Bookshops & Bonedust

Fern is Viv’s first friend in Murk. Fern is “a tiny rattkin wearing a short red cloak” (22). Her first words upon finding Viv in her store—“Oh, fuck!”—are incongruous with her diminutive appearance. Fern’s expletive-filled speech surprises Viv, who tells her that “every rattkin [she’s] ever met was such a soft, shy little thing” (23). Fern’s exclamations add a humorous touch to the narrative. Fern immediately reinforces the idea that people shouldn’t be judged by their appearances, especially in Murk.

Fern is part of Viv’s found family and is the heart of the group. Fern’s bookstore is an extension of her and quickly becomes the gathering place for Viv’s newfound community. Fern’s high emotional intelligence makes her a valuable resource for her customers, a quality on display in her recommendations to Viv. Because of her keen understanding of Viv, Fern can guide Viv’s reading and her use of Books as a Means of Self-Discovery.

As a friend, Fern is fiercely loyal. For example, once Satchel is a part of their group, she defends him and presents him to her new book club. On the negative side, her loyalty leads to stagnation in her own life. At the beginning of the novel, Fern and her bookstore are static, unchanged since the time when Fern’s father died.

By helping other characters discover the power of reading, Fern goes through a process of self-discovery as well—in her case, rediscovering her love for her work. With Viv’s help, Fern experiences a perspective shift. She stays with the bookstore, rediscovering why she loves it. With Viv’s help, Fern lays claim to the physical space of the bookstore, renovating, updating, and adding a few of her own touches, shifting the space from her father’s domain to hers.

Maylee, a dwarf, is the owner of the Sea Song Bakery and Viv’s love interest in the novel. Until she retired and opened the bakery, she was a mercenary like Viv. Her attraction to Viv is instant, and she pursues Viv in a lightly flirtatious way that leaves no doubt as to her interest. From Viv’s reaction, it is clear that Maylee is the first person to approach her this way. Their relationship is an important point of growth for Viv.

Maylee has a “pink-cheeked grin” and “[wears] her hair bound in a thick blond braid” (38). She is straightforward and honest, communicating clearly both her interest in Viv and her understanding of the limitations of their relationship. Maylee understanding of Viv’s career as her current top priority allows Viv the chance to experience the intimacy of a romantic relationship while giving her the freedom to be herself. Maylee shows wisdom in her understanding of her relationship with Viv. She talks about the importance of timing, telling Viv: “I’m headed down the hill, and you’re headed up it. I’m just glad we chanced to meet on the way” (322). In addition, Maylee’s retirement from mercenary work foreshadows Viv’s own retirement, the subject of Legends & Lattes, the first book of the series.

Gallina is a gnome and aspiring mercenary. After finding out that Viv is one of Rackam’s Ravens, she becomes a near-constant companion. She is “younger than Viv by at least a few years” (47), and aspires to be just like her, although her preferred weapon is knives. Gallina is first introduced when Viv finds the gnome in her favorite chair at The Perch: “A pair of goggles held back her spiky orange hair, and a set of bare-bladed knives gleamed on her bandolier” (47). Unlike the other residents of Murk, Gallina sees Viv primarily as a warrior and is impressed by her membership in Rackam’s Ravens. This is one of the purposes of Gallina’s character—to offer a perspective on Viv’s occupation and prowess from one who admires her professionally and aspires to her level. Like Maylee, Gallina offers the reader a perspective on being a mercenary. While Maylee portrays a mercenary who has decided to leave the business, Gallina shows the reader the enthusiasm of a new recruit.

Like so many of the other characters in Viv’s found family, Gallina suffers from the assumptions that others make about her based on her appearance. As Viv notes, she is “hardly bigger than a human child, her head didn’t clear the tabletop by much” (47). However, Gallina surprises Viv both with her assertive behavior and her battle skills—she saves Viv’s life in her fight with Balthus. By the end of the novel, Viv fully sees Gallina’s worth both as a companion and a fighter and introduces her to Rackam’s Ravens as “the girl that saved my ass in a street fight” (184).

Satchel is another member of Viv’s found family. He is a spirit, manifesting when bonedust “activates the scripts” carved into his bones, a process known as “osseoscription” (160). Satchel’s bones are “pearly and clean, and a tracery of blue lines veined them […]. Curls of cobalt flame licked the interior of [his] orbital sockets” (162). He is polite and melancholy, and Viv notes that “that cold odor of winter blood was nowhere to be found” (162). This indicates to her that he is not evil like the rest of Varine’s army.

Because of his enchantment, Satchel is bound to Varine the Pale, but in the end, he is instrumental in putting an end to her. Satchel’s membership in Viv’s Murk community illustrates an important point about this circle of friends: They have all been misjudged because of their appearance, but experience belonging and acceptance through their found family. Fern in particular makes this clear as she defends Satchel against anyone who doubts him, introducing him to her new book club and the larger community of Murk.

Satchel’s freedom is an important point. He has been enchanted to serve Varine, but after he transfers his loyalties to Viv and her friends, he still feels compelled to serve in some way. Fern’s discomfort with this situation, in which Satchel cleans her store without payment, shows the importance of agency in these friendships. The clear communication with which Satchel and Fern set the parameters of their relationship is characteristic of this group of friends.