A cracked crystal isn’t supposed to be fatal, but someone is making it so.
When florist Rose tries to fix the fracture in her bonded crystal, she turns to a forbidden ritual that promises to “heal” what should never break. Instead, it leaves a trail of bodies and a whispering force that feeds on the cracks between soul and familiar.
As the line between healing and harm blurs, Rose is pulled deeper into a darkness while Junior Detective Maddy and her wolf familiar, Kael, are called to investigate.
Genre: Fantasy (Cozy Fantasy)
Age Suggestion: New Adult
Tropes: Talking Animals, Witchy Vibes, Magical Objects, Familiars, Soft Mystery/Crime
Trigger / CW: Mentions of Death and Suicide
Spice Warning: None (kissing only)
Author: M.S Hawthorn
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 222
Publication Date: March 15, 2026
ISBN: 979-8252242354
Series: The Emberward Familiars Book One
M.S. Hawthorn writes whimsical fantasy about the bonds between humans and their familiars, weaving together gentle magic and mystery
A Product Manager by day and writer by night, her work is inspired by her disabilities, love of crystals, spirituality and the unwavering feeling of being connected to a higher power.
Deer in Headlights, Part 1 of The Emberward Familiars series is a debut self-published tale that came straight out of her head and onto the page.
A cracked crystal isn’t supposed to be fatal, but someone is making it so.
When florist Rose tries to fix the fracture in her bonded crystal, she turns to a forbidden ritual that promises to “heal” what should never break. Instead, it leaves a trail of bodies and a whispering force that feeds on the cracks between soul and familiar.
As the line between healing and harm blurs, Rose is pulled deeper into a darkness while Junior Detective Maddy and her wolf familiar, Kael, are called to investigate.
Genre: Fantasy (Cozy Fantasy)
Age Suggestion: New Adult
Tropes: Talking Animals, Witchy Vibes, Magical Objects, Familiars, Soft Mystery/Crime
Trigger / CW: Mentions of Death and Suicide
Spice Warning: None (kissing only)
Author: M.S Hawthorn
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 222
Publication Date: March 15, 2026
ISBN: 979-8252242354
Series: The Emberward Familiars Book One
M.S. Hawthorn writes whimsical fantasy about the bonds between humans and their familiars, weaving together gentle magic and mystery
A Product Manager by day and writer by night, her work is inspired by her disabilities, love of crystals, spirituality and the unwavering feeling of being connected to a higher power.
Deer in Headlights, Part 1 of The Emberward Familiars series is a debut self-published tale that came straight out of her head and onto the page.
