Ghosts of Wierdwood: A William Shivering Tale by Christian McKay Heidicker

My name is Wally, and my life now has purpose. I used to roam the streets of Kingsport as a thief and pickpocket, but I've become a novitiate for the Manor. I haven't learned to use the magic within me, but Sekhmet's still brought me along on a mission to close a Rift between the Real and Fae worlds. We want to figure out how the Order is able to locate Rifts before us. There are new members of the Order we've never encountered before, and they have powers we've never seen. The most disturbing foe is the Eraser. It leaves a void wherever it goes, disintegrating anything or anyone it touches. How do you fight something that can't be hurt? I'm sure Arthur would have some grand idea with one of his stories, but he can't accept that he doesn't have any magic. Stories aren't much help against a real enemy.

You should read Thieves of Weirdwood first, and the sequel Nightmares of Weirdwood will end the trilogy in the spring of 2022. The plot follows the two separate paths of Wally and Arthur in alternating chapters. Arthur's story has a more interesting character angle, as he tries to atone for his past behavior and mistakes. The queen of the dragons still wants vengeance for the death of her son, and she blames Arthur. His behavior hasn't changed much, as he still stretches the truth and takes risks at the expense of others. However, the positives in his character take over as hidden truths are revealed. The most interesting twist to Wally's plot is the presence of his brother Graham. Graham is a seer, and he's working against all of the Manor's plans. Wally is torn between supporting the Manor and keeping his brother's communications secret. As mentioned above, the Eraser presents a formidable foe, as the Manor can't understand how it even works. The conflict seems unsolvable and creates wonderful tension. Overall, I'm enjoying the trilogy and recommend you give it a shot. It requires imagination from readers, as the characters move between real and imaginary worlds. Give it a shot.