Devouring Fortune

The high-stakes bargains of The Unspoken Name meets the lush, gothic weirdness of classic fantasy by Tanith Lee in this unsettling and twisting queer dark science fantasy, about a ruthless fortune weaver and an ambitious cave priestess, who enter into cursed bargains.

A bargain with a fortune beast guarantees luck, but the price is a future devoured.

Reed’s luck has run out. After causing the deaths of his fellow fortune weavers, he spends twelve years searching for atonement. His luck turns when he finally finds what he desires: a fortune beast who can teach him to fix his mistake.

But all knowledge comes at a cost.

The ancient beast offers him a bargain: the power he needs to weave a fortune construct that can resurrect the dead. In return, all he must do is listen to the story of Daryifel the Eighty-Seventh.

Intrigued, Reed agrees. Yet he quickly realizes that Daryifel’s story is no simple tale, and he finds himself trapped to the fortune beast’s bidding. Attempting to protect the future by unweaving the errors of the past, Reed must face a dangerous truth:

A bargain with a fortune beast cannot be so easily broken.

“Evoking the spirit of late-'90s epic fantasy and the weight of consequence found in Dune, Devouring Fortune is a compelling reminder of just how expansive the genre can be." - Seth Haddon, Author of Volatile Memory and Reforged

"Easily the best book I’ve read this year, trad or indie...a character-driven dark science fantasy standalone that absolutely breathes its world." - Angela Boord, Author of SPFBO5 Finalist Fortune's Fool

"Craw weaves a treat for readers who love unreliable narrators and unexpected reveals that keep everyone guessing until the last page." - Ladz, Author of The Cradle of Eternal Night

Stats: ~118k words | dark science fantasy | queer | dual POV | dual timeline | gothic atmosphere