Set in Xan van Rooyen’s Frayverse, Waypoint Seven is an aetherpunk novella weaving together inspiration from the author’s country of birth, South Africa, and adopted homeland, Finland.
An orphan with a terrible secret, transgender Runo ekes out a living with his found-family in the remote city of Askeria, by scavenging magic detritus fallen through the Fray for his brutal scav-boss. Life has always been a struggle for city strays, but as the High Priestess begins condemning those with unsanctioned magic to death, Runo knows the only way he and his crew will survive is if they leave Askeria for good. But escape doesn’t come cheap. He and his crew think their troubles are over when their scavenging leads them to an angel, intact and—unfortunately—very much alive with their own agenda. While trying to evade his scav-boss, save his girlfriend from succumbing to the magical flesh-eating disease known as the Rust and worse, Runo’s past catches up with him even as he and his crew uncover a shocking truth that will not only rewrite the history of Askeria, but change the future of humanity forever.
This is a story about what happens when tech meets magic and the power of the love forged with the family we choose when facing impossible odds.
Coming July 2024 from Mirari Press
