Wing and Arrow: Zaccai's Story

The Night & Its Moon #2.5

by Piper C.J.

This novelette follows Zaccai, Raascot's spymaster. We peer into his life in the military camps, and his complicated romance between a mortal woman and a fae male as we get to know Gwydir's troops, queer love, and the double-edged sword of espionage.

Wing and Arrow is a part of the Gyrradin universe and meant to be read after The Sun and Its Shade, Book Two.

This novella is only available as an ebook outside of the US and Canada. If you live within the US or Canada, please see the Barnes & Noble exclusive of The Sun and Its Shade for access to Zaccai's novella.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, LGBT, Romantasy

84 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2023

About the author

Fantasy author with an M.A. in Folklore, who loves to take pictures, eat french fries, and live my life as an all-around creative forest nymph! I'm so excited to bring you with me on my journey as I step out of our everyday lives and into the new fantasy world within The Night and Its Moon fantasy series!

I wrote these books for an audience of one, and that audience was me. I wanted to see bi representation, love, mental health struggles, religious trauma, and overcoming the of obstacles that I needed to be modeled in my own life. At the end of the day I'm so proud of myself for creating the series that I'd always hoped I could read, and I hope someone is able to connect with them in a way that I have.

Reviews

[Reads With Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t like it.
Review:
https://youtu.be/v87dKw3mAVk

(Reviews are for readers)

[Talia Devereaux · Rating 1 out of 5]

warning: there are spoilers

I really don’t even understand what the point of this novella was, tbh with you. To give a bad representation of group dynamics? Gay men? Women in the army? There’s not one moment where we ever really get to know any of the characters in this little novella. All we know is that they all want to fuck one another.

We start with Zaccai and Briar in bed. Briar is expressing interest in another soldier who is up for a promotion. She complains that she’s not allowed to sleep with people in her unit because then the dating pool would be so much larger. This honestly makes women in the military look so bad. Like she's only there to bone the whole army. It's never really expanded on why she decided to join the army in the first place, she merely is interested in fucking the battalion. The only other woman introduced in this short story is immediately suspected of basically the same thing. Gadriel sees her and assumes she has a crush on him or on 'military life', meaning she's basically an army groupie. That's a terrible way to depict women in the army, considering all of the women who are assaulted in the army all the time.

Briar suggests they add a third to their dynamic. This guy name Wren gets introduced, and they play fuck, marry, kill(bed, wed, behead), and would you rather. They get drunk and then bone. There is literally not even porn without a plot in this there’s not even badly-written sex to entertain me. I'm genuinely wondering why this was even written in the first place. You don't need to publish every single word you barf out, Piper.

The funniest part about fuck marry kill is one of the options is the All-Mother and knowing that Piper literally commissioned a portrait of herself as the All-Mother just really ramps up her narc status in my eyes. Like, wow, let's portray myself as the goddess of my own book series. Okay.

They play truth or dare. Wren has never been with a man alone before, so Briar dares Wren and Zaccai to sleep with each other while she watches and again, there’s a big nothing burger to this. Then Briar gets sent away to the front lines leaving Wren and Zaccai to continue their relationship alone. Again, there is nothing. No conversations between the two. No expansion of their relationship. We’re just told they fuck without kissing. (Wow, another terrible depiction of gay men.)

Then Briar returns, and Wren is pissed; he thought they’d ‘moved past her’. He tells Gadriel he thought "he saw him for him" (wtf does that even mean?) when he has literally never expressed interest in changing the dynamic to just the two of them. Like, did he just assume because Briar was gone, she would be naturally phased out?? Wtf?

Briar dumps Zaccai, and then it’s revealed that Wren actually volunteered Briar to go to the front lines so he could have Zaccai to himself, and so they could sleep together without Briar. Zaccai gets pissed, calls this the most vile crime he has everheard of and has Wren arrested and imprisoned. Then years later, he sees Briar with her new husband, and that’s it.

That’s all that happens in this story. Don't know if Zaccai ever saw Wren again. Don't know if Wren was executed all because Zaccai's dick was so good. Don't understand what Zaccai saw in Briar in the first place for him to be so fascinated by her. This was a nothing burger. This was a waste of time and valuable paper.

Zaccai’s dick was so good that Wren ruined his whole life for it LMFAO.

Also, Piper. Dredges do not mean what you think it does. You mean dregs. Dredges is a literal verb; it means to clear something or bring something up, like dredging up a memory. Dregs are the remnants of a liquid in a container. That’s the one you meant to use. You probably should’ve gotten an EDITOR but I know you’re allergic to those.

[Eline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dit was een kleine novelle tussen boek 2 en 3. Alleen het viel me een beetje tegen. Het karakter waar het boek over gaat weten we nog niet zoveel van na de eerste 2 boeken, maar zelfs na deze novelle heb ik het idee dat ik niet veel over hem heb geleerd. Ik had het leuker gevonden als het over zijn avonturen als spion ging in plaats van zijn tijdelijk relatie met een man en een vrouw. Hou van de queer representatie maar had graag wat meer avontuur gewild.

[Rayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zaccai’s novella was exactly what I needed after finishing TSAIS because I was missing him a bit after falling so in love with his character in TNAIM. Cai gave me bi energy from👏the👏jump👏, so getting to see his past lovers was so fun. I also love the poly representation! We get a look into the spymaster/commander’s romantic relationship with a human female (Briar - aka a name I’ve always wanted for my future child lol) & a fae male (Wren), who are also in the army. We also get more moments between he & his bestie/general, so Gadriel fans (it’s me, hi) will enjoy those moments as well.

The side characters’ novellas (either as a stand-alone outside of US or added into the end of each main book’s B&N edition) are such great additions to the series. Are they absolutely necessary for driving the main plot forward? No. But I think some of the negative reviews I saw are kind of missing that that’s not the point! lol
They are meant to give you some backstory on characters that aren’t given the context in the main storylines. They show glimpses of their past relationships & also show some pretty upsetting moments from their past to give some insight to their characters.

[Luce McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite pastry loving boy has his own beautiful backstory and I’ve already read it five times. Zaccai s m’a story is so beautifully heartbreaking but it is a MUST read if you’re as in love with the TNAIM series as I am.

[Autumn Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little short story, a rather sad ending though, but it just shows the lives of fae vs. humans in the series

[Cristina Ciborowski Escoffery · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know why his name is Zaccai? Cause it rhymes with bi (not even really a joke). We haven't really seen a lot from Cai either throughout the first two books but this is the most spice we've gotten so far in the series. The devastating part of this novella was that Cai was falling in love with a human and she (Briar) introduced a threesome into their arrangement to keep things lighthearted (she knew she was grow old and die and told Cai they would never work from the beginning). Cut to the third player (Wren) falling in love with Cai and sending Briar to the front lines so he could have Cai all to himself (that didn't go over well lmtys (let me tell you something)). So basically Cai looses both of his paramours and the ending of the books is [insert decades here] years later when Cai spots Briar at a bar but she's long since gone gray and is married with kids. CAN WE GET A MOMENT OF PEACE WOMAN I MEAN COME ON

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the backstory & the writing in this one - I love getting to see an author’s progression in their work.

I really enjoyed flushing out Zaccai’s story, but he still feels so removed to me from the role he’s playing in the main story. I wish this would have entertained a bit more, but given that it’s a smidge of another prequel, I can understand it a bit. It just fell a little flat.

[Oshun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love that Piper gives us backstories in these novellas! I think it’s important to see flashes from their past. I love how this author explores complex relationships and emotions in her stories. Can’t wait to see where these characters end up!

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little slice of backstory for both Zaccai and Gad. Also gives an interesting view in life in the north. I am really enjoying these novellas as they really do add a lot of flavour to the world and the character building.

[Maria Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it’s a Novella, but man I wish it was longer.
Definitely wasn’t expecting to get to know this character in this intimate of a way, but of course it leaves you wanting to know more about them too!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My least favorite of the TNAIM novellas so far (I've read 3/4), but I was still very upset about the ending of TSAIS when I read it so I may have just had a hard time shifting gears. It has all the heartbreak and spice you could ever want though.

[Jessica L Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect

I loved him before and now understand him and his mystery and deep soulfulness more. Piper is amazing for creating such amazing characters and growing them the way she so effortlessly seems to do.

[Mandy Nicole Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the novellas that give us a peek into some characters’ back stories. Zaccai’s story is bittersweet. I love the ending. No spoilers though. You have to read it!

[Soap · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what it was about or why I was reading it when I started, but I was crying by the end. I did not expect to have my heart ripped out in 60 pages. Kudos

[Joee Star Segovia · Rating 5 out of 5]

😩🖤

[Nicole Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3.5

[Jojo Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short story was cute but meh at best for me

[birdiegirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥲 the ending

[Sage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very smutty, quick and easy to read. Enjoyable. Not earth shattering like a lot of Piper’s other work. But still very good.

[Briana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love seeing a poly relationship. Interested to see if zaccai will now become important or if he'll just be killed off too

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed getting a glimpse into Zaccai’s past. He’s a bad ass but ultimate softy at heart.

[Dicksie Braud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just fanning myself because wow.

[Taylor Gilbert · Rating 2 out of 5]

i don’t really see the point in this it did not add anything to Zaccais character or anything. mid.

[johanna everding · Rating 3 out of 5]

good and interesting but unnecessary to have for the series. however that seems to be a trend with these books so I won't hold it against them.

[Kalie Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is only 70 pages, and yet the editor still wasn't able to catch all the typos. On some pages, there were multiple typos in a single paragraph.

[Michaelann Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet!

I loved the back story for Zaccai. Interesting and lovely. I highly recommend this book. I will definitely keep reading Piper's stories.

[Andrea Brado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piper’s novellas are a must read. She deepens the relationship between a character and the reader by providing context and often hidden layers that reflect in the main series. Understanding these characters to such a depth helped me appreciate their thoughts and actions in the main series.

Yay for a spicy novella! We have an unlikely twosome. Turned into an unlikely threesome. Becomes a left behind twosome. Then a potential threesome which results in a lonesome.

We witness heartbreak. The risks of betting on hope. How fighting for love can be a selfish game. We are reminded that love is not finite.

The reader is given some light background on the relationship between Gad and Cai. Along with additional context around Ceres and the beginning of the demon invasion. We also meet a character who will be introduced in book three. They remained unnamed in this light crossing of paths but after book three it is apparent who this is.

The partial character closure breaks our hearts in a different way than Odrin’s novella did. My love for Cai deeply increased in understanding his story.

—- Quotes —-

“One could endure any of life's unpleasantries with someone lovely in their bed.” - pg. 527

“He melted into her like little more than butter over warm bread, body and soul utterly drained.” - pg. 529

“… she believed with her whole heart that when one's existence was short, no moment should be wasted.” - pg. 530

“The tragedies… had cracked him and reformed him in pained, shadowed shapes.” - pg. 537

“Perhaps he hadn’t seen that like paper cut after paper cut, her minor rejections had compiled into a deep, throbbing wound.” - pg. 552

[Lindsey Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVEDDDD this novella!! When we meet Zaccai in The Night and it’s Moon series he seems so happy go lucky and up beat all the time, so seeing more facets of his personality was so interesting and made me love him even more.

I really enjoyed the bi male rep and I feel like that is so so hard to find in books! Piper has a way of pulling you into the characters to the point you can understand everyone’s point of view and really experience their emotions.

[Jay Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is no reason for this novella to exist. I feel like the previous two at least revealed something interesting about the characters which helped to contextualize their actions in the novels, but this one just feels out of left field. Depressing, confusing, and maybe even homophobic?