Embers in the Salt
New Merserat · Book One
In a city where violence is currency, sometimes the most dangerous choice is to care.
Syra "The Greykiss" was once New Merserat's most feared pit fighter. Now cast out from the City Watch for the very brutality that made her famous, she serves her punishment through menial street labor, trusting no one and hoping for nothing.
Then trouble closes in from all sides.
In front of her is Lienne Blumaker, the pharmacist's daughter with more compassion than sense, her head full of stories and treatises. If Syra is a knife, Lienne is the palm that picks it up without fear of the edge. And that stubborn kindness threatens the walls Syra has spent a lifetime building.
Behind her is Lukas Vessein, an old patron from the pits, back with unfinished business, powerful allies, and an unsettling interest in Lienne.
Under all of it run the whispers: something is wrong in the Salt Field. Word is, the brine is running thin, or thickening, or singing. And when the city's lifeblood turns uncertain, the powerful seek scapegoats, the desperate seek advantage, and the demand for violence goes up.
Soon enough, Syra finds herself back in the same old business: getting paid for other people's mistakes—and paying for them in blood. But this time the cost is not only hers.
When the past steps forward smiling and the future narrows to the width of a blade, Syra must decide which side of herself will survive: the woman, or the Greykiss.
Book Details
Genre: Adult Low Fantasy, Gritty Fantasy, Political Intrigue, Character-Driven
Setting: Early Modern, Pre-Industrial, Salt-Fed Seaport City
Audience: Adult readers
Series: New Merserat
Order in Series: 1
Publish Year: 2026
Status: coming-soon
Page Count: 379
ISBN: 978-3-9828305-1-3
Language: English
Formats:
Themes:
What Readers Are Saying
Selected reactions to Embers in the Salt.
Editorial Review
BookLife Review (⚡️Editor’s Pick)
"Trouvay's unflinching debut sweeps readers into New Merserat, a world of stark division and danger. Trouvay writes with vivid imagery and memorable phrasing while hinting at a rich past looming behind New Merserat’s decline. He immerses readers in an atmosphere of gritty survival where scars run deeper than skin, propelling the plot with unforgettable characters and layered tension while questioning whether belonging is a need—or a liability. Syra’s transformation is hard-earned, intense, and will leave fans eager for more."
Editorial Review
J.R. Kendiro (Author of the Ravenous Mother series)
"Competent, atmospheric, with a protagonist that works and antagonists that linger… it executes everything with the confidence of someone who knows exactly what they're doing. New Merserat is a port city built on the salt trade… Trouvay makes it breathe: the alleys stink, the social classes cheerfully despise each other. The fight scenes are genuinely grounded. Bones break, blood gets everywhere, consequences linger. The political thread — Saltbird versus Vessein, the salt trade as economic weapon — holds up well alongside the personal story. The world emerges from the characters, their choices, and their frequent mistakes. And above all: it respects the reader."
— J.R. Kendiro
"I honestly didn’t expect to get pulled in as quickly as I did, but Embers in the Salt by Klood P. Trouvay is such a gritty and immersive read. The world-building is one of the outstanding parts. New Merserat feels lived-in, as if every alley and system has history behind it, even if you’re only seeing pieces at a time. What really stuck with me, though, was the contrast between Syra and Lienne. Their dynamic is easily the most interesting part. The pacing builds the atmosphere. Overall, it’s the kind of story that takes a while to get into but is definitely worth sticking with."
— Miche A.
"Klood P. Trouvay’s Embers in the Salt is a great choice if you’re looking for an exciting fantasy tale that is unapologetically brutal. Trouvay builds the world of New Merserat with such vivid, gritty detail that you can almost smell the brine. The story unfolds perfectly, and the plot is expertly crafted. Because it prioritizes Syra’s perspective and her friendship with Lienne, the high-stakes conclusion has a massive impact. I thought the pacing was spot on. The character dynamics are the highlight here. It’s a rough, opinionated take on redemption that avoids all the usual clichés. I’m eager to follow this series till the end. Grab this novel if you’re a fan of character-focused stories with a darker edge."
— Jefto P.
"Author Klood P. Trouvay is a master of intrigue and tension. From the very start, the reader is drawn in with visual descriptions that leave them aching for more. Instead of just one, there are two female main characters, each with their own strengths, lending depth to this story. The pacing is steady, and the plot is phenomenal. I loved that the author leaves enough out of the story for the reader to keep wondering. Embers in the Salt is the first book in the New Merserat series, and it contains more than enough action and suspense. Intended for an adult audience, this book is perfect for readers who love nothing more than a wonderfully grim fantasy."
— Ronél S.
"Klood P. Trouvay’s tale is elegiac, and the writing captivated me. The imagery infuses life into the setting, and I felt as though I was watching the brine-crusted flats right before me. The grim fantasy setting absorbed me with its salt fields, harsh power structures, stinking brine, endless white horizons, and salt-burned skins. I loved Syra as a character. She is pragmatic in her violence, and her closed-off demeanor was a mask that kept me curious about the wounds she hides. Embers in the Salt will entice fans of grim, character-driven fantasy that features desolate landscapes, exploitation, and the human cost of power. This novel was a wonderful treat for me."
— Romuald D.
More from the New Merserat series
Book 2
Solvent in the Ledger
Coming next in New Merserat. Details soon.
Book 3
New Merserat · Book Three
A new story in New Merserat is on the way.