“Nautical Witch” is a fantasy novel that focuses on both Audry, a Novice Witch with the inability to control her violent casting, and Troll, a humanoid Ghoul who struggles to learn from his environment and others. Crossing paths on Audry’s trek to a Harvest Gathering, their friendship becomes unbreakable, but they are abruptly separated. Never expecting their separation to bother him as much as her, she focuses on fitting in with the other Novices when an attempted assassination of her father leaves her in the care of her estranged uncle. Not accepting this reassignment, Audry openly waits for her chance to track down her pain-in-the-neck of a father. Traveling under duress with her uncle and his Novices, Audry fights dangerous Ghouls, faces betrayal, and learns more about her own alarming powers on her way to fight her father’s battles. Meanwhile, Troll is abducted by a radical group using Ghouls to hunt humans and ignite public unrest, all in the hopes of completely eradicating Ghouls, but when chanced with a way to find Audry again in a world he doesn’t understand, he takes it. He’ll find her regardless of how many times she’s taken from him.

This story explores themes of intelligence, danger, trust, and young love. Content Warning: This story contains child abuse, and violence that may be triggering for some audiences.