Whispered Malice
Coming December 1st
A city of secrets. A murder soaked in alchemy. A watchman with the power to feel too much.
After ten years of exile, Soren Thavere returns to Brumar—a wealthy trade city ruled by ancient families and the Conclave, practitioners of empathic magic which sees into and even influences emotions. This magic has given Brumar power and wealth, but the Conclave has extracted a price which includes expulsion all other magical practice.
Once a promising Conclave sentient, Soren has been summoned from exile after years spent hiding his talents behind a uniform in the distant port of Almakir. He arrives in Brumar as the Doge is assassinated in a flash of forbidden alchemical fire.
Assigned to the night watch and advised to maintain careful ignorance, Soren is dragged into a swirl of power, wealth, and magical influence—where nobles and the Conclave play games with the city’s soul and trade secrets with more value more than gold.
A combination perfect for fans of The Maltese Falcon, Chinatown, and The Lies of Locke Lamora, Whispered Malice is a gripping blend of dark magic, political intrigue, and emotional depth.
About Me
I write stories set in haunted cities, where fog creeps through alleys and justice wears a cracked mask. My debut novel Whispered Malice blends fantasy and noir—melding empathy-based magic, shadowy intrigue, and the kind of choices and desperation that echoes from the classic detective movies.
This is a dream I’ve had since I was in junior high. I had fun with theater, band, and sports, but reading was different. More than fun, I loved reading, and I imagined more than just reading the words. I wanted to write them and stories like the ones I loved. After years of false starts and self doubt, I’m giving this a shot and accepting the self doubt and nerves. I’m proud of this book, and I hope you enjoy it.
My writing is inspired by the sharp dialogue of Raymond Chandler, the moral complexity of Dashiell Hammett, the beauty of Ursula K. LeGuin’s words, and the immersive worlds of Tolkien and Arthur C. Clarke. Cyrano De Bergerac is my favorite hero in all of literature. He’s a hero in every way, except in how he saw himself.
Flawed characters and difficult choices fascinate me, and the characters who make something admirable from impossible situations stay with me forever.
Whispered Malice is a world where magic and its wielding has enormous emotional cost. It shows a character facing what it means to feel their own emotions while sometimes drowning in the feelings of others.
If you like stories with atmosphere, depth, and levels of danger, I invite you to step into the fog.
Edward E. Roberts