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Fortune's Wake
Kill the beast.
Earn some coin.
Get the girl.
Or at least, that’s how it was supposed to go. Kova of Stormwatch made a promise when she left her mother and sweetheart weeping on the shore back she’d earn her fortune slaying the beasts that haunt the woods and the horrors that lurk in the shadows, or she would die trying. But to do that, she needs an apprenticeship with a master monster hunter. The best of the Sayre Boarbane.
Pity that Sayre works alone.
When Sayre drags Kova home by the ear, they’re both in for a rude awakening. Kova’s mother? Missing. Kova’s lover? Taking long walks on the beach with a stranger.
And all those monsters Kova wanted to slay? They’re back in Stormwatch, dragging villagers into the ocean.
Earn some coin.
Get the girl.
Or at least, that’s how it was supposed to go. Kova of Stormwatch made a promise when she left her mother and sweetheart weeping on the shore back she’d earn her fortune slaying the beasts that haunt the woods and the horrors that lurk in the shadows, or she would die trying. But to do that, she needs an apprenticeship with a master monster hunter. The best of the Sayre Boarbane.
Pity that Sayre works alone.
When Sayre drags Kova home by the ear, they’re both in for a rude awakening. Kova’s mother? Missing. Kova’s lover? Taking long walks on the beach with a stranger.
And all those monsters Kova wanted to slay? They’re back in Stormwatch, dragging villagers into the ocean.
146 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2026
About the author
C.L. Clark
25 books2,452 followersC. L. Clark is a BFA award-winning editor and Ignyte award-winning author of several books, including The Unbroken (Magic of the Lost trilogy), Fate's Bane (a novella), and Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf (an Arcane novel). When she’s not writing, she’s trying not to throw her kettlebells through the wall. Her work has appeared in various SFF venues, including Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, Tor.com, Uncanny, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies. Sign up to her newsletter for updates and bonus materials.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A standalone dark fantasy novella. Kova aspires to be a monster hunter. She finds herself in search of her missing mother, while navigating lost love & unraveling dark secrets on her home island.
Clark creates a mysterious plot that combines eerie supernatural elements & mythical monsters.
I recommend this book if you like:
Monster hunting, mysterious island lore & sapphic romances. Stubborn, guarded & sassy FMC’s.
Complex family relationships.
When I first saw the cover I immediately felt nostalgic for days of playing Assassin's Creed & Uncharted. The blend of neat lore, monsters & supernatural elements with the two FMC leads & mysterious monster hunting plot created a really fun read.
Kova & Sayre are both strong FMC’s that I really enjoyed. Resilient, snarky & chasing the life that they want. I also appreciated the lens on Kova’s strained relationship with her mother. From start to finish I noticed a tonal change from YA coming of age to dark & mysterious, though I was happy for the darker tonal switch. Being a novella, it did at times limit side characters & plot progression.
Yes, I have my nitpicks but most of them are likely due to the length of this story being a novella. I'd love to see more of Kova & Sayre or an expansion of this story.
Clark creates a mysterious plot that combines eerie supernatural elements & mythical monsters.
I recommend this book if you like:
Monster hunting, mysterious island lore & sapphic romances. Stubborn, guarded & sassy FMC’s.
Complex family relationships.
When I first saw the cover I immediately felt nostalgic for days of playing Assassin's Creed & Uncharted. The blend of neat lore, monsters & supernatural elements with the two FMC leads & mysterious monster hunting plot created a really fun read.
Kova & Sayre are both strong FMC’s that I really enjoyed. Resilient, snarky & chasing the life that they want. I also appreciated the lens on Kova’s strained relationship with her mother. From start to finish I noticed a tonal change from YA coming of age to dark & mysterious, though I was happy for the darker tonal switch. Being a novella, it did at times limit side characters & plot progression.
Yes, I have my nitpicks but most of them are likely due to the length of this story being a novella. I'd love to see more of Kova & Sayre or an expansion of this story.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’ve really been enjoying pirate and ocean/ship/nautical themed fantasy lately. And given, Fortune’s Wake packs a lot into a relatively concise story. It makes a lot of sense that I finished it in one day, maybe 2 or 3 sittings.
To distil it down, it is a female-led, monster hunting fantasy, that feels akin to a watery themed Dungeons and Dragons one shot game.
Kova returns to her home after a year away, trying to make a name for herself.
But everything she knew and loved about her home is either no longer the same, or has forgotten her.
We’ve all heard that one before haven’t we.
So what happens? Some badass monster hunting with an older, gruff and takes no shit mentor. Again, not winning any awards for uniqueness, but it’s enjoyable all the same.
Kova is a bit of a bumbling idiot at times and frequently makes what I would call “the worst decision possible” in the moment. That does take you out of the flow a little because you question the plot a little.
But it’s fun.
I mean it has to be. I wouldn’t finish a book in one day if I didn’t enjoy it.
It’s an easy read. It’s a very female-focused narrative, which is nice for such a gnarly, violent adventure.
3.5/5.0
To distil it down, it is a female-led, monster hunting fantasy, that feels akin to a watery themed Dungeons and Dragons one shot game.
Kova returns to her home after a year away, trying to make a name for herself.
But everything she knew and loved about her home is either no longer the same, or has forgotten her.
We’ve all heard that one before haven’t we.
So what happens? Some badass monster hunting with an older, gruff and takes no shit mentor. Again, not winning any awards for uniqueness, but it’s enjoyable all the same.
Kova is a bit of a bumbling idiot at times and frequently makes what I would call “the worst decision possible” in the moment. That does take you out of the flow a little because you question the plot a little.
But it’s fun.
I mean it has to be. I wouldn’t finish a book in one day if I didn’t enjoy it.
It’s an easy read. It’s a very female-focused narrative, which is nice for such a gnarly, violent adventure.
3.5/5.0
August 26, 2026
Review originally on JamReads
Fortune's Wake is a kinda simple dark fantasy novella, but which shows all the strengths that make novellas one of my favourite lengths to read: an excellently paced plot that goes straight to the meat, a worldbuilding that hints more of the world but focusing on the slice and a set of characters that show a lot of heart while portraying one of the classic role relationships on fantasy: grumpy and (kind of) sunshine.
Kova had a simple plan when she left home: become a monster hunter, earn enough coin, and come back to get the girl; however, she's being dragged back to Stormwatch after failing to get accepted by the legendary Sayre Boarbane. In Stormwatch, the situation is certainly dire: her mother has disappeared and more villagers are being pulled into the sea; together with Sayre and her ex-girlfriend, she will have to go deep into the caves and find how to stop all.
Sayre and Kova are a duo of contrasts: while Kova is stubborn and impulsive, trying to save the people she left behind, as she still values some of her roots, we have a Sayre that is a lone wolf, a hardened person who struggles to work with others and that's part of why this relationship is so stormy. During their adventure together with Ta'aliya, Kova's ex-girlfriend, their growth towards each other is remarkable, always as a result of the dangers they are facing, eventually allowing Sayre to show more of the person inside the figure.
The antagonists are a bit more difficult to pinpoint, as while I understand them as morally grey, with their own set of reasons for what they are doing, I didn't manage to connect with their reasonings.
The setting is shown as a slice of a much bigger world, putting the emphasis on that coastal aspect, weaving an atmosphere that draws from horror, especially regarding the claustrophobia and thalassophobia that can be ascribed to the sea caves our characters explore trying to rescue the others.
Pacing is simply superb, with Clark's writing being especially sharp, in particular during fight scenes; I also appreciated how, despite everything, there's also space for our characters to express their feelings.
Fortune's Wake is another great example of why I love novellas; a dark fantasy/almost grimdark proposal that is perfect if you want a taste of Clark's writing. I can't wait to read what they writes in the future!
Fortune's Wake is a kinda simple dark fantasy novella, but which shows all the strengths that make novellas one of my favourite lengths to read: an excellently paced plot that goes straight to the meat, a worldbuilding that hints more of the world but focusing on the slice and a set of characters that show a lot of heart while portraying one of the classic role relationships on fantasy: grumpy and (kind of) sunshine.
Kova had a simple plan when she left home: become a monster hunter, earn enough coin, and come back to get the girl; however, she's being dragged back to Stormwatch after failing to get accepted by the legendary Sayre Boarbane. In Stormwatch, the situation is certainly dire: her mother has disappeared and more villagers are being pulled into the sea; together with Sayre and her ex-girlfriend, she will have to go deep into the caves and find how to stop all.
Sayre and Kova are a duo of contrasts: while Kova is stubborn and impulsive, trying to save the people she left behind, as she still values some of her roots, we have a Sayre that is a lone wolf, a hardened person who struggles to work with others and that's part of why this relationship is so stormy. During their adventure together with Ta'aliya, Kova's ex-girlfriend, their growth towards each other is remarkable, always as a result of the dangers they are facing, eventually allowing Sayre to show more of the person inside the figure.
The antagonists are a bit more difficult to pinpoint, as while I understand them as morally grey, with their own set of reasons for what they are doing, I didn't manage to connect with their reasonings.
The setting is shown as a slice of a much bigger world, putting the emphasis on that coastal aspect, weaving an atmosphere that draws from horror, especially regarding the claustrophobia and thalassophobia that can be ascribed to the sea caves our characters explore trying to rescue the others.
Pacing is simply superb, with Clark's writing being especially sharp, in particular during fight scenes; I also appreciated how, despite everything, there's also space for our characters to express their feelings.
Fortune's Wake is another great example of why I love novellas; a dark fantasy/almost grimdark proposal that is perfect if you want a taste of Clark's writing. I can't wait to read what they writes in the future!
August 26, 2026
Check out the FULL, spoiler-filled review at SFF Insiders
Fortune’s Wake is a dark, moody story of vengeance that takes the reader into the depths of haunted crypts filled with eerie monsters and deadly magics. Fortune’s Wake is a fast-paced, stand-alone novella that is centered around Kova of Stormwatch, a young woman with a difficult past, who had left all that she knew and loved to seek her fortune on the open sea while trying to become the apprentice of the famed monster-hunter: Sayre. She returns to her seaside village of Stormwatch as a failure. She’s made no fortune. Sayre has refused to mentor her. Her lover has found her way into the arms of another. And her drunkard mother is nowhere to be found. After the town is attacked by a group of undead, mythological monsters, Kova is thrown into the fray and forced to investigate not only what happened to her mother, but where these monsters are coming from.
Fortune’s Wake was a well written, fast-paced monster hunter story that kept me interested and reading to the very last page.
Fortune’s Wake is a dark, moody story of vengeance that takes the reader into the depths of haunted crypts filled with eerie monsters and deadly magics. Fortune’s Wake is a fast-paced, stand-alone novella that is centered around Kova of Stormwatch, a young woman with a difficult past, who had left all that she knew and loved to seek her fortune on the open sea while trying to become the apprentice of the famed monster-hunter: Sayre. She returns to her seaside village of Stormwatch as a failure. She’s made no fortune. Sayre has refused to mentor her. Her lover has found her way into the arms of another. And her drunkard mother is nowhere to be found. After the town is attacked by a group of undead, mythological monsters, Kova is thrown into the fray and forced to investigate not only what happened to her mother, but where these monsters are coming from.
Fortune’s Wake was a well written, fast-paced monster hunter story that kept me interested and reading to the very last page.
August 27, 2026
A fun, action packed ride with some predictable twists and not enough world-building.
I guess it is a sort of compliment to a book where I think it could have benefitted to being longer aka wanting more but it is a bit of a knock here.
The story is straight forward without being by the book and its main characters are just interesting enough to not be dull but I feel like the author has the chops for so much more. I feel like with more world building, and deeper characterization a longer novel could have worked really well here.
The world building and atmosphere that we did get definitely did some heavy lifting. I felt the damp, cold, bleak atmosphere of the world and thought the lore and creatures were very cool.
Overall a nice breezy read that I think could have just used a bit more.
Also thank you Grimdark Magazine for the Advanced Ready Copy!
3.5 stars.
I guess it is a sort of compliment to a book where I think it could have benefitted to being longer aka wanting more but it is a bit of a knock here.
The story is straight forward without being by the book and its main characters are just interesting enough to not be dull but I feel like the author has the chops for so much more. I feel like with more world building, and deeper characterization a longer novel could have worked really well here.
The world building and atmosphere that we did get definitely did some heavy lifting. I felt the damp, cold, bleak atmosphere of the world and thought the lore and creatures were very cool.
Overall a nice breezy read that I think could have just used a bit more.
Also thank you Grimdark Magazine for the Advanced Ready Copy!
3.5 stars.
September 14, 2026
left me lowkey unsatisfied and wanting more :(
September 21, 2026
A super fun, fast read that isn't going where you think it will. You can hear the surf, feel the salt on your skin, and taste the blood in your mouth when it's over.
October 8, 2026
I want more adventures with these two please!
Absolutely devoured this in just a few hours. I enjoy CL Clark's worldbuilding as per The Unbroken series and Fate's Bane which I all love to death. This one was a treat with its nautical elements and action with a sprinkle of heartbreak and betrayal.
Absolutely devoured this in just a few hours. I enjoy CL Clark's worldbuilding as per The Unbroken series and Fate's Bane which I all love to death. This one was a treat with its nautical elements and action with a sprinkle of heartbreak and betrayal.
September 17, 2026
CL Clark is creates interesting worlds but never fully delivers on them. I found Fortune's Wake frustrating because the pace is so breakneck that there's no time for the horror of the monsters to set in, no sense of dread or tension building.
And we see so little tenderness between Kova and Ta’aliyah that I struggled to care about the romance. Jealousy and knives to the throat are all well and good (see: GTN), but if I’m supposed to believe they’re in love, give me something. I liked the idea of Kova and Sayre’s mentor–mentee relationship too, but it has little emotional impact because the book never lets us linger with either of them.
And we see so little tenderness between Kova and Ta’aliyah that I struggled to care about the romance. Jealousy and knives to the throat are all well and good (see: GTN), but if I’m supposed to believe they’re in love, give me something. I liked the idea of Kova and Sayre’s mentor–mentee relationship too, but it has little emotional impact because the book never lets us linger with either of them.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Fortune’s Wake is a tightly packed monster-hunting novella with a lot of heart beneath its teeth.
Kova of Stormwatch left home with a simple plan: slay beasts, earn coin, get the girl. Instead, she failed to secure an apprenticeship with the legendary Sayre Boarbane, and when she’s dragged back to Stormwatch, she finds her mother missing, her ex-girlfriend distant, and the very monsters she dreamed of hunting now pulling villagers into the sea. It’s a setup that moves fast and hits hard.
The worldbuilding is one of the novella’s greatest strengths. Clark creates a coastal setting that feels alive with danger and folklore, populated by sea creatures and supernatural horrors that are genuinely unsettling and creatively imagined. The island of Stormwatch has a texture and atmosphere that makes you want to explore every dark corner of it, and the lore surrounding its creatures is the kind of thing that lingers after you’ve finished reading. There’s a quality here that evokes the feeling of stepping into a Witcher short story or booting up Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, that same sense of adventure and mystery unfolding in a world that feels much larger than the pages contain.
Kova and Sayre are a great pair. Kova is stubborn, impulsive, and deeply motivated by the complicated love she has for the people she left behind. Sayre is the gruff, sarcastic lone wolf who struggles with vulnerability, a set of traits that Clark writes with real understanding and depth. Their dynamic carries the story and both characters grow in meaningful ways despite the novella’s compact length. The morally grey edges of the cast add further richness; even the antagonist operates from motivations you can understand, if not condone.
The mother-daughter relationship at the story’s core is one of its most compelling threads. It’s strained, complicated, and deeply felt, the kind of familial tension that will resonate with anyone who has loved someone difficult. Clark gives it the weight it deserves without letting it slow down the action.
If the novella has a limitation, it’s simply one of length. The relationship between Kova and her ex, Ta’aliya, could have benefited from more room to breathe. We understand the yearning but don’t always feel the full depth of what was lost. Some of the side characters and their motivations also feel slightly compressed by the format. But these are the natural tradeoffs of a novella, and Clark makes the most of every page she has.
The pacing is well handled, the action scenes are visceral and tense, and Clark’s prose paints vivid, immersive imagery throughout. This feels like the beginning of something larger, and I’d happily follow Kova and Sayre on whatever comes next.
Fortune’s Wake is a dark, atmospheric, emotionally grounded adventure. If you’re looking for badass monster hunters, haunting sea folklore, complicated women, and a story that packs a real punch in a short space, this one’s well worth your time.
Kova of Stormwatch left home with a simple plan: slay beasts, earn coin, get the girl. Instead, she failed to secure an apprenticeship with the legendary Sayre Boarbane, and when she’s dragged back to Stormwatch, she finds her mother missing, her ex-girlfriend distant, and the very monsters she dreamed of hunting now pulling villagers into the sea. It’s a setup that moves fast and hits hard.
The worldbuilding is one of the novella’s greatest strengths. Clark creates a coastal setting that feels alive with danger and folklore, populated by sea creatures and supernatural horrors that are genuinely unsettling and creatively imagined. The island of Stormwatch has a texture and atmosphere that makes you want to explore every dark corner of it, and the lore surrounding its creatures is the kind of thing that lingers after you’ve finished reading. There’s a quality here that evokes the feeling of stepping into a Witcher short story or booting up Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, that same sense of adventure and mystery unfolding in a world that feels much larger than the pages contain.
Kova and Sayre are a great pair. Kova is stubborn, impulsive, and deeply motivated by the complicated love she has for the people she left behind. Sayre is the gruff, sarcastic lone wolf who struggles with vulnerability, a set of traits that Clark writes with real understanding and depth. Their dynamic carries the story and both characters grow in meaningful ways despite the novella’s compact length. The morally grey edges of the cast add further richness; even the antagonist operates from motivations you can understand, if not condone.
The mother-daughter relationship at the story’s core is one of its most compelling threads. It’s strained, complicated, and deeply felt, the kind of familial tension that will resonate with anyone who has loved someone difficult. Clark gives it the weight it deserves without letting it slow down the action.
If the novella has a limitation, it’s simply one of length. The relationship between Kova and her ex, Ta’aliya, could have benefited from more room to breathe. We understand the yearning but don’t always feel the full depth of what was lost. Some of the side characters and their motivations also feel slightly compressed by the format. But these are the natural tradeoffs of a novella, and Clark makes the most of every page she has.
The pacing is well handled, the action scenes are visceral and tense, and Clark’s prose paints vivid, immersive imagery throughout. This feels like the beginning of something larger, and I’d happily follow Kova and Sayre on whatever comes next.
Fortune’s Wake is a dark, atmospheric, emotionally grounded adventure. If you’re looking for badass monster hunters, haunting sea folklore, complicated women, and a story that packs a real punch in a short space, this one’s well worth your time.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Grimdark Magazine for the ARC, it hasn’t affected my honest review.
TW: violence, gore, injury, death, alcoholism, animal injury
Release date: 24th August 2026
Kova of Stormwatch hasn’t been home in a year, having left her lover and her mother behind on the shore with the promise she’d return having made her fortune as a slayer of monsters or to die trying. However, in order to do that, she needs to get an apprenticeship with a master monster hunter and the best is Sayre Boarbane. Unfortunately, Sayre works alone. When Kova is dragged back home by Sayre after Stormwatch reports a contract, she’s disturbed to find life isn’t as she left it- her mother is presumed dead after going missing and her lover Ta’aliya has apparently moved on with a hunter named Veris. Determined to find her mother, Kova learns that the monsters Sayre is seeking- creatures emerging from the ocean where Stormwatch has safely fished for years- might just have been the ones to take her. Teaming up with the legendary hunter to save Stormwatch, Kova might finally get the chance to be the monster hunter she dreams of.
I’m such a huge fan of C.L. Clark’s writing and I was so excited to read this early- it’s such a quick paced and adventure filled novella with the most gorgeous cover. Like other works by this author, there’s a focus on dark topics- such as alcoholism, trauma and injury- but they’re handled so well as the plot gets deeper and more tense. Sayre reminded me of Geralt from The Witcher in the best possible way- she’s sarcastic, gruff but feels very deeply- and I loved how she gradually went from deeply frustrated at Kova to reluctantly fond of her newfound partner. For only 146 pages we learn so much about Kova as a character- her frustration with her mother, the devotion to Ta’aliya that’s kept her going this past year and her complicated connection to her home. I loved how Kova is desperately trying to make something of herself, even if it means risking life and limb. The setting is gorgeously atmospheric, whether it’s monsters coming flooding out of the surrounding ocean or while hunting through a series of tombs. Every character in this novella is significant and each one plays a role, no matter how small. I’m especially attached to Kova’s dog Fishbone. I would really love to read more in this world; I adore Kova and Sayre already and I feel like there’s so many more stories to tell here.
TW: violence, gore, injury, death, alcoholism, animal injury
Release date: 24th August 2026
Kova of Stormwatch hasn’t been home in a year, having left her lover and her mother behind on the shore with the promise she’d return having made her fortune as a slayer of monsters or to die trying. However, in order to do that, she needs to get an apprenticeship with a master monster hunter and the best is Sayre Boarbane. Unfortunately, Sayre works alone. When Kova is dragged back home by Sayre after Stormwatch reports a contract, she’s disturbed to find life isn’t as she left it- her mother is presumed dead after going missing and her lover Ta’aliya has apparently moved on with a hunter named Veris. Determined to find her mother, Kova learns that the monsters Sayre is seeking- creatures emerging from the ocean where Stormwatch has safely fished for years- might just have been the ones to take her. Teaming up with the legendary hunter to save Stormwatch, Kova might finally get the chance to be the monster hunter she dreams of.
I’m such a huge fan of C.L. Clark’s writing and I was so excited to read this early- it’s such a quick paced and adventure filled novella with the most gorgeous cover. Like other works by this author, there’s a focus on dark topics- such as alcoholism, trauma and injury- but they’re handled so well as the plot gets deeper and more tense. Sayre reminded me of Geralt from The Witcher in the best possible way- she’s sarcastic, gruff but feels very deeply- and I loved how she gradually went from deeply frustrated at Kova to reluctantly fond of her newfound partner. For only 146 pages we learn so much about Kova as a character- her frustration with her mother, the devotion to Ta’aliya that’s kept her going this past year and her complicated connection to her home. I loved how Kova is desperately trying to make something of herself, even if it means risking life and limb. The setting is gorgeously atmospheric, whether it’s monsters coming flooding out of the surrounding ocean or while hunting through a series of tombs. Every character in this novella is significant and each one plays a role, no matter how small. I’m especially attached to Kova’s dog Fishbone. I would really love to read more in this world; I adore Kova and Sayre already and I feel like there’s so many more stories to tell here.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
‘Fortune’s Wake’ was quite a nice & quick read! Two things I enjoyed most about this book were the worldbuilding and the main badass monster hunters, Kova and Sayre.
This novella is packed with a lot of action and adventure. After returning to her homeland, an island village by the sea, Kova works with Sayre and her (now) ex-girlfriend, Ta’aliyah, to find her mother, who has disappeared among other villagers. Along the way, they encounter creatures of legend that range from mysterious to dangerous, such as the Dretches: the ghosts of drowned villagers and sailors, whose souls refuse to rest. They’re so much cooler when you actually read the book though 😉
Now onto characters… Kova’s relationship with her mother is complicated and strained to say the least. However, I like how amidst the fight scenes and adventure, the book explores how despite this, Kova still loves her mother and would do literally anything to find her and get her back home safely. It reminds me of the type of complicated mother-daughter relationships far from unheard of among certain cultures (including my own...)
As expected in this type of Dark Fantasy book, there are several morally grey characters. For one, both Kova and Sayre are prone to acting out of their own self-interest. On the other hand, even the main antagonist has somewhat sympathetic motivations for the things they have done. I also like how Kova and Sayre are clearly into ladies, yet they both struggle and fumble with dating hehe.
As for Sayre, she’s a tough, sarcastic, lone wolf who struggles with vulnerability – a package of traits more often attributed to male characters – which is why I find her way more interesting than them. Nevertheless, Sayre grows in this novel too.
I only wish that ‘Fortune’s Wake’ was a little longer so it could explore certain aspects in more depth, especially the relationship between Kova and Ta’aliyah. It would have been good to see the better parts of their past relationship so Kova’s yearning could hit even harder (in my opinion at least). After all, throughout most of the book, Ta’aliyah is quite dismissive and bitter towards Kova. Though of course, there’s a reason they’re exes, which adds more stakes to the already-intriguing plot.
Once again, I really enjoyed reading ‘Fortune’s Wake’! Many thanks to Grimdark Magazine for sending me an eARC. If you want a quick read full of adventure, haunting sea creatures and ghosts, and badass, disaster lesbians, I recommend you check this book out when it’s published on 24 August 😊
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
My rating is 4.5
I love a good sea based story and CL Clark gives us one with Kova's journey when she tries to come home to Stormwatch.
Kova wants to be a monster hunter so leaves home and all she knows and loves. When she meets Sayre Boarbane, it's an immediate no from her being the master's apprentice. Sayre works alone! When a job comes up, Sayre and Kova (tagging along relentlessly) arrive back in Stormwatch to devastating news.
This news sets them and the town on a journey and a discovery of mythical sea creatures and enemies within the close knit town. Everyone seems to get pretty beat up in some tense battles.
Things go very bad for the duo and everyone around them, but help comes from an unlikely source and a pact is made for the future.
I thought the pacing of this novella was really well done. The characters are developed and I liked Sayre very much as a supporting cast member, she is smart, and sarcastic. There is a lot of emotion expressed through the story as Stormwatch has lost quite a few townsfolk to the sea. Shrouded in mystery, Kova deals with trying to find her missing mother and deal with the complications of her feelings for both her mother and her old flame, not quite gone out.
There were a few things that I didn't like as much. The interactions and relationship between Kova and Ta'aliya could have gone deeper on page....some of the emotion felt flat for me. It's hard to get everything into a novella so a minor dislike overall.
Thank you to Grimdark Magazine for the opportunity to read and review this title. My thoughts are my own.
I love a good sea based story and CL Clark gives us one with Kova's journey when she tries to come home to Stormwatch.
Kova wants to be a monster hunter so leaves home and all she knows and loves. When she meets Sayre Boarbane, it's an immediate no from her being the master's apprentice. Sayre works alone! When a job comes up, Sayre and Kova (tagging along relentlessly) arrive back in Stormwatch to devastating news.
This news sets them and the town on a journey and a discovery of mythical sea creatures and enemies within the close knit town. Everyone seems to get pretty beat up in some tense battles.
Things go very bad for the duo and everyone around them, but help comes from an unlikely source and a pact is made for the future.
I thought the pacing of this novella was really well done. The characters are developed and I liked Sayre very much as a supporting cast member, she is smart, and sarcastic. There is a lot of emotion expressed through the story as Stormwatch has lost quite a few townsfolk to the sea. Shrouded in mystery, Kova deals with trying to find her missing mother and deal with the complications of her feelings for both her mother and her old flame, not quite gone out.
There were a few things that I didn't like as much. The interactions and relationship between Kova and Ta'aliya could have gone deeper on page....some of the emotion felt flat for me. It's hard to get everything into a novella so a minor dislike overall.
Thank you to Grimdark Magazine for the opportunity to read and review this title. My thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Stubborn young adult meets gruff mentor with sapphic troubles.
Kova of Stormwatch left her mother and sweetheart weeping on the shore back home: leaving to make a fortune slaying beasts. However, she fails to secure an apprenticeship with a master monster hunter.
But it turns out the monsters have come to her island home.
Clark excels at writing young women who are angry at the world. Women who have been denied or who desire more. Those who try to heal with more action and anger.
This set up an interesting world in a short time. Character dynamics ere established snappishly which meant there wasn’t a lot of time for development or doubt.
There was also sparse descriptions. This could have been really creepy with creatures and dread, but the pace is kept fast with short scenes that don’t linger.
This seems like the start of a series, as well as feeling like you’re dropped into the middle of an established world or series. Like a short story collection from The Witcher.
Arc gifted by Grimdark Magazine.
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Kova of Stormwatch left her mother and sweetheart weeping on the shore back home: leaving to make a fortune slaying beasts. However, she fails to secure an apprenticeship with a master monster hunter.
But it turns out the monsters have come to her island home.
Clark excels at writing young women who are angry at the world. Women who have been denied or who desire more. Those who try to heal with more action and anger.
This set up an interesting world in a short time. Character dynamics ere established snappishly which meant there wasn’t a lot of time for development or doubt.
There was also sparse descriptions. This could have been really creepy with creatures and dread, but the pace is kept fast with short scenes that don’t linger.
This seems like the start of a series, as well as feeling like you’re dropped into the middle of an established world or series. Like a short story collection from The Witcher.
Arc gifted by Grimdark Magazine.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
August 9, 2026
A deftly penned novella that I hope will be one of a series! A young aspiring monster-hunter has failed in persuading a seasoned slayer to apprentice her, but has convinced her to return to her homeland with her to deal with an unknown threat… a nameless dread that is taking her folk.
Clark never goes easy on their heroines and this holds true for Kova, Sayre, and Tal - the girl Kova left behind, now called to quest alongside the pair to recover their kin. Kova has a lot to learn - about hunting, and about herself - but maybe so do the others.
It wouldn’t be Clark without lots of drama, both in the well-executed action scenes, eldritch dread and uncanny beings, and the emotional punches, as Kova’s relationship with her mother - and the rest of the islanders - is stretched and tested to breaking point, as is her self-hood and motivations.
My main criticism is it’s too short! There is so much left to explore here and I am hoping Clark does give us more: there is lots to delve into, not least from the sea-people and raiders, all of whom clearly have a lot of depth and history Clark has thought about, to Sayre, whom we follow less closely than Kova. Sequel please!
Clark never goes easy on their heroines and this holds true for Kova, Sayre, and Tal - the girl Kova left behind, now called to quest alongside the pair to recover their kin. Kova has a lot to learn - about hunting, and about herself - but maybe so do the others.
It wouldn’t be Clark without lots of drama, both in the well-executed action scenes, eldritch dread and uncanny beings, and the emotional punches, as Kova’s relationship with her mother - and the rest of the islanders - is stretched and tested to breaking point, as is her self-hood and motivations.
My main criticism is it’s too short! There is so much left to explore here and I am hoping Clark does give us more: there is lots to delve into, not least from the sea-people and raiders, all of whom clearly have a lot of depth and history Clark has thought about, to Sayre, whom we follow less closely than Kova. Sequel please!
September 5, 2026
Not sure how they did it, but this Novella SWEPT ME AWAY!
The story largely deals with our main character coming back home. Many of us either tried to leave home for riches and fame, or at the least know someone that did. The story tends to go as follows, person leaves and comes back home sooner or later and hasn't accomplished much.
Not much of that is different in Fortune's Wake. The real change happens when our friend makes it back home. Sometimes it takes going "home" to realize how much you've grown and changed. That's really it. Also, leave an EX IN THE PAST! They are usually there for a reason.
Before I ramble on too much longer... Monsters tend to be close to home, and fighting them means to fight oneself at times. I really enjoyed this too short adventure and hope that we get to see more of our new monster hunter friends. I am here for the lessons we might learn along the way and side quests we end upon. Clark did it again and I hope they continue this duo's adventures.
The story largely deals with our main character coming back home. Many of us either tried to leave home for riches and fame, or at the least know someone that did. The story tends to go as follows, person leaves and comes back home sooner or later and hasn't accomplished much.
Not much of that is different in Fortune's Wake. The real change happens when our friend makes it back home. Sometimes it takes going "home" to realize how much you've grown and changed. That's really it. Also, leave an EX IN THE PAST! They are usually there for a reason.
Before I ramble on too much longer... Monsters tend to be close to home, and fighting them means to fight oneself at times. I really enjoyed this too short adventure and hope that we get to see more of our new monster hunter friends. I am here for the lessons we might learn along the way and side quests we end upon. Clark did it again and I hope they continue this duo's adventures.
September 7, 2026
Its been a long time since I've had so much fun reading a book. This action packed novella didnt let up on the pace and it meant I couldnt put it down!
This story explores what life is like when you return to your home after time away (after attempting to make your riches) and it hits it perfectly on the head. As a reader I could really relate to this failed monster hunter returning home thinking life would have stayed the same to find that is never the case.
I think we can all relate to feeling like we would succeed at being a badass fighter/adventurer/[insert hero type here] only to realise that in reality its pretty hatd to succeed at this. A lot of losses and having your a** handed to you on a plate come between you and your glory and this book captures it perfectly.
Overall this is a wonderful book that I will re-read probably a thousand times and I will still enjoy it everytime. C.L. Clarke has done it again and I only wish I could convey in better terms how great this book is. 10/10
This story explores what life is like when you return to your home after time away (after attempting to make your riches) and it hits it perfectly on the head. As a reader I could really relate to this failed monster hunter returning home thinking life would have stayed the same to find that is never the case.
I think we can all relate to feeling like we would succeed at being a badass fighter/adventurer/[insert hero type here] only to realise that in reality its pretty hatd to succeed at this. A lot of losses and having your a** handed to you on a plate come between you and your glory and this book captures it perfectly.
Overall this is a wonderful book that I will re-read probably a thousand times and I will still enjoy it everytime. C.L. Clarke has done it again and I only wish I could convey in better terms how great this book is. 10/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A thank-you to the publisher, Grimdark Magazine, and to the author, C.L. Clark, for the e-ARC copy.
I enjoyed this work, although not as much as I did Clark’s previous works. But if you’re looking for a hearty adventure with lesbians, mommy issues, and family tension, this is it, like with their previous Magic of the Lost trilogy and Fate's Bane. The worldbuilding is great, and the characters believable enough and fallible enough that they seem like real people. I enjoyed the detailing—in the fights, the exploration, the settings themselves—and all of the imagery felt real enough that I felt like I was standing right there with Kova, Sayre, Ta’aliya, and the other characters we meet.
My only hangups really exist in some very similar names, but I think that’s just a me problem.
After finishing it, I felt very much like replaying Assassin’s Creed Black Flag to get my love of the sea our of my system. I’m looking forward to seeing where Sayre and Kova go next.
I enjoyed this work, although not as much as I did Clark’s previous works. But if you’re looking for a hearty adventure with lesbians, mommy issues, and family tension, this is it, like with their previous Magic of the Lost trilogy and Fate's Bane. The worldbuilding is great, and the characters believable enough and fallible enough that they seem like real people. I enjoyed the detailing—in the fights, the exploration, the settings themselves—and all of the imagery felt real enough that I felt like I was standing right there with Kova, Sayre, Ta’aliya, and the other characters we meet.
My only hangups really exist in some very similar names, but I think that’s just a me problem.
After finishing it, I felt very much like replaying Assassin’s Creed Black Flag to get my love of the sea our of my system. I’m looking forward to seeing where Sayre and Kova go next.
Review of advance copy
I had a fun time with Fortune's Wake by C.L. Clark kindly gifted by Grimdark magazine. This was a great short story with an interesting World, a grumpy/sunshine dynamic and creatures that had me hooked until the end.
Kova has left her Mum and her love on an island while on a search to find fame and fortune as a hunter. Having failed to secure either of these she returns home to find that monsters have attacked and killed villagers.
Sayre, formidable hunter is hired to save the town, but not all is at it seems. Kova and Sayre embark on the hunt of the monsters who have taken the villagers.
This felt like the beginning of something and I would have loved to have a more developed World and more to the story. I'd pick up future additions!
Kova has left her Mum and her love on an island while on a search to find fame and fortune as a hunter. Having failed to secure either of these she returns home to find that monsters have attacked and killed villagers.
Sayre, formidable hunter is hired to save the town, but not all is at it seems. Kova and Sayre embark on the hunt of the monsters who have taken the villagers.
This felt like the beginning of something and I would have loved to have a more developed World and more to the story. I'd pick up future additions!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Rating: 3.5 stars
In Fortune's Wake we're dropped into Kova's life. She's been gone from her home island for a year in pursuit of a monster hunting apprenticeship, but she's returning without much to show for her time away.
C.L. Clark builds an interesting world of monsters and myths and I wish there was more. Though Sayre, master monster hunter, appears on the cover of the book, she's really reduced to a secondary character. The story relies on plot points and relationships that were established prior to the start of the book, but I wanted to dive even deeper and so was left wanting. I would definitely be interested to read more of this world if C.L. Clark expands.
thank you to Grimdark Magazine for the advanced copy!
In Fortune's Wake we're dropped into Kova's life. She's been gone from her home island for a year in pursuit of a monster hunting apprenticeship, but she's returning without much to show for her time away.
C.L. Clark builds an interesting world of monsters and myths and I wish there was more. Though Sayre, master monster hunter, appears on the cover of the book, she's really reduced to a secondary character. The story relies on plot points and relationships that were established prior to the start of the book, but I wanted to dive even deeper and so was left wanting. I would definitely be interested to read more of this world if C.L. Clark expands.
thank you to Grimdark Magazine for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Check out our interview with CL here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDIGb...
I enjoyed this novella very much!
This was my first time reading CL's work, and I can see why there is a legion of fans who adore it. Especially for it being a novella, the amount of character work and creature battling was very well done. I think the novella length is the only drawback; I was so engrossed in the story, that I wish it was even longer, so the world building could be more fleshed out. But that's not a bad thing at all, the way CL writes makes you feel like you're living the story with the characters, and discovering things along the way about yourself.
The biggest positive is the relationships between characters. I was lucky enough to speak with CL on our podcast (which releases 8/5!) and hearing about how they go about creating such deep and sometimes volatile relationships between lovers, parents, and mentors was very insightful! I really loved it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDIGb...
I enjoyed this novella very much!
This was my first time reading CL's work, and I can see why there is a legion of fans who adore it. Especially for it being a novella, the amount of character work and creature battling was very well done. I think the novella length is the only drawback; I was so engrossed in the story, that I wish it was even longer, so the world building could be more fleshed out. But that's not a bad thing at all, the way CL writes makes you feel like you're living the story with the characters, and discovering things along the way about yourself.
The biggest positive is the relationships between characters. I was lucky enough to speak with CL on our podcast (which releases 8/5!) and hearing about how they go about creating such deep and sometimes volatile relationships between lovers, parents, and mentors was very insightful! I really loved it.
September 29, 2026
4.5 stars
Maybe this was closer to a 4 stars than a 5 stars for me, personally, but I'm always a little afraid that I'm harder on shorter books than on longer ones, since I nearly always prefer the latter. Still, for such a short novella there was quite a lot packed inside it: a very intriguing world, some complex, flawed characters, a very messy and complicated mother-daughter relationship, monster hunting, betrayals and some action.
Now that I think about it, this actually felt more like the prequel to an epic series, which explains how the mighty monster hunter protagonist got into the monster hunting business back when she was much younger and had almost no experience. It'd be cool if such a series ever happened. For now, though, this was a quick, gripping and fascinating read.
Maybe this was closer to a 4 stars than a 5 stars for me, personally, but I'm always a little afraid that I'm harder on shorter books than on longer ones, since I nearly always prefer the latter. Still, for such a short novella there was quite a lot packed inside it: a very intriguing world, some complex, flawed characters, a very messy and complicated mother-daughter relationship, monster hunting, betrayals and some action.
Now that I think about it, this actually felt more like the prequel to an epic series, which explains how the mighty monster hunter protagonist got into the monster hunting business back when she was much younger and had almost no experience. It'd be cool if such a series ever happened. For now, though, this was a quick, gripping and fascinating read.
August 25, 2026
Fortune's Wake is a compact, compelling fantasy novella with a good dose of horror, and with characters as engaging and memorable as I've come to expect from CL Clark. For such a short story, it has impressive thematic depth, rich world-building, and fleshed-out characters. I'd love to read more from this world, and especially from Kova and Sayre!
September 18, 2026
This novella was a lot of fun! I was super excited to read it because I had just finished the Magic of the Lost series (CL Clark's trilogy) right as it was coming out. I wasn't as sucked in by this one as I was by other of Clark's novels (I think I liked Fate's Bane a little more), but it was very cute and I liked it overall. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could it really was nice
September 23, 2026
3.75 stars
‘She was a good person, a better person than Kova. That had always been what Kova feared most.’
This was an extremely enjoyable novella. It felt fast paced, I connected well to the characters and I felt like there was truly something at stake with the mystery. Also, it was just a very compelling story that I very much had a great time reading.
‘She was a good person, a better person than Kova. That had always been what Kova feared most.’
This was an extremely enjoyable novella. It felt fast paced, I connected well to the characters and I felt like there was truly something at stake with the mystery. Also, it was just a very compelling story that I very much had a great time reading.
August 25, 2026
Always a pleasure
Always look forward to this author's books.
This book is set up for perfect series creation.
The angst is set, the wayward adventure awaits after a hard fought trial. Fast paced Action and yet, the development of complex characters.
Always look forward to this author's books.
This book is set up for perfect series creation.
The angst is set, the wayward adventure awaits after a hard fought trial. Fast paced Action and yet, the development of complex characters.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I'm part of GdM, but I had nothing to do with the creation of Fortune's Wake. My rating is based on my reading enjoyment of this excellent novella.
Review of advance copy received from Author
RTC! But yeah, NO SURPRISE, another banger from CL Clark.
September 4, 2026
3.5 stars
Huh. While this is my least favorite C. L. Clark book I've read, the idea of it was very interesting, and I'm glad I read it and I'd read more stories following Kova and Sayre.
Huh. While this is my least favorite C. L. Clark book I've read, the idea of it was very interesting, and I'm glad I read it and I'd read more stories following Kova and Sayre.
September 14, 2026
I wanted to like it more but frankly, Kova babe, you’re a bit of an idiot. I’d definitely prefer to read something that follows Sayre.
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