The Farthest Reach by Nova Shrike

Core memories allow Kindred to connect to the world's magic, but after the magic reveals it has memories of its own, things get complicated. Jaron is a defunct blacksmith desperate for adventure after a life in the Stagnant, a place so unchanging it doesn't even have weather. After discovering a new source of water, he hatches a plan to find its origins and return a hero. Beyond the mountain range isolating his home, he encounters life changing experiences like the wind, fish, and a woman in the woods. Elza is a Kindred scholar tasked with restoring her ancestral homeland. While she successfully roused the forest from its slumber, things don't follow her meticulous plan. Its memories transform her conjured rain into a torrential storm and it’s spreading. When she collides with Jaron in the aftermath, the two embark on a journey to uncover a way to stop the storm while balancing her measured caution against his impulsive nature. The Farthest Reach is a cozier fantasy that features a sentient magic system linked to core memories, strong family bonds, a central cast over thirty, and LGBTQIA+ representation.

Adult • Diversity Representation • Fantasy/Cozy, Low, Mundane, and Slice of Life • Fantasy

Length: 88,000 words (about 251 pages)

Content Warning: Depictions of the aftermath of an extreme rain event, mild peril