. However, the Purists have long seethed under the presence of those they consider of impure blood and the rule of aristocratic faekind. When the Creator, who formerly lived on the planet, disappears, prejudices, and social complications worse.

Rune, a faekind descendant of the air fae on his aristocratic mother’s side, and a descendant of the white Purist Lukov clan, has enough problems navigating his family’s political divide. But his life gets worse when his mother arranges a marriage for him with Guin, a dark-skinned descendants of slaves. But before they meet, a natural disaster ensues and the gathered Purist clans take the opportunity to create anarchy and rebel against the royal family. Can love grow or thrive in a time of rebellion? And will Rune rise up against his father without treading the darksome path?

Author’s Bio

Carole McDonnell writes fiction, non-fiction, poetry and reviews. Her writings appear in many anthologies, including the following anthologies edited by Milton Davis and Charles Saunders, published by MV Media Griots, Steamfunk, Griots: Sisters of the Spear, Dieselfunk, Rococoa, So Long Been Dreaming: Postcolonialism in Science Fiction, edited by Nalo Hopkinson and published by Arsenal Pulp Press; Jigsaw Nation, published by Spyre Books; Fantastic Visions III anthology published by Fantasist Enterprises; Lost Trails: Forgotten Tales of the Weird West, published by Wolfsinger publications, Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology, edited by Milton Davis and Charles Saunders, Life Spices from Seasoned Sistahs: Writings by Mature Women of Color, and Fantastic Stories of the Imagination, edited by Warren Lapine and published by Wilder Publications and many others.

Her reviews appear at various online sites.

Her story collections are Spirit Fruit: Collected Speculative Fiction by Carole McDonnell and Turn Back O Time and other stories of the fae of Malku.

Her novels include, Wind Follower, My Life as an Onion, The Constant Tower, The Daughters of Men, and The Charcoal Bride.

She lives in New York with her husband, two sons, and their pets. When not writing, she teaches English as a Second Language to refugees and migrants or can be found dancing English Country Dances.