Aberterrene · Book 2
Social Sorcery
"The greatest invention begins with trusting the people beside you."
"The greatest invention begins with trusting the people beside you."
Zaquocorin "Zaq" Flickerwhizzle is the greatest artificer Aberterrene has never heard of. Retired, brilliant, and entirely certain he works best alone, he's been quietly building his magnum opus from a small townhouse in the harvest-festival city of Ryefeld: a multi-party communication device that will change the world. He also has a cat. She is not his cat. He would like to make that very clear.
When Wyndi, Frank, and Flek interrupt his dinner and beg for an apprenticeship, Zaq's answer is no. But Zheb, the dwarven tea shop owner who has watched Zaq eat alone for two years, points out something inconvenient: the apprentices could gather the materials Zaq needs but won't leave the city to find himself. And so, reluctantly, a deal is struck.
What follows is a quest for grimbark wood, mana crystals, and rare mana conduits — involving an ancient forest negotiation, a cave full of danger, a beaver named Doodles, a fairy-cooked dinner, and a network of slate tablets sending messages into the unknown. When the first major test of the device explodes spectacularly, Zaq is certain the dream is finished. But three young artificers show up the next morning with tea and pastries and a spider metaphor that changes everything.
The invention they build together — the EtherNet — will connect people across Aberterrene. But the most impressive thing Zaq builds in this story isn't a device at all.
Social Sorcery is a cozy fantasy about mentorship, the magic of opening up, and the particular satisfaction of doing the thing everyone said was impossible. Also: one very persistent black cat who has clearly already decided this is her home.
This novel features a body image / fat-shaming arc involving the character Wyndi. It is handled with care and resolves positively — Wyndi's arc is one of self-acceptance, not body shame, and she ends the book eating pie without apology.
A lizard-like creature (a vulin) is killed and a component harvested from it during the quest chapters. This is brief and plot-necessary.
A cat sustains a minor injury during a device malfunction. She recovers fully and is perfectly fine. She purrs in the final scene. She's okay. We promise.
Alcohol consumption is present throughout, including one scene where the main character drinks more than he should while processing a failure. This is not romanticized.
Spiders play an essential, friendly role in the plot. The ethereal spiders are gracious business partners. Frank's arachnophobia is a recurring comic element. If spiders are a significant concern, you should know they are prominent but entirely benevolent.
Click any character to learn more about them.
Zaq
Social Sorcery
Wyndi
Social Sorcery
Legs
Social Sorcery
Flek
Both Books
Choose the format that fits your cozy reading ritual.
Digital
Currently available on Amazon Kindle and included in Kindle Unlimited. Coming to more retailers — including Kobo, Apple Books, and Barnes & Noble — in mid-April 2026.
More retailers coming mid-April 2026.
Available autographed directly from the author's shop, or from major retailers. Support indie bookstores via Bookshop.org.
Also available to order through your local bookstore.
Audio
Narrated by Alexis Vandom, a transgender woman. Her performance brings warmth, wit, and genuine heart to every character.
Social Sorcery is available to libraries through standard distribution channels. If your library doesn't carry it yet, most systems have a simple online purchase request form — just ask for the book by title and author. Libraries are one of the best ways to discover indie authors, and every request matters.
Meet Flek before Ryefeld — as a young goblin who finds his first real home at TQ House in Chubug, while the extraordinary Trinx is busy inventing a few things that will change the world.
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