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Clem & Wist #5
A Chalice for a Kraken
She loved me too much for anyone's good.
On an artificial island deep in enemy territory, machinists develop unprecedented new magical weapons. Then the research base goes rogue, cutting off contact with the outside world. Every elite squad sent to reclaim it stops responding, too.
Wist, the most powerful mage in generations, gets called in as emergency backup. But the whole scenario stinks of a trap. Clematis won't let her go alone—and so they embark on a covert mission to a hostile state where even one-time allies are hard to trust.
Clematis and Wist are completely on their own except for their guide and interpreter: Lear, a foreign agent who previously masqueraded as an innocent artist. Lear is great at putting on a friendly face, but not so great at revealing her own dark motivations.
As they explore the base, they encounter vulnerable civilian workers, and locals who stare into space like lost ghosts… and giant carnivorous birds, and parasitic magic, and competing layers of twisted reality.
In this horror-influenced continuation of the Clem & Wist series, Clematis grapples with a growing hunger that she can't afford to feed. Wist glimpses indescribable cosmic terror. And they're all running out of time to leave the island without giving anyone an excuse to start a war.
The Clem & Wist Series
No One Else Could Heal Her
Book 1: The Lowest Healer and the Highest Mage
Book 2: The Reverse Healer Case Files
Book 3: Clematis and the Queen of the Void
Book 4: Three Murdered Mages, Two Broken Bonds
Book 5: A Chalice for a Kraken
Each novel revolves around the same couple. The prequel can be read at any point prior to Book 4. (The prequel and Book 1 also work as satisfying standalone stories.)
On an artificial island deep in enemy territory, machinists develop unprecedented new magical weapons. Then the research base goes rogue, cutting off contact with the outside world. Every elite squad sent to reclaim it stops responding, too.
Wist, the most powerful mage in generations, gets called in as emergency backup. But the whole scenario stinks of a trap. Clematis won't let her go alone—and so they embark on a covert mission to a hostile state where even one-time allies are hard to trust.
Clematis and Wist are completely on their own except for their guide and interpreter: Lear, a foreign agent who previously masqueraded as an innocent artist. Lear is great at putting on a friendly face, but not so great at revealing her own dark motivations.
As they explore the base, they encounter vulnerable civilian workers, and locals who stare into space like lost ghosts… and giant carnivorous birds, and parasitic magic, and competing layers of twisted reality.
In this horror-influenced continuation of the Clem & Wist series, Clematis grapples with a growing hunger that she can't afford to feed. Wist glimpses indescribable cosmic terror. And they're all running out of time to leave the island without giving anyone an excuse to start a war.
The Clem & Wist Series
No One Else Could Heal Her
Book 1: The Lowest Healer and the Highest Mage
Book 2: The Reverse Healer Case Files
Book 3: Clematis and the Queen of the Void
Book 4: Three Murdered Mages, Two Broken Bonds
Book 5: A Chalice for a Kraken
Each novel revolves around the same couple. The prequel can be read at any point prior to Book 4. (The prequel and Book 1 also work as satisfying standalone stories.)
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2025
12 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Hiyodori
10 books268 followersHiyodori is not a bird. But she is dearly fond of her namesake, a plain-looking brown-gray bird that likes to perch near her Tokyo apartment and unleash the most incredible primal screams. Hiyodori (the human author) loves stories with fantastical settings and complicated, difficult-to-define relationships. All of her books take place in the same shared fantasy universe. Her latest novel is A Chalice for a Kraken, a new entry in the Clem & Wist series.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 12, 2025
I feel like that meme with Charlie Day with all the red strings connecting papers on a board with all the ways that Hiyodori has connected things throughout her books into this story! It’s masterful and as a reader of all her books so fun and rewarding!
We get blessed with returning characters. Ones I’ve missed and of course Clem and Wist. I really appreciate that we got to go into Clems darker thoughts and tendencies in such an intimate way. That plus the way the at Wist accepts her as her. Always.
The adventure itself was fascinating and I found myself bundling up for warmth while our characters wadded through water. I also often put the book down against my chest to just sit with the imagery.
Thank you Hiyodori for another book. For sharing your characters and worlds with us. Every page is another page I’m basked in comfort and every novel feels like home. You are truly my favorite author and I wish all the worlds and cosmic continents for you.
We get blessed with returning characters. Ones I’ve missed and of course Clem and Wist. I really appreciate that we got to go into Clems darker thoughts and tendencies in such an intimate way. That plus the way the at Wist accepts her as her. Always.
The adventure itself was fascinating and I found myself bundling up for warmth while our characters wadded through water. I also often put the book down against my chest to just sit with the imagery.
Thank you Hiyodori for another book. For sharing your characters and worlds with us. Every page is another page I’m basked in comfort and every novel feels like home. You are truly my favorite author and I wish all the worlds and cosmic continents for you.
December 24, 2025
Reading this book right after Clem & Wist 4, I started off a bit apprehensive since I was less of a fan of the location and murder mystery concept (probably since I read too many as a kid lol), but all those worries were unfounded. I will keep this short, since I am not feeling the best at the moment (DAMN YOU FLU VACCINE xDD), this book is reminiscent of 3 where our Protagonists end up in an unfamiliar place hiding secrets and stuff (xD very simplistic I know), and bizarre things keep happening which our MCs have to deal with while working towards a greater goal (which just might be associated with a hidden danger to the world). One difference between the two stories is that in this book, Clem and Wist go to *beep* with a predefined purpose instead of vacationing.
Generalities aside, I really loved how Jace made a comeback, and how we got to experience all the environment and unique aspects that made The First and Last Demon one of my all time books! Be that primarily the Chalices, but also the references to the post offices (which are important and VERY memorable from the first and last demon lol). I also loved the description and world building of the islands pre-revalation, during the trip, and in the fourth layer. Similarly the events in the fourth layer are a pleasure to read and give a real feel of the confusion and dementia-like (?) symptoms Clem must have been experiencing. The tone of events post Reverence are also beautiful and strike the perfect tone as always, and I should not forget to praise Lear as a character who you cant help but feel fondness towards (as is the intended effect in-story too).
Overall an excellent showing, and while not my fave hiyodori book, This and Book 3 are my faves from the Clem and Wist series so far! Thanks for the story ;)
Generalities aside, I really loved how Jace made a comeback, and how we got to experience all the environment and unique aspects that made The First and Last Demon one of my all time books! Be that primarily the Chalices, but also the references to the post offices (which are important and VERY memorable from the first and last demon lol). I also loved the description and world building of the islands pre-revalation, during the trip, and in the fourth layer. Similarly the events in the fourth layer are a pleasure to read and give a real feel of the confusion and dementia-like (?) symptoms Clem must have been experiencing. The tone of events post Reverence are also beautiful and strike the perfect tone as always, and I should not forget to praise Lear as a character who you cant help but feel fondness towards (as is the intended effect in-story too).
Overall an excellent showing, and while not my fave hiyodori book, This and Book 3 are my faves from the Clem and Wist series so far! Thanks for the story ;)
November 24, 2025
I love this series and was so excited to see a new one. It did not disappoint. Great new addition to Clem and Wist’s story and hope to see them again soon.
November 6, 2025
so lovely to see these characters on the page again.
as always, great to see lear and danny once more >,< their dynamic is so great even if seen from an outside perspective
I quite enjoyed the 'horror-like' imagery, fun fun fun. more clem and wist is something i can't say no to. :D
PS: i quite liked the title on this one too !
as always, great to see lear and danny once more >,< their dynamic is so great even if seen from an outside perspective
I quite enjoyed the 'horror-like' imagery, fun fun fun. more clem and wist is something i can't say no to. :D
PS: i quite liked the title on this one too !
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews