Long ago, before the end of the gods, cursed crystal fragments lay hidden about the world. These objects were imbued with immeasurable power, yet to use one plagued the bearer with a heinous blight. Facing an empire's fleet of warships against his village's fishing boats, Jelani had no choice but to tap into the powerful and vicious Gods’ Glass. The reward for his heroism was stoneskin, which slowly consumes the body with stiff welts of rock. To all who know it—brewmasters and scholars alike—it’s a death sentence. Jelani knows it's only a matter of time before the stone devours him, and with it, his mind and sanity, leaving him nothing more than a raging beast. But there is rumor of a cure, a potion that can keep the plague at bay, though it comes with a price heavier than gold… Delve into this prequel novella to By Sea & Sky, a pirate fantasy inspired by East African and Arabian myth and folklore. An Esowon Story

The sickness was severe… …and there was one known potion that could save him. Was piracy the only chance they had? Zala wasn’t skilled with a sword. She wasn’t blessed with magic. But she knew the Sapphire Seas well. Plundering and raiding was an art of its own, and she got by on her wits. Yet she was running out of time. She needed the big score to save her husband. What was her next move? Before she even knew it… …the game changed. High above them, off the coast of the Ibabi Isles, a strange airship was headed their way. Zala had never seen anything like it. The battle was imminent. And she was going to need more than her bag of tricks. You’ll love this adventure inspired by the West Indies, The Swahili Coast, and Arabia, because Zala will encounter ruthless raiders, arrogant aristocrats, and imperial secrets. It will keep you turning the pages.

A pirate crew in shambles. A military officer on the rise. And a city of ruin and silk. While Zala and her band of marauders set their eyes on the imperial capital, Karim of the Vaaji Empire finds himself in a new position of power. Each has opposing motivation revolving around the same individual: Jelani, Zala’s husband and Karim’s prisoner. A man who has the key to an unlimited fuel source for the empire’s new airship. Zala’s wants nothing more than to free her husband from the clutches of the empire. But Karim must extract information from the man at all cost. If either of them fails, it would be the end of them—Zala’s life bond, and Karim’s military career. But little do either of them know there’s another plot brewing behind their backs. And it involves a certain airship. Delve into this pirate fantasy inspired by the West Indies, The Swahili Coast, and Arabia, where Zala and Karim will face off against callous marauders and loathsome imperials. An Esowon Story