Hemlock and Sage

by Tali Inlow

In Makasing, the Adanadi ceremony is a nearly universal rite of passage into adulthood. It binds the recipient to their chosen Path animal and, in some cases, bestows upon them a supernatural gift. For most, it is a ceremony focused on that single individual, surrounded by family and loved ones. But Niya and Tusika are not your average citizens of Cahokia. Best friends with a bond that goes beyond sisterhood, the two young women have chosen to undergo the ceremony together.

But each of them brings with them their own secrets and burdens. Niya comes from a modest background and her family has never received special Abilities from the Adanadi. Tusika's family has power and a long line of Abilities—and the expectations that come with that. When the ceremony does not go as planned for either of them, their worlds begin to spark and smoke. And when a strange, passionate young woman shows up with stories of a dark cult and asking for help, there's nothing that can stop it from bursting into flames.

Hemlock & Sage is the first novel set in the world of Coyote & Crow, an alternate history science fantasy where colonization of the Americas never happened. Instead, after a climate disaster alters the course of history around the world, advanced civilizations develop over centuries, fueled by Indigenous knowledge, culture and determination and powered by the mysterious Adanadi that arrived in the wake of the disaster.

Genres: Indigenous, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult

389 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2022

About the author

Tali Inlow is a queer, Native woman and writer of fantastical nonsense.

By day, she is a healthcare professional with the federal government.

By night, she gives writing a go.

Always, she is a wife to Bridget and cat-mom to Porch Kitty, Hazel, and Cha-Cha.

Reviews

[Tali Inlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an absolute privilege and joy to write. It is a novel set in the in-game universe of the TTRPG “Coyote & Crow”. Check the game out at coyoteandcrow.net!

[Molly Steen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hemlock & Sage was a really fun read that kept me turning the pages! It’s an adventure with a love story, but more than anything, it’s about a young Cahokian woman coming of age—and figuring out what that means for her and not anyone else. Lovely, queer, indigipunk futurism, set in the world of the TTRPG Coyote & Crow.

[Paul Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this first foray into the world of Coyote and Crow - I've read through the sourcebook and appreciated the attention to detail and consistency throughout.

I do think that the pacing of this book suffers a bit from the need to explain a lot of lore / worldbuilding while maintaining the personal stakes for the characters, but I am looking forward to seeing more stories in this universe that show more interesting corners and facets of it.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A promising novel, loved some of the themes and especially the fabulous setting of the book. Without some pacing issues and with some extra finetuning I would've rated this higher.

I'm intrigued and want to compare it to the source books of the game and I definitely think there need to be more of these written.