Hunted in the Rain

The story opens with Madinia, a fierce and traumatized woman, aboard a pirate ship in a storm, hunted by Kyldare, the brutal right hand of Queen Vicana. The attack is relentless, and Madinia's power—fire—proves nearly useless in the rain. As the pirates are slaughtered, Kyldare corners Madinia, threatening a child to force her surrender. Madinia sacrifices herself to save the crew, agreeing to go with Kyldare. She is taken prisoner, her fate sealed by the queen's obsession with a powerful artifact: the grimoire.

The Tower's Thorned Prison

Three years pass with Madinia paralyzed in a tower, surrounded by deadly thorns she controls with borrowed dark power. She is visited and tormented by Kyldare and his witch, Bridin, who seek the grimoire's location. Madinia's mind fractures under the isolation and trauma, but her rage and the thorns keep her alive. She kills would-be attackers, her sanity fraying as she waits for rescue or death, haunted by memories and the grimoire's call.

Calysian's Ageless Search

Calysian, a mysterious, ageless being, wanders the continent, driven by a sense of loss and rage. He has no memory of his origins, only the knowledge that something vital—a book—was taken from him. He is accompanied by Eamonn, a shapeshifter cursed to animal forms. Calysian's path is fated to cross with Madinia's, as both are drawn to the grimoire and the vengeance it represents.

The Pirate Queen's Betrayal

Flashbacks reveal Madinia's time with Daharak, the pirate queen, and her crew—her found family. Their ship was destroyed in the attack that led to Madinia's capture. The trauma of their loss and the guilt of survival haunt Madinia, fueling her determination to resist Kyldare and protect the grimoire at all costs.

The Witch's Chains

Kyldare's obsession with the grimoire leads to increasingly cruel methods. Bridin, a black witch, uses magic to paralyze Madinia, keeping her alive but helpless. The chains used on Madinia are fae iron, draining her power. The psychological and physical torture is relentless, but Madinia's will is unbroken. Her only hope is the dark power she channels from the grimoire, which begins to change her.

The Grimoire's Dark Call

The grimoire, one of three, is revealed to be a vessel of a god's power and memory. It calls to both Madinia and Calysian, offering strength but threatening to consume them. Madinia uses its power to escape the tower, killing her captors with thorns and fire. Calysian, drawn by fate and instinct, arrives as Madinia flees, and their destinies entwine.

Allies and Enemies

On the run, Madinia and Calysian are forced to cooperate, each mistrusting the other's motives. Calysian wants the grimoire to restore himself; Madinia wants to keep it from falling into evil hands. Their journey is fraught with danger—mercenaries, soldiers, and supernatural threats. They are joined by Eamonn and, briefly, by others from Madinia's past, but betrayal is always close.

The Sorrowflies' Bite

In the swamp, Madinia and Calysian are attacked by Sorrowflies, magical insects that feed on despair. Both are forced to relive their worst traumas—Madinia's torture and Calysian's loss. Only by focusing on each other and moments of joy do they survive, deepening their bond but also exposing their vulnerabilities.

The Swamp's Deadly Secrets

The pair traverse the deadly Blightmere Swamp, evading Vicana's soldiers and monstrous creatures. Madinia's memories return in fragments, revealing her role in a past war and her connection to the grimoire. Calysian's power grows as they near the artifact, but so does his inhumanity. The swamp itself seems alive, killing those who seek the grimoire with unnatural hunger.

The Goddess's Curse

Through visions and the intervention of seers, Madinia learns that Calysian is Calpharos, the dark god, cursed by his siblings and betrayed by a jealous goddess, Anarthys (now Vicana). Madinia is his soulmate, reincarnated after being murdered by Anarthys. Eamonn, Calysian's twin, was also cursed. The grimoires are fragments of Calpharos's soul, and their reunion threatens to unleash his full, vengeful power.

The Second Grimoire's Price

As they near the second grimoire, Madinia and Calysian are betrayed by Haldrik, a former ally working for Vicana. Madinia is forced to kill him, and the trauma deepens her resolve. Calysian, weakened by magical interference, struggles to retain his humanity. When he finally claims the second grimoire, he is nearly lost to his dark god nature, and Madinia must use her own connection to the grimoires to sever his link to the third, preventing him from becoming unstoppable.

Betrayal at the Crossroads

Kyldare, now a fugitive from Vicana, seeks an alliance with Madinia and Calysian, but is ultimately betrayed and handed over to Bridin, the witch, for a fate worse than death. Madinia and Calysian's partnership is tested by secrets and the necessity of using their enemies against each other. The cost of survival is high, and trust is in short supply.

The Soulmate's Memory

With the help of Fliora and Eamonn, Madinia drinks a potion that unlocks her memories as Calpharos's soulmate, murdered by Anarthys. She realizes her connection to Calysian is both a source of power and a potential weakness. The knowledge that she is the other half of his soul gives her the means to influence the outcome of the coming conflict—but also puts her in mortal danger.

The Goddess Revealed

Vicana is unmasked as Anarthys, the goddess who killed Madinia in her past life and cursed Calpharos. She seeks the grimoires to maintain her power and prevent Calpharos's revenge. The final confrontation is set in motion as Madinia, now fully aware of her past and her power, must choose between love and the safety of the world.

The Final Escape

After Calysian claims the second grimoire and becomes Calpharos, Madinia severs his link to the third grimoire and escapes with the help of her old allies, Daharak and Asinia. Calpharos, enraged and betrayed, vows to find her. The world teeters on the brink of destruction as gods, mortals, and monsters converge.

The Dark God Awakened

With two grimoires, Calpharos is nearly whole, his humanity slipping away. His rage at the loss of Madinia and the centuries of betrayal by gods and mortals alike drive him toward vengeance. Only Madinia, with her unique connection, stands a chance of stopping him—or saving him.

The Link to Power

Madinia, now the sole link to the third grimoire, becomes the world's last hope. She must decide whether to trust Calpharos, risk her life to save him, or destroy the grimoires and doom them both. Her journey is one of self-discovery, forgiveness, and the acceptance of her own power and worth.

The Promise of Vengeance

As Madinia escapes by ship, Calpharos stands on the dock, promising to find her. The cycle of vengeance, love, and sacrifice is not yet complete. The fate of the world—and the souls of gods and mortals—hangs in the balance, to be resolved in the final book.

Characters

Madinia Farrow

Madinia is the protagonist, a hybrid woman marked by loss, betrayal, and resilience. Once a court lady, then a war hero, she is captured and tortured for the location of the grimoire. Her psyche is shaped by abandonment, guilt, and the need for control. She is fiercely independent, slow to trust, and weaponizes both her beauty and her power. Her journey is one of reclaiming agency, confronting her past, and accepting her role as Calpharos's soulmate. Her development is a struggle between vengeance and vulnerability, ultimately choosing to protect the world—even at the cost of her own happiness.

Calysian / Calpharos

Calysian is the immortal, amnesiac dark god, cursed to wander the world without memory or power. His search for the grimoires is both a quest for vengeance and self-restoration. He is charismatic, predatory, and deeply lonely, masking his pain with arrogance and humor. His relationship with Madinia is fraught with mistrust, desire, and a deep, fated connection. As he regains his power, his humanity is threatened, and he teeters on the edge of becoming a monster. His arc is a battle between love and rage, with Madinia as both his salvation and his greatest risk.

Kyldare

Kyldare is Queen Vicana's right hand, obsessed with capturing Madinia and the grimoire. He is a sadist, using both physical and psychological torture to break his victims. Despite his power, he is ultimately a pawn—first of Vicana, then of his goddess. His cowardice and need for control drive his actions, and his downfall is poetic justice, as he is handed over to the witch he once commanded.

Bridin

Bridin is Kyldare's witch, a master of dark magic and sacrifice. She is instrumental in Madinia's imprisonment and torture, using her power to paralyze and torment. Her loyalty is to power alone, and she is ultimately consumed by the forces she serves. She represents the corrupting influence of unchecked ambition and the dangers of serving evil for personal gain.

Daharak

Daharak is Madinia's former captain and friend, a symbol of freedom and found family. Her loss haunts Madinia, fueling her guilt and determination. Daharak's return at the end offers hope and a reminder of the bonds that survive even the worst betrayals.

Eamonn

Eamonn is Calysian's twin, cursed to animal forms and unable to reveal the truth of Calpharos's identity. He is both comic relief and tragic figure, guiding Madinia and Calysian while struggling with his own limitations. His loyalty is unwavering, but his actions are often manipulative, serving the greater good as he sees it.

Asinia

Asinia is a survivor of the past war and one of Madinia's closest friends. She is practical, compassionate, and fiercely protective. Her presence grounds Madinia, reminding her of her humanity and the importance of connection.

Demos

Demos is Asinia's partner and a veteran of the war. He is pragmatic, suspicious of Calysian, and committed to stopping any threat to the world. His dynamic with Madinia is one of mutual respect and occasional friction.

Rythos

Rythos is a fae ally with the ability to bind others, a power that nearly destroys his friendship with Madinia when used on Calysian. He represents the moral ambiguity of using dangerous means for a good cause.

Fliora

Fliora is a child with prophetic abilities, orphaned by Madinia's enemies. She provides crucial information and a potion that unlocks Madinia's past life memories. Her innocence and suffering highlight the stakes of the conflict.

Plot Devices

Dual Protagonist Structure

The novel alternates between Madinia and Calysian's points of view, allowing readers to experience both the trauma of the hunted and the existential crisis of the hunter. This structure creates dramatic irony, as each character's secrets and motives are revealed to the reader before the other, heightening suspense and emotional investment.

Amnesia and Reincarnation

Calysian's amnesia and Madinia's reincarnation are central to the narrative. The gradual return of memories—through dreams, visions, and magical intervention—serves as both a mystery and a source of character development. The revelation of their soulmate bond and shared history reframes their relationship and the stakes of the conflict.

The Grimoire as MacGuffin

The grimoire is the object everyone seeks, but it is also a fragment of Calpharos's soul and a source of corrupting power. Its presence warps those who seek it, tests alliances, and serves as a metaphor for trauma, memory, and the cost of power.

Betrayal and Shifting Alliances

The story is driven by betrayals—Haldrik's treachery, Kyldare's duplicity, Eamonn's manipulations, and even Madinia's own choices. Alliances are formed and broken based on necessity, not loyalty, reflecting the psychological scars of war and survival.

Foreshadowing and Prophecy

Prophecies, visions, and the warnings of seers foreshadow key events, creating a sense of inevitability and tragedy. The tension between fate and free will is explored through Madinia's choices and Calysian's struggle against his own nature.

Symbolism of Chains and Fire

Chains represent both literal imprisonment and the psychological scars of trauma. Fire is both Madinia's weapon and her curse—a source of power, destruction, and rebirth. The recurring imagery of burning, thorns, and scars underscores the themes of pain, survival, and transformation.

Analysis

This Vicious Dream is a dark, romantic fantasy that interrogates the nature of trauma, power, and agency through the lens of mythic storytelling. At its core, the novel is about the struggle to reclaim selfhood after profound violation—whether by gods, lovers, or fate itself. Madinia's journey from victim to agent, and Calysian's from amnesiac wanderer to vengeful god, mirror each other in their search for wholeness and meaning. The book explores the seductive danger of power—how it can both liberate and corrupt—and the high cost of vengeance. Through its complex, shifting alliances and psychological depth, the story asks whether love can survive betrayal, whether the past can be overcome, and whether the cycle of violence can ever truly be broken. In a world where gods are as flawed as mortals, and every act of survival leaves scars, the ultimate lesson is that healing requires both memory and mercy—and that sometimes, the greatest act of strength is choosing not to destroy.

Last updated: May 23, 2025