Tangled Past - Claudie Arseneault

Fate and friendship brought the Wagon Crew together in Rumi's sentient, self-propelling wagon. Their travels across a world haunted by Fragments, dangerous shards that can possess travellers, has unravelled part of the mystery behind Aliyah's past, her strange abilities, and the Fragments themselves.

At last, they have reached the forest of Aliyah's dreams, in which they hope to find the rest of their answers. Hiding within the green foliage are the forest's magical dwelllers, small spirits with bodies of mulch, faces of bark, and eyes that shine the colour of Aliyah's magic. Their curiosity and wonder are only rivalled by Horace's, and soon the Wagon Crew is hard at work trying to communicate with them and understand their place in the puzzle.

The idyllic cultural exchange is interrupted by an assault from Archivists. They know Aliyah has reached the end of their Journey, and they intend to shape the story to their liking. The faintest hint of their presence sends the forest sprites scurrying with fear. If the Wagon Crew wants to unearth the answers they've travelled for, they will first need to confront the dangerous organization in a final stand.

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Tangled Past is the eighth novella in a queer fantasy adventure series which wraps the high stakes of epic fantasy in quiet moments of friendship and found family. Perfect for those who seek stories without romance, especially aromantic and asexual readers.