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The Traitor & The Wretch
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.
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.
376 pages, Paperback
Published October 10, 2025
About the author
Jasmine Walls
31 books68 followersJasmine 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.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 3, 2026
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.
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.
October 14, 2025
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:
and
and
and
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.
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.
November 26, 2025
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!
November 7, 2025
I’ve never been more enamored by the prospective journey of two people considered lowlifes in any other narrative.
February 21, 2026
Ohh, I loved this book so much! I was very excited for it when I first heard about it and it definitely lived up to my excitement! Knell and Percy are both wonderful characters, I loved seeing them both grow over the course of the book. I really enjoyed learning more about each of them and watching their relationship change as they spent more time together. The contrast between each of their POVs and how they each reacted to the world was very fun and I loved the bits of humor throughout as well.
January 29, 2026
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.
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.
February 18, 2026
Oh my gods… What a DELIGHTFUL little book!!!
To follow these two characters was just such a freaking JOY!!! At first I was caught by the cover art, that is GLORIOUS! And then when I read what it was about, I could not stop thinking about it.
I am sneaking in queer books at the school library where I work, so I bought it for the library. But after it was delivered I was like… Wait. What if it is to explicit for the age of my preteens and teens??? And I wanted to read it regardless, so I figured I’d read it and find out.
And man… I am SO HAPPY I took the time to read this!
We have our main characters. Two of those background characters that you’re supposed to hate in a classic fantasy story.
The Traitor with all the scars that acts like a grumpy asshole the entire adventure and then stabs the HERO in the back!
The Wretch that is a part of the big faceless cult in hoods that tries to raise the Evil God that is going to take over the world.
If you’ve EVER read a classical fantasy story, you know exactly what kind of characters I mean!
Here though… Here they are the main characters. And it SO AWESOME! Jasmine Walls are doing such a good job of bringing life to these two. Giving them a reason for their actions. And the PTSD that follows.
It starts delightfully with Knell, the wretch, finding Percy, the traitor, bleeding to death after The Great Battle! Percy got his hand chopped off, but Knell manages to save him without really knowing how or why…
(You know The Great Battle, right? The one at the end of each classic fantasy story?)
And that is just the start of it. They form an unstable alliance to get the heck out of there and it is A Journey, my friends! Not only physical, but mentally to. They change during this journey. So much. Yes, it’s a queer romance to. And it’s cute as heck. But it’s not the main thing here. The main thing is how these two grow. And grow together learning from each other and learning to trust each other, despite their backgrounds.
Jasmine Walls have done something amazing here. And no, it’s not that explicit even if… romantic feelings and all what entails are mentioned, but it ain’t explicit. It’s actually rather cute.
So yeah. This will end up in the school library. Will any teen dare to read it? I don’t know, but I certainly hope so!
To follow these two characters was just such a freaking JOY!!! At first I was caught by the cover art, that is GLORIOUS! And then when I read what it was about, I could not stop thinking about it.
I am sneaking in queer books at the school library where I work, so I bought it for the library. But after it was delivered I was like… Wait. What if it is to explicit for the age of my preteens and teens??? And I wanted to read it regardless, so I figured I’d read it and find out.
And man… I am SO HAPPY I took the time to read this!
We have our main characters. Two of those background characters that you’re supposed to hate in a classic fantasy story.
The Traitor with all the scars that acts like a grumpy asshole the entire adventure and then stabs the HERO in the back!
The Wretch that is a part of the big faceless cult in hoods that tries to raise the Evil God that is going to take over the world.
If you’ve EVER read a classical fantasy story, you know exactly what kind of characters I mean!
Here though… Here they are the main characters. And it SO AWESOME! Jasmine Walls are doing such a good job of bringing life to these two. Giving them a reason for their actions. And the PTSD that follows.
It starts delightfully with Knell, the wretch, finding Percy, the traitor, bleeding to death after The Great Battle! Percy got his hand chopped off, but Knell manages to save him without really knowing how or why…
(You know The Great Battle, right? The one at the end of each classic fantasy story?)
And that is just the start of it. They form an unstable alliance to get the heck out of there and it is A Journey, my friends! Not only physical, but mentally to. They change during this journey. So much. Yes, it’s a queer romance to. And it’s cute as heck. But it’s not the main thing here. The main thing is how these two grow. And grow together learning from each other and learning to trust each other, despite their backgrounds.
Jasmine Walls have done something amazing here. And no, it’s not that explicit even if… romantic feelings and all what entails are mentioned, but it ain’t explicit. It’s actually rather cute.
So yeah. This will end up in the school library. Will any teen dare to read it? I don’t know, but I certainly hope so!
May 6, 2026
4.5 stars.
Came for the aspec representation, stayed for that plus everything else. The Traitor and the Wretch is a delightfully queer little book in which the former-follower-turned-traitor of the Prophesied Hero and an ex-cult member for this primordial chaos god go from enemies to allies to lovers as they try to escape the kingdom that wants their heads. It's light on plot and focused on the internal workings of Percy and Knell, who in any other world would not get a happily ever after. Thankfully, Walls decided to embrace these archetypes, flesh out the characters to give them depth and histories, and tell a narrative of what comes after the big bad is vanquished, after the hero becomes king. There could have been more nuance to some of the plot points—Why were Knell's abilities changing? Which ideals compelled Percy to follow the hero?—but the external factors forcing the men to interact with the world outside the caves helped push the narrative along. At the end of the day, I was 100% in this for the journey Percy and Knell go on as individuals and as a pair. I lived for our touch-starved rat of a witch-man who's finally experiencing emotions afters years of being in the thrall of a dark god, and the battle-hardened, disillusioned bandit dealing with disability who's an absolute asshole until he finds someone he wants to spoil rotten with food and affection. This definitely could have gone through another round of copyediting for sentence-level clarity and consistency, but the prose didn't bother me since I wasn't focused on the language but the characters. Such a fun time!
Came for the aspec representation, stayed for that plus everything else. The Traitor and the Wretch is a delightfully queer little book in which the former-follower-turned-traitor of the Prophesied Hero and an ex-cult member for this primordial chaos god go from enemies to allies to lovers as they try to escape the kingdom that wants their heads. It's light on plot and focused on the internal workings of Percy and Knell, who in any other world would not get a happily ever after. Thankfully, Walls decided to embrace these archetypes, flesh out the characters to give them depth and histories, and tell a narrative of what comes after the big bad is vanquished, after the hero becomes king. There could have been more nuance to some of the plot points—Why were Knell's abilities changing? Which ideals compelled Percy to follow the hero?—but the external factors forcing the men to interact with the world outside the caves helped push the narrative along. At the end of the day, I was 100% in this for the journey Percy and Knell go on as individuals and as a pair. I lived for our touch-starved rat of a witch-man who's finally experiencing emotions afters years of being in the thrall of a dark god, and the battle-hardened, disillusioned bandit dealing with disability who's an absolute asshole until he finds someone he wants to spoil rotten with food and affection. This definitely could have gone through another round of copyediting for sentence-level clarity and consistency, but the prose didn't bother me since I wasn't focused on the language but the characters. Such a fun time!
March 31, 2026
I don't know how Jasmine Walls got into my brain, rucked around in there, made a gigantic mess and managed to pop out and then write the most ABSOLUTELY FOR-ME BOOK IN EXISTENCE, but somehow, she did. 6*, where has this book been all my life?
Both of these characters are terrible. Gross, or mean or just... horrific in several ways, flawed in more ways than they're virtuous, and they are both *so gd adorable*. I was hanging on the edge of every word, starving for every inch of Percy and Knell's adventures in the dark cave (and other places, sometimes).
This is the definition of slow burn, with glances, angry touches, convenient underground pools of not-stagnant-and-disgusting water, inconvenient Old God-related panic attacks serving as preludes to, uhhh, that might have been flirting, I think? It was incredible. I wanted to kiss them both and then smush their faces together like Barbies.
Yearning? Pining? Needy gremlin men and their foul-tempered companions? The most disgusting first kiss known to man? This book has it all, and a plot that felt fresh and unique, besides. If you're a fan of deeply emotional inner turmoil, creepy eldritch stuff, witty and heart-wrenching lore and high fantasy from the perspective of, honest to god, the worst henchmen known to man, you are going to love this book.
PLEASE love this book. It's CRIMINAL that it hasn't been hyped up any more than this. Truly, I will never shut up about it for the rest of my life.
Both of these characters are terrible. Gross, or mean or just... horrific in several ways, flawed in more ways than they're virtuous, and they are both *so gd adorable*. I was hanging on the edge of every word, starving for every inch of Percy and Knell's adventures in the dark cave (and other places, sometimes).
This is the definition of slow burn, with glances, angry touches, convenient underground pools of not-stagnant-and-disgusting water, inconvenient Old God-related panic attacks serving as preludes to, uhhh, that might have been flirting, I think? It was incredible. I wanted to kiss them both and then smush their faces together like Barbies.
Yearning? Pining? Needy gremlin men and their foul-tempered companions? The most disgusting first kiss known to man? This book has it all, and a plot that felt fresh and unique, besides. If you're a fan of deeply emotional inner turmoil, creepy eldritch stuff, witty and heart-wrenching lore and high fantasy from the perspective of, honest to god, the worst henchmen known to man, you are going to love this book.
PLEASE love this book. It's CRIMINAL that it hasn't been hyped up any more than this. Truly, I will never shut up about it for the rest of my life.
December 17, 2025
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.
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.
May 4, 2026
I backed this on Kickstarter, received my copy, and then promptly forgot about it for months until my spouse told me they had stayed up all night reading it in one go.
I finally got around to reading it myself, and the only thing that kept me from doing the same was the fact that I was reading it out loud and my throat would get too sore.
Did you know books could be good? Did you know it was still possible, in this day and age, to write characters with actual personalities, or stories where things actually happen? I didn’t think they’d still let you publish anything more substantial than… I don’t know, Legends and Lattes, but I guess that’s why this was done by an indie press.
This book was so good, I’m struggling to think of anything at all to say about it. I enjoyed every minute I spent with it. I was angry when I was done, because I wanted to still be reading it. I have my complaints, but most of them are incredibly minor — it felt like Knell believed Percy would leave him longer than made any sense, and while it’s well-established why Percy hated the Prophesized Hero, I still felt like I didn’t understand why he he decided to betray him when and how he did — and none of them impacted the emotional beats that actually matter to the story. I loved the characters so much that, by time any of these really came up as a problem, I was more than willing to overlook them, especially considering they were so insignificant in the face of how much fun the rest of the book was.
Anyway, Knell’s never done anything wrong in his life. I love him, even though he’s stinky.
I finally got around to reading it myself, and the only thing that kept me from doing the same was the fact that I was reading it out loud and my throat would get too sore.
Did you know books could be good? Did you know it was still possible, in this day and age, to write characters with actual personalities, or stories where things actually happen? I didn’t think they’d still let you publish anything more substantial than… I don’t know, Legends and Lattes, but I guess that’s why this was done by an indie press.
This book was so good, I’m struggling to think of anything at all to say about it. I enjoyed every minute I spent with it. I was angry when I was done, because I wanted to still be reading it. I have my complaints, but most of them are incredibly minor — it felt like Knell believed Percy would leave him longer than made any sense, and while it’s well-established why Percy hated the Prophesized Hero, I still felt like I didn’t understand why he he decided to betray him when and how he did — and none of them impacted the emotional beats that actually matter to the story. I loved the characters so much that, by time any of these really came up as a problem, I was more than willing to overlook them, especially considering they were so insignificant in the face of how much fun the rest of the book was.
Anyway, Knell’s never done anything wrong in his life. I love him, even though he’s stinky.
October 12, 2025
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."
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."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2025
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.
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.
November 23, 2025
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 🫡
April 6, 2026
EASILY one of the best books I've read in a long time. I adore these characters and I long to hold them in my hands and cherish them for all eternity. i want to cry an ocean because this book is over and now I must return to my miserable life. This is the kind of character chemistry and slow burn relationship building I long for in every book Ive ever read, and so rarely to they reach the peak like this book does for me. I get flutters in my stomach over their forehead kisses. I cannot handle this. I borrowed my copy from the library, but I already have another copy in my cart so I can keep it forever. i want to liquify this story and inject it into my veins.
December 28, 2025
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!
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January 23, 2026Percy from The Traitor & The Wretch is grayromantic demisexual!
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
February 1, 2026
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.
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.
November 22, 2025
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.
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.
July 8, 2025
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.
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.
December 26, 2025
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.
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.
April 7, 2026
A delightful book featuring two characters who usually don't get time in spotlight!
Knell (full name: Deathknell) is one of those robed cultists, who (usually) sacrifice their life to bring a terrible eldritch Great One to the world from beyond. Only he manages to survive the experience and finds himself adrift, without a terrifying presence in his brain.
Percy used to work for the Hero (tm), but they got a pretty big disagreement which ended up with Percy sans a hand and dying.
Knell decides to heal a soldier dying on battlefield, saving him from blood loss - aka Percy. And then they are both on the run, since everyone is out for them. Lot of bonding! Trauma! Disgusting caves!
I appreciated how the characters were portrayed - neither were particulary good people, but the fate also served them quite a rough hand. I especially enjoy the story of Knell and how we slowly uncovered his fucked up past. I only had Knell for a few pages but if anything happened to him I would kill everyone in this room and then myself! I found Percy less interesting, though I do appreciate a capable, practical man.
The relationship is very slow burn and not traditional either. I appreciated the stakes - they weren't world ending stakes, but it was certainly life or death for our protags!
My only minor nitpick is that water should have been more of a priority lol, its the most important part of survival.
Knell (full name: Deathknell) is one of those robed cultists, who (usually) sacrifice their life to bring a terrible eldritch Great One to the world from beyond. Only he manages to survive the experience and finds himself adrift, without a terrifying presence in his brain.
Percy used to work for the Hero (tm), but they got a pretty big disagreement which ended up with Percy sans a hand and dying.
Knell decides to heal a soldier dying on battlefield, saving him from blood loss - aka Percy. And then they are both on the run, since everyone is out for them. Lot of bonding! Trauma! Disgusting caves!
I appreciated how the characters were portrayed - neither were particulary good people, but the fate also served them quite a rough hand. I especially enjoy the story of Knell and how we slowly uncovered his fucked up past. I only had Knell for a few pages but if anything happened to him I would kill everyone in this room and then myself! I found Percy less interesting, though I do appreciate a capable, practical man.
The relationship is very slow burn and not traditional either. I appreciated the stakes - they weren't world ending stakes, but it was certainly life or death for our protags!
My only minor nitpick is that water should have been more of a priority lol, its the most important part of survival.
October 27, 2025
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!
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!
July 8, 2025
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.
February 8, 2026
this had so many ingredients that i love
-reluctant companions vs the wilderness
-amputee MC
-(gently) poking fun at the formulaic fantasy
-sharing body heat
-social bathing/hair-washing
-cooking together & food-sharing as an act of love
-brown eyes
-reluctant companions vs the wilderness
-amputee MC
-(gently) poking fun at the formulaic fantasy
-sharing body heat
-social bathing/hair-washing
-cooking together & food-sharing as an act of love
-brown eyes
May 2, 2026
This book was imaginative and clearly loved. The characters are the kind of unique I’d love to see more of in fantasy, and have a fun dynamic. I also appreciated the art within the book, and the hopeful tone. It’s a very slow-paced and character focused book. The writing is not great and usually distracting, which makes the slow pace and emotional conversations feel worse. Still, I can see the framework for a really good book here.
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