The Traitor & The Wretch

by Jasmine Walls, Rowan MacColl (Illustrator)

THE TRAITOR & THE WRETCH is an illustrated novel written by Jasmine Walls, illustrated by Rowan MacColl, with cover art by Amy Phillips.

In a world of heroic prophecies and terrifying gods, can a couple of two-bit henchmen lie, steal, and kill their way to a happy ending?

KNELL was just another nameless cultist trapped under the thrall of the Great One, Bringer of Chaos and fully expected to die on the battlefield. Much to his surprise he's still alive, but not for long unless he can escape before his distinctive chaos-tainted looks get him captured and killed.

PERCY was the former right hand man of the Prophesized Hero. Disillusioned and bitter, he turned traitor during the great battle against the risen chaos god in an attempt to prove this Hero false. Instead, he lost his hand and became the most wanted man in the kingdom.

These two unlikely allies must work together to survive pitch black tunnels full of mutated creatures, angry mobs, old enemies, and their own haunted pasts. They'll find unexpected strength in each other-and the possibility for more-if they don't end up dying before they can make it out of the kingdom.

They weren't meant for a happy ending, but rules are for good guys and they'll do whatever it takes to change their fates.

Genres: Fantasy, Queer, Dark, LGBT, Enemies To Lovers, M M Romance, Adult

376 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2025

About the author

Jasmine Walls is an award-winning writer, editor, and artist. She's worked on several graphic novels along with writing Vixen: NYC, and can otherwise be found drinking hot chocolate or befriending all the neighborhood dogs.

Reviews

[ancientreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the plus side: Imaginative! Sensory details vivid / thrilling / digusting / creepy as appropriate! I really liked the illustrations! The story kept me going even when I didn't buy it!

On the minus side: The reasons for Percy's betrayal of the Prophesized [sic] Hero, or exactly in what that betrayal consisted, aren't fleshed out. We never find out how the Great One's attempt to take over the world failed. The weird discolorations of Knell's body seem to exist only to serve the narrative purpose of making him conspicuous. What happened to the rest of the brethren after the Great One's apparent defeat? In general, worldbuilding not up to snuff.

Also, while I liked both Percy and Knell very much as individuals, I wasn't convinced of their mutual sexual attraction. Both of them spend so much of the book physically filthy, not to mention hungry and thirsty and fearing for their lives, that it's hard to understand how sex could get a look in. And this is me speaking as someone who often perks up about random strangers on the subway.

So -- all in all I can't get myself to 3.5 stars rounding up to 4, but I will be wanting to read whatever this author-illustrator team do next.

[Siavahda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fantastic idea, great characters, and wonderful art. But this needed some polishing to be up to my standard.

There’s a number of obvious spelling errors – ‘reign’ and ‘rein’ were mixed up every time I saw them – and things like apostrophes in the wrong place. But mostly it’s an issue of the prose being just a bit too clunky; awkward phrasing, fairly heavy-handed telling-not-showing. The result isn’t terrible – I’ve read much, much worse – in fact, it’s so close to great that it hurts more than a really terrible book would. Because it would have taken so little to make this genuinely excellent! And the missed potential just. It’s such a shame!

Examples:

How very reassuring, Percy thought as his skin crawled, knowing there were things lurking around that he couldn’t see or hear.

and

Sure, he lashed out if Knell surprised him, but those had been easy enough to avoid.

and

Knell knew that he himself looked off-putting on the best of days, one of which was today, and told himself he was unbothered by Percy’s description of him as a wretch.

and

The cold of the caves was unaffected by the weak light within the hollow

None of these are unintelligible or anything, but the phrasing is grating, just a little bit off, and it’s pretty constant. I read the first 21% of the ebook, and at no point did the writing start to smooth out.

One more round of polishing, with an eye to phrasing/prose, and this would have rocked. As-is, I kept wincing and gritting my teeth at how almost it is.

Will most readers be bothered? Probably not, so if you don’t already know you have Very Strong Feelings about prose, you will probably enjoy this book if the premise appeals. If you do have Very Strong Feelings about prose…skip this one, alas.

[Mandy Szewczuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love subversion of fantasy stuff, and taking the most unlikeable character types and seeing how they work together, well, that was pretty charming. Cozy and emotional, oddly, with some fun dialogue. Really enjoyed this one, and I'm excited to see what else BoneDust Press puts out!

[Sabrina Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never been more enamored by the prospective journey of two people considered lowlifes in any other narrative.

[Hari Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just had SO much fun reading this. I was hooked by the end of the first couple chapters and stayed up way too late reading, and some parts really made me laugh.

A bit of a backpack fantasy romance but with “unlikeable” fantasy archetypes (think, disabled and 'fucked up by evil magic' ex-henchmen). I wasn’t sure how the interesting idea would actually work on the page, but both the characters are so well done they’re completely endearing and compelling. Knell manages to be so gross and offputting and ALSO fascinating and sweet and a hot little freak - almost against my expectations I truly loved them both. I say this because if you're also on the fence about whether the dynamic is for you, I'd suggest giving it a shot to find out.

It’s a character-driven story that becomes a sweet romance (admittedly amidst a lot of cool dungeony caves and a little flesh magic). But as someone who prefers my romance-genre with plot & murders, I was really impressed and interested in the background world that gets gradually revealed after the characters hook you in - honestly a lot more rich and real than a lot of romances with a fantasy setting.

Just a real comfort-read indie book I enjoyed even more than I expected. I believe this might be the author’s first prose book, but I'm extremely here for if she does more.

[Brittany Michaele · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a failed attempt to bring about the end times due to a Fated Hero two unlikely npcs, one a former ally of the hero and one a cultist find themselves as reluctant allies in a kingdom that wants them both dead. Watch out, spoilers ahead!

There is something so satisfying watching Percy and Knell go from enemies to reluctant allies to frenemies to actual friends to lovers. The progression felt natural. It wasn't rushed. Percy goes from wanting Knell dead to wanting to spoil him and show him life's pleasures. Knell is ready to die but being with Percy brings out his will to live and his true self that's been locked away due to the dark lord's influence. The illustrations are just so wonderful and honeslty something i wish more books did.
And now to finish my review, one of the lines that had me kicking my feet and grinning like an idiot:

"For Jake's own sake Percy hoped he hadn't done any harm to Knell. Percy knew SO many ways to hurt a person slowly, and the current lever of his morality was locked in this man's basement."

[Mariska · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fun little fantasy adventure. I'd call this more of a 'cozy' fantasy as the stakes are quite low and the characters never really feel like they're in danger. This story is very character driven rather than plot driven, in fact there isn't a larger plot (that there characters are part of) outside the characters immediate adventure and growth at all, which lends to the sort of 'cozy' vibe for me. If all those things sound like a good time to you than I 100% recommend giving this a read.

I loved our characters (does Knell cater directly to me? Maybe so.) and seeing them navigate the situation they've ended up in. The magic system is also very interesting. This book takes place after the dramatic events of a fantasy epic and follows what the aftermath for that looks like for these two scruffy men. I found the ending satisfying, but rest assured I'd love to read more about them and their adventures from where the story left off.

I predict I'll come back to this book again and again in the future.

[Em Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was such a fun and delightful read! i was very pleasantly surprised. i read the authors note at the end before starting the story, and the context that this started as "what if i wrote a book about the fantasy genres least likable archetype?" added a really fun dimension to the whole thing. the narrative plays around with all sort of fantasy and romance troupes in some very interesting ways that reflect an understanding of the genre that was refreshing to see when similar queer fantasy romances ive read dont seem to really care about the genre outside of using it as a backdrop. the slowburn was excellently paced, and i loved the characters so much by the end that i wanted to throw up. thank you jasmine walls i was unfamiliar with your game 🫡

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and cosy emotional story with two totally opposite characters. Starts out a little slow, but soon after I couldn’t stop reading. Knell turned out to be such an endearing character, and the horrible things he ate that made Percy throw up, well, I wanted to throw up too. Cave crabs it is, or I’ll get nightmares!

[Scazrelet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A shockingly compelling book when the large majority of it is two characters traveling through a series of caves.

By the end I was feeling the warm fuzzy jitters in a way I don't often with romance novels. I wish I could spend more time with these two.

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

Percy from The Traitor & The Wretch is grayromantic demisexual!

https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...

[Ciara · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 rounded up. I wanted to preface with saying that I thought the plot itself great, and it delivered a thoughtful, character focused story that had me both snickering and tearing up multiple times. The deep focus on mental health was both surprising and realistic, in my opinion, and I definitely related to Percy and Knell and loved how they came to understand each other.
On the flip side, a number of editing errors, some minor pacing issues, and one or two more than convenient conclusions to conflicts chalked up to fate prevented it from being a full 5 stars. All this is to say that I desperately want a sequel (even though the ending can stand on its own), and I'm more than willing to back any kickstarter I need to to make it happen and just hope if it does that there's just a touch more polish and planning put in.

[Ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please Note: This indie title is available at www.bonedustpress.com

After reading a fair amount of fantasy novels, I've been thinking about what my ideal book in this genre would be. I love a "backpack fantasy" -- one where characters travel, adapt to their changing environments, encounter the weird and the wild, and learn how live and grow together. I enjoy characters who are clever and have their own set of morals, even if this doesn't align with the social norms and hierarchies of their society. I like characters who are older than thirty as I enjoy seeing folks with experience and personal traumas work through the rough patches that life had put them through. And I get a kick out of stories with a mix of dark humor and lightness -- oh, the pleasure of two travel companions enjoying an unhinged conversation while cooking a good meal together.

"The Traitor and the Wretch" by Jasmine Walls hits all of those notes for me. The book took me on a journey following Percy (no, not short for "Percival"), a traitor to the newly established crown and the kingdom's Most Wanted, as well as a surviving cult member for a recently murdered chaos god, Knell (definitely short for "Deathknell" because of course an evil cult issues heavy metal names for their weaselly li'l brethren). From the start of the book, Percy and Knell should be dead and forgotten characters -- the forsaken dregs of the Chosen One's epic adventure. But when these particular sworn enemies make it out of the final battle alive, they will need to rely on each other to escape the kingdom.

What follows is a book that checked all of my mental boxes of what I want in a fantasy novel. And, to add to that, our two main characters are fascinating. Percy, the traitor, isn't a misunderstood sweetheart -- he is very much a prickly, stubborn ass that everyone thinks he is, but he's also someone whose practicality and resourcefulness is often ignored in favor of the more dashing and heroic. And Knell, the poor wretch, isn't a cowardly fool -- he's clever and caring and the fact that he's willing run toward dangerous situations in spite of his fear makes him one of bravest characters I've had the pleasure of reading. Although both are engaging characters, their situations are so different that they make an odd pair. But as they continue on their wildly dangerous journey, I grew to see how their differences made each other stronger -- validating, comforting, and encouraging each other.

The story likes to turn pretty fantasy tropes over on its side, like kicking over a mossy tree trunk to see its rotted, earthy underbelly. It's all rather bizarre, unsettling, and yet assuredly natural. This isn't a noble quest and these aren't your handsome heroes falling into a sexy, passionate embrace. Heck, it's not even love at first sight. These are two gremlin men trying to survive, slogging their way through treacherous terrain, and slowly learning to care for one another. So no "spice", but in its own peculiar way, super sweet. This is going to be my comfort re-read for years to come.

The cover drawn by Amy Phillips is exactly how I picture the characters in my head. The various illustrations placed at key moments throughout the book that are drawn by Rowan MacColl have a twisted storybook feel to them that I love. I received an ARC from the author for an honest review.

[Javier A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching romance featuring two negative fantasy archetypes against the backdrop and aftermath of a more standard dark fantasy story revealed gradually and naturally in glimpses through a perilous journey. It is a story of low stakes, but high personal ones; in the vein of the old Sword & Sorcery rather than its Epic Fantasy cousin. It is not quite that, but it isn't lesser than either of those.

Despite the setting for most of this book being dreary and patently dangerous the book manages to ease into a very comfortable tone and rhythm as the characters fully become the focus of the book. The bursts of violence and ever-pressing threat of danger complement the more tranquil, intimate, and quiet moments. This is a story that understands the interplay between comfort and danger, how each heightens the other in turn, but it necessitates a certain balance and this book strikes it with acuity.

Another thing this books does deftly is meting out exposition at a measured and adequate pace. It never gets mired in overexplaining its setting or falling into misplaced asides telling us so much we lose out sense of curiosity. I think the book could have used with a bit more of a sense of place — proper place and character names in place of the stock descriptors and epithets— but this is a minor quibble and far better than the alternative of oversharing and undermining its own sense of wonder and intrigue.

All in all this was a delightful, brisk, and refreshing read that has remained in my thoughts since closing the back cover.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brand new small press! Shiny cover silver! (Appeals to my crow instinct) The Traitor and the Wretch is so so fun, I love a play on the margins of the classic hero story of a fantasy novel. Percy and Knell spend most of the book running away, avoiding people who want to kill or arrest them (and sometimes failing to avoid them) and traversing fantastical environments, mostly caves. They don’t trust each other at the start, but Walls does a DELIGHTFUL job of growing their relationship over the course of the book. Knell is a goddamned sweetheart and deserves so many nice things, some of which come in the form of good cooking.

The illustrations add so much to this book, really, the scenes depicted are perfect choices to emphasize moments of emotion. I want like 10 more of these, I’ll be looking out for anything any of the people involved in this do in the future!

[Tay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelously gritty, witty, and tense. I have nothing but good things to say about this book. If you have an appetite for unlikely allies flung together under unfortunate circumstances, carving their way through the filth and misery of the world together--even when they'd prefer to go it alone--then I'm certain you'll enjoy this piece. The Traitor & The Wretch scratched the exact dark fantasy itch I didn't know I had, all while delivering itself with a measured balance of intrigue and welcome levity. The illustrations throughout are so lovingly done, too. This is a must read.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this one up based on a Tumblr recommendation (hi Laya!). In The Traitor and The Wretch, miserable forced cultist Knell is unexpectedly set free after the dark being that held him in thrall is defeated. Percy is an ex soldier with a mysterious past who hates the cultists, but reluctantly joins forces with Knell because Percy has a bounty on his head and Knell can guide him through the underground caves.

The Traitor and the Wretch is a relationship-forward book. There's loosely sketched worldbuilding in the background on the theme of exploring what would it be like after the Prophecied One's great victory, but we don't see much of it. Instead, the plot is focused on What If We Were Trapped In A Cave And There Was Only Zero Beds!? I enjoyed that the majority of the relationship was focused on Percy slowly moving Knell from the enemy to the friend category, rather than focusing on sexual tension. There are significantly more forehead kisses than kisses on the mouth. It's surprisingly sweet for an armed thug x horrible scrungle romance.

Excellent as a romance, but I would have preferred a little more weight to the worldbuilding and secondary action plot. Pair with Emily Skrutskie's A Legionnaire's Guide to Love and Peace.