Tarot and Turmoil

Rose Evans, a tarot reader and motorcycle daredevil with Silveria Circus, senses trouble when she reads for Lucy, a battered woman. Rose's intuition and empathy for women in peril are rooted in her own traumatic past. When Lucy's abusive husband, Matt Cranwell, threatens Rose, she's compelled to intervene. This act of defiance sets off a chain of violence and retribution, as Rose's vigilante instincts awaken. The circus, with its blend of magic and menace, becomes the backdrop for Rose's internal struggle between justice and self-preservation. Her actions, though well-intentioned, draw her into a dangerous game with Matt, a man whose cruelty is matched only by his cunning. The tarot cards, especially the Ace of Cups and The Tower, foreshadow upheaval and the arrival of a transformative love—one that will test Rose's resolve and redefine her sense of home and belonging.

The Doctor's Oath

After a violent confrontation with Matt leaves Rose with a shattered leg, she drags herself to the local clinic, breaking in to treat her own wounds. Dr. Fionn Kane, a brooding Irish physician with a haunted past, finds her unconscious and bleeding. Despite his own emotional scars, Fionn is drawn to Rose's vulnerability and strength. He saves her life, but their connection is immediate and electric, complicated by secrets and mutual distrust. Fionn's sense of duty wars with his growing fascination, and as he tends to Rose's injuries, he becomes entangled in her world of danger, darkness, and moral ambiguity. Their fates are now intertwined, and both sense that this encounter is only the beginning of something much larger—and much riskier—than either anticipated.

Broken Bones, Broken Trust

Rose's convalescence is marked by frustration and a sense of abandonment as the circus moves on without her. Fionn, meanwhile, is torn between his professional boundaries and his desire to protect—and understand—this enigmatic woman. As Rose struggles with her forced stillness, she forms tentative bonds with Fionn and the quirky townsfolk, including the Suture Sisters crochet club. Yet, the threat of Matt Cranwell lingers, and Rose's inability to act on her instincts leaves her restless. Both she and Fionn are haunted by their pasts: Rose by the violence she's both suffered and inflicted, Fionn by the family trauma that drove him to medicine and away from his brothers. Their mutual attraction simmers beneath the surface, complicated by secrets, guilt, and the ever-present specter of violence.

Circus of Shadows

Fionn invites Rose to recover at his house, offering her sanctuary from Matt and the outside world. The arrangement is fraught with tension—sexual, emotional, and existential. Rose, fiercely independent, resists vulnerability, while Fionn's protective instincts threaten to overwhelm his carefully constructed solitude. As they navigate domesticity, their chemistry intensifies, but so do the risks. Matt's proximity and the small-town rumor mill keep them on edge. Rose's vigilante impulses resurface when she encounters another abuser, Eric, and takes matters into her own hands with deadly consequences. Fionn, instead of recoiling, becomes her accomplice, helping to cover up the crime. Their alliance deepens, blurring the lines between right and wrong, healer and avenger, sanctuary and prison.

Strangers in Sanctuary

The arrival of Fionn's brother Rowan and his partner Sloane—herself a notorious serial killer—brings new complications. Their presence forces Fionn to confront his own darkness and the legacy of violence in his family. Rose, meanwhile, finds kinship with Sloane and the other women who have survived and fought back against abuse. The group's dynamic is a study in contrasts: love and brutality, loyalty and betrayal, healing and harm. As Rose and Fionn grow closer, their secrets threaten to consume them. The boundaries of their relationship are tested by jealousy, fear, and the ever-present possibility of exposure. The circus, once a symbol of freedom, now feels like a cage, and both must decide what—and who—they are willing to risk for a chance at happiness.

Secrets and Sutures

The sexual tension between Rose and Fionn finally erupts, leading to a passionate but rule-bound affair. They agree to a "no strings attached" arrangement, but their feelings quickly outpace their rules. Their intimacy is both a refuge and a battleground, as each struggles with trust, vulnerability, and the fear of loss. Meanwhile, the threat of Matt Cranwell escalates. He stalks Rose, piecing together her vigilante activities and implicating Fionn by association. The couple's attempts to maintain normalcy—through sex, humor, and domestic rituals—are constantly undermined by the violence that shadows their lives. The Suture Sisters, the circus family, and the broader community become both support systems and sources of risk, as the line between ally and adversary blurs.

The Hunt Begins

Rose's crusade against abusers intensifies, drawing her deeper into a cycle of violence and retribution. Fionn, once a healer, becomes complicit in her actions, his own moral compass spinning wildly. Matt, now disfigured and obsessed, hunts Rose with increasing ferocity, determined to destroy her and anyone who stands in his way. The narrative becomes a cat-and-mouse game, with Rose and Fionn alternating roles as hunter and hunted. Their love, forged in crisis, is tested by secrets, lies, and the ever-present threat of exposure. The circus, the town, and the haunted house become arenas for their battles—both internal and external—as they fight for survival, justice, and each other.

Blood and Boundaries

The confrontation with Matt comes to a head in a haunted house, where the boundaries between performance and reality, justice and vengeance, love and hate, are obliterated. Fionn, pushed to his limits, kills Matt to protect Rose, crossing a line from which there is no return. The aftermath is a maelstrom of guilt, relief, and existential dread. The couple's complicity binds them together, but also threatens to tear them apart. The consequences of their actions ripple outward, endangering their friends, family, and the fragile sanctuary they've built. The cost of survival is steep, and both must reckon with the darkness within themselves and each other.

Mayhem in the Heartland

In the wake of Matt's death, Fionn is blackmailed by Leander Mayes, a shadowy figure from his family's criminal past, into working as a clandestine surgeon for a global syndicate. Forced to disappear, Fionn leaves Rose with only cryptic letters and a broken heart. Rose, devastated and adrift, returns to the circus, her sense of purpose and identity fractured. Both are haunted by regret, longing, and the knowledge that their love, forged in violence, may be irreparably damaged. Their letters become lifelines, stitching together the remnants of their connection across continents and months of separation.

Reckoning at the Haunted House

As Rose and Fionn's paths diverge, each is forced to confront the consequences of their choices. Rose, now a legend among women seeking justice, grapples with the cost of her crusade and the emptiness left by Fionn's absence. Fionn, trapped in a world of violence and secrecy, clings to the hope of reunion even as he doubts his own worthiness. Their friends—Lark, Sloane, Rowan, and Lachlan—rally around them, offering support, tough love, and the promise of redemption. The haunted house, once a site of terror, becomes a symbol of the ghosts they must lay to rest before they can move forward.

Letters Across the Void

Separated by distance and danger, Rose and Fionn communicate through weekly letters, each accompanied by a tarot card. Their correspondence is a chronicle of grief, hope, and the slow process of healing. The letters become a ritual, a way to process trauma, express love, and imagine a future together. Each card—Five of Cups, The Moon, The Chariot, The Star—marks a stage in their journey from heartbreak to hope. The act of writing and reading becomes an act of faith, a testament to the power of love to endure even the darkest nights.

The Long Road Home

As Fionn's contract with Leander ends, he risks everything to find Rose, sending her one final letter with The Lovers card and an invitation to meet at Lookout Rock. Rose, torn between fear and longing, makes the journey, uncertain if forgiveness and a future are possible. Their reunion is fraught with pain, vulnerability, and the weight of all that has passed between them. Yet, in the act of choosing each other again, they begin to stitch their broken hearts back together, one letter, one touch, one promise at a time.

Stitched Hearts, Shattered Rules

Rose and Fionn, now reunited, must renegotiate the terms of their relationship. The rules that once protected them—no strings, no promises, no vulnerability—are dissolved in favor of honesty, commitment, and the willingness to risk everything for love. Their friends and found family gather to celebrate their reunion, offering forgiveness, acceptance, and the promise of new beginnings. The scars they bear—physical and emotional—become symbols of survival, resilience, and the power of love to heal even the deepest wounds.

The Sparrow's Flight

Rose, once the Sparrow who helped women escape abuse, reclaims her role—not as a vigilante, but as a beacon of hope and agency. She finds meaning in her pain, using her story to empower others and break cycles of violence. Fionn, too, embraces his true self, no longer running from his past or the darkness within. Together, they forge a new path, one that honors their scars and celebrates their capacity for joy, connection, and transformation.

Reunion at Lookout Rock

At Lookout Rock, Rose and Fionn finally lay their ghosts to rest. Their reunion is both a reckoning and a renewal, as they choose each other—fully, fearlessly, and without reservation. The Lovers card, the final tarot in their deck, becomes a symbol of their hard-won happiness. Their engagement, witnessed by friends and family, is a testament to the power of forgiveness, vulnerability, and the willingness to leap into the unknown.

Healing in the Dark

Rose and Fionn settle into a new home, surrounded by the people and creatures (including the infamous raccoon, Barbara) who have become their family. Their love, once forged in crisis, is now sustained by daily acts of care, humor, and mutual support. The sex swing—crafted by the Suture Sisters—becomes a symbol of their playful, passionate partnership. Together, they continue to write letters, mapping their journey from darkness to light, from brokenness to wholeness.

The Show Must Go On

The extended family—Rowan, Sloane, Lachlan, Lark, and others—gather for their annual showdown, a celebration of survival, love, and the bonds that have carried them through hell and back. The scars they bear are honored, their stories shared, and their futures imagined with hope and humor. The circus, once a symbol of escape, is now a place of belonging, transformation, and joy.

Maps to Forever

In the final chapters, Rose and Fionn reflect on the journey that brought them together—the violence, the loss, the healing, and the love that endures. Their letters, once a lifeline across the void, are now a map to forever. The story ends not with a happily ever after, but with the promise of a life lived fully, bravely, and together—no matter what darkness may come.

Characters

Rose Evans

Rose is a motorcycle daredevil, tarot reader, and the "Sparrow" who helps women escape abuse. Scarred by a traumatic childhood and a string of violent relationships, she channels her pain into action, becoming both avenger and protector. Her empathy is matched by her recklessness, and her journey is one of learning to trust, to accept help, and to believe she is worthy of love. Rose's relationship with Fionn is transformative, forcing her to confront her own darkness and embrace vulnerability. Her development is marked by a shift from isolation and self-reliance to connection and interdependence. She is both haunted and healed by her past, and her greatest strength is her refusal to let fear define her future.

Dr. Fionn Kane

Fionn is an Irish doctor running from a violent family legacy and his own capacity for darkness. His life is defined by guilt, duty, and a desperate need to atone for the sins of his father—and his own. Fionn's relationship with Rose awakens both his protective instincts and his suppressed desires for connection, passion, and purpose. He is torn between the roles of healer and avenger, struggling to reconcile his oath to do no harm with the violence he is drawn into. Fionn's journey is one of self-acceptance, as he learns to embrace his complexity, forgive himself, and risk everything for love. His development is catalyzed by Rose, whose courage and chaos force him to confront the parts of himself he has long denied.

Matt Cranwell

Matt is the embodiment of toxic masculinity and domestic violence, a man who terrorizes his family and targets Rose for daring to intervene. His pursuit of Rose is relentless, escalating from intimidation to attempted murder. Matt's role is that of the ever-present threat, a reminder of the dangers faced by women who resist abuse. His eventual death at Fionn's hands is both a moment of catharsis and a source of lasting trauma for the protagonists.

Rowan Kane

Rowan is Fionn's older brother, a man with his own violent past and a deep loyalty to family. His relationship with Sloane, a serial killer, is both a source of dark humor and a mirror for Fionn's own struggles with morality. Rowan's presence forces Fionn to confront the legacy of violence in their family and the possibility of redemption. He is both comic relief and emotional anchor, offering tough love, support, and a reminder that healing is possible—even for the most broken.

Sloane Sutherland (Kane)

Sloane is a notorious killer with a code, a woman who has turned her trauma into a weapon against those who prey on others. Her relationship with Rowan is passionate, volatile, and deeply loving. Sloane serves as a mentor and mirror for Rose, offering both camaraderie and caution. Her presence in the story blurs the line between justice and vengeance, and her development is marked by a growing capacity for trust, vulnerability, and joy.

Lachlan Kane

Lachlan is the eldest Kane brother, a man who has carried the weight of family trauma and responsibility for too long. His relationship with Lark is a source of healing and hope, but also of new challenges. Lachlan's role is that of protector and fixer, but his inability to save everyone—especially Fionn—forces him to confront his own limitations and the need for forgiveness.

Lark

Lark is a friend to Rose, Sloane, and the Kane brothers, a woman whose optimism and resilience are hard-won. Her journey is one of reclaiming agency, building community, and refusing to be defined by her past. Lark's presence is a source of light and levity, but also of strength and solidarity.

Leander Mayes

Leander is the head of a global criminal syndicate, a man who wields power through secrets, blackmail, and violence. His manipulation of Fionn is both a test and a crucible, forcing the doctor to confront the limits of his morality and the cost of survival. Leander is both antagonist and catalyst, a reminder that the world is full of predators—and that sometimes, survival requires becoming one.

José Silveria

José is the heart of Silveria Circus, a man who offers Rose the home and family she never had. His warmth, wisdom, and unconditional love are a source of stability and hope. José's role is that of mentor, confidant, and moral compass, guiding Rose through her darkest moments and celebrating her triumphs.

Barbara (the raccoon)

Barbara is the infamous raccoon who haunts Fionn's clinic and later becomes Rose's companion. Her antics provide levity and symbolize the unpredictable, untamable nature of life—and love—in the world of Scythe & Sparrow.

Plot Devices

Dual Protagonist, Alternating POV

The story alternates between Rose and Fionn's perspectives, allowing readers to experience both the external action and the internal emotional landscapes of the protagonists. This device heightens suspense, deepens empathy, and underscores the ways in which trauma, love, and healing are experienced differently by each character. The alternating POV also allows for dramatic irony, as readers are privy to secrets and motivations that the characters themselves may not fully understand or reveal.

Tarot as Foreshadowing and Symbol

Tarot readings punctuate the narrative, serving as both literal plot devices and metaphors for the characters' journeys. Cards like The Tower, The Lovers, The Star, and The Chariot foreshadow upheaval, transformation, and the possibility of redemption. The act of drawing cards becomes a ritual of hope, a way for characters to make sense of chaos and imagine new futures. The final exchange of tarot cards in their letters becomes a map of healing and reunion.

Found Family and Chosen Community

The circus, the Suture Sisters, and the extended Kane family provide a network of support, challenge, and accountability. These communities are both sources of strength and sites of conflict, forcing characters to confront their own limitations, accept help, and redefine what it means to belong. The found family motif is a counterpoint to the violence and abandonment of the past, offering a vision of healing through connection.

Letters as Lifeline

When Fionn is forced into exile, he and Rose communicate through weekly letters, each accompanied by a tarot card. This device sustains their relationship across distance and time, allowing for reflection, confession, and the slow process of forgiveness. The letters are both a chronicle of grief and a testament to the enduring power of love.

Violence as Catalyst and Consequence

The story is punctuated by moments of intense violence—fights, murders, and confrontations—that serve as crucibles for character development. Each act of violence forces the protagonists to confront their own darkness, question their morality, and make choices about who they want to be. The consequences of violence—trauma, guilt, and the need for atonement—are explored with nuance and depth.

Humor and Dark Comedy

The narrative is laced with irreverent humor, banter, and absurdity (including sex swings, raccoons, and the Suture Sisters' antics). This dark comedy provides relief from the intensity of the subject matter, humanizes the characters, and underscores the resilience required to survive—and thrive—in a world full of pain.

Analysis

Scythe & Sparrow is a darkly comic, fiercely romantic exploration of trauma, survival, and the messy, beautiful work of healing. At its core, the novel asks what it means to choose love in a world that is often violent and unforgiving. Through the intertwined journeys of Rose and Fionn, the story interrogates the boundaries between justice and vengeance, vulnerability and strength, isolation and connection. The use of tarot as both plot device and metaphor underscores the tension between fate and agency, reminding readers that while the future is uncertain, hope is always possible. The novel's humor, found family, and unapologetic embrace of both darkness and joy offer a powerful message: healing is not about erasing scars, but about learning to live—and love—fully in spite of them. The lessons are clear: survival is an act of rebellion, love is a risk worth taking,

Last updated: May 21, 2025