Talismaker

Stray Magic #2

by Megan Derr

Since losing his arm and being discharged from the army, Millé has been struggling—for money, for work, for a home. Though he is a highly skilled talismaker, his 'devil eyes' keep anyone from hiring him.

Then he saves a man from a footpad, and in gratitude the man takes him home—where Millé finds far more than the warm meal he was promised…

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M M Romance, Short Stories, Magic, Military Fiction, LGBT

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 2022

About the author

Megan is a long time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.

meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr

Reviews

[Ben Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I loved being back in this magical world. Like the first book, it's a short cosy fantasy romance. The author is able to pack so much interesting backstory to our characters, getting me completely invested in their story and romance. The world this is set in truly feels alive.

In Talismaker we follow Millé who was discharged from the army after losing an arm. He's a highly trained and talented Talismaker, but he's struggling to make ends meet as his injury combined with his mismatched eye colour makes getting a job nearly impossible in this city.

After saving a man from a footpad, he's invited to the man's house for a meal as thanks. It's there that Millé is reunited with a familiar face (and so are we if you've read Runescribe!).

It's such a sweet romance and the perfect found family.

Thank you Little Bit Wacke Elf for the gift! <3

[Drusilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Megan Derr is the master of magical short stories. I need to finally read a longer book of hers, but I love these short pieces so much.
The first book Runescribe was even more charming for me than this one, maybe because you could immerse yourself in that world for the first time. But Talismaker is still hardly inferior to that. Interesting characters with depth for which only few words are needed and the few hints of romance and love are so beautifully shown ... I would love to read so much more of it. Still, these few pages create a very satisfied feeling.

Captain Liste Fair, the most beautiful and compelling person Millé had ever met. His lieutenant and then his captain, and if he'd crooked his finger just once, he could have been whatever else he wanted to Millé. 🦋🥰🦋

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was super cute considering it's length??? It's such a shame this isn't a proper novella even??! Megan Derr what are you doing? please give us the whole story and more 😂 because i'd sure as hell read it!

[Drache.... (Angelika) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars.
Just as lovely as the first book, AND we got to see the characters from the first book again!

[V.ya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is too similar with the first one, but has less charm. It’s good to see the familiar characters again, though.

[Gareth Jones-Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very quiet read but a nice follow up to Runescribe

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Megan Derr's short stories are lovely! And in this follow-up to another short, Runescribe, she delivers another sweet and lovey one. I am so happy to see Millé being reunited with his crush, and that he loves Millé as well (without Millé knowing). I hope they're happy forever and ever.

[Natalie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to go back and read Runescribe. Bitter sweet. I liked how Mille is so easily accepted and the guys refusing to let him go. Would've been nice to see the wizard gush over something he made.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 Loved it!

[☾⋆⁺ Nurse After Dark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mille hadn't seen him for nearly five years, and those five years had been extraordinarily kind to Liste. Captain Fair. He'd never be Liste to the likes of Mille.

I was surprised to see Tyri from Runescribe in the beginning, and began to wonder if this was leading into an M/M/M. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized it was actually Liste's turn! The snarky 'servant' from book 1 was a great opposite MMC to our dear Mille. I wish there were more snippets from this universe <3

[Rozarka · Rating 5 out of 5]

You should have seen the stupid grin I had on my face while reading this

[Mel]

Public Notice

Warning! Plot goblins have been sighted in the local area. Use all caution so that you too do not become an unsuspecting Protagonist! Goblins are known to target the poor and downtrodden, especially those pining after a romantic attachment. If you have a heroic spirit and heart of gold, be on High Alert! Victims may be lured into coming to the aide of the passerby, only to find they have unwittingly rescued a Supporting Role, thus cementing their narrative fate.

Victims of protagonist press gangs have been harangued into meeting their objects of affection against their will, plied with whiskey, and forced to confront feelings of mutual pining.

[Milyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love Megan Derr’s short stories, but I’m not sure what happened with this one. It felt extremely rushed, and I couldn’t stand any of the characters ☹️

[Saej Hellwren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an adorable sequel to Runescribe. I loved Liste from his introduction in Runescribe, and I’m glad to see him get an HEA of his own.

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Would you perchance be the 'pretty, stubborn sergeant who had more heart than sense that will probably get his dumb ass killed before he can escape that hellhole." — Wizard Rathtelon Rediburgh

Warnings: ableism, PTSD

If I remember correctly I saw Talismaker before I saw Runescribe, the cover and the blurb appealed to me. Stefanie Fontecha (Beetiful Designs) has done a fantastic job with it. The cover doesn't fit the content of the book in the same way as Runescribe (which I would guess was also Fontecha) instead it reflects the impactful way protagonists Millé Greene and Liste Fair met and came to know each other. Millé and Liste have a history, they were colleagues in a military conflict developing mutual crushes that they expected to go nowhere, with their differing ranks and social classes. It is a fantastic thing seeing two people who didn't think they could have each other but only wanted the best for each other finding each other and with a shove finding their happiness together. Liste we met already, Rathte's friend and butler-level servant. Millé is new, he's the titular Talismaker, like Tyri he's talented but discriminated against for his circumstances. This is just a sweet and lovely coming together.

Some quotes I liked.
• a stub of pencil he'd filched from the post office, — This is such an interesting linguistic choice. Some people reading this wouldn't even know what filch means, to steal casually. But it has been largely out of use since the 1800s and hasn't been used much at all since the 70s (20s really). If people do know it these days it would be because of Harry Potter. (Millé)
• His eyes were the color of good claret, and once, just once, Millé had stood close enough to see the flecks of gold in them. — Millé has been given a good eye for detail, especially colour. This is a description of his love interest Liste's eyes he also has a great description of Rathte's. (Millé)
• Rathte replied thoughtfully, his wizard eyes swirling like a drunk rainbow. — That is one helluva visual. That is a better visual than Tyri gave us and I really like it. (Millé)
• We'll discuss all the details tomorrow, because if I try now, Liste might kill me."
"I would never give you anything as kind as death," — I would die for the kind of relationship Liste and Rathe have. They are friends of a similar social class but Liste works for Rathe for the love of it. They are snarky besties who would do anything for each other. (Rathte and Liste)

As with the first book in the Stray Magic duology, Talismaker doesn't engage in ableism between the main characters. Millé has something akin to PTSD and is an amputee. He has another cultural issue his heterochromia is a bad omen or curse. My librarian self has a serious issue with the discrimination shown against Millé by my profession but it is a fantastic way to set the tone in general. We are an all-accepting career/people/community, we do not discriminate.

I really do recommend this. It is lovely, works with an understandable lore and the very basics of human nature. Talismaker is a perfect companion to Runescribe though definitely best read after it. Knowing the reputation Wizard Rathtelon "Rathte" Rediburgh has, the relationship that Tyri Morsca and Rathe have and how they got there is relevant to events in Talismaker

"Yes, Your Lordship?" Millé said. "I feel I should address you as General."
Instead of looking annoyed as he'd half feared, Rathte laughed. "General, eh? Most say I act with all the arrogance of an emperor. I must be losing my touch."
Millé surprised himself with a laugh. "Anyone who says that has never had a general after them."
Rathte grinned. "Hope you're ready to have a former captain after you." — Millé Greene and Rathte

A representative gif:

[MTULIPK · Rating 5 out of 5]

TALISMAKER
STRAY MAGIC
BOOK 2
MEGAN DERR
17 SEP 22

5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 — SUCH A FUN LITTLE STORY!
5 ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ — I LOVED THIS BOOK!
5 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙 — I’D RECOMMEND IT FOR EVERYONE!

OH GØD, MEGAN DERR DOES IT, AGAIN!
And, with my all time favorite characters from “ RUNESCRIBE!”
What a delicious and unexpected treat.

All the characters are still just as completely insane as they were in the first book!

OH, and my lørd! RATHE hasn’t changed one little bit — still bursting through doors like he’s caught on fire from another room, still loud, boisterous and asking six different questions one right after another, without waiting for any replies.

Now, in this book, here is LISTE doing the same thing asking rapid fire questions then, without waiting for any replies, takes right off out the same doors he, too, just flew in through, too!

And LISTE, oh man, RATHE’S irreverent servant / best friend is still giving him back a ration of his own lack of formality — in spite of there being company in the room.
LISTE even thrusts a silver serving tray (he’d been holding) into RATHE’S chest, forcing RATHE to quickly catch it if he didn’t want it hitting the floor, because LISTE was already hurrying across the room to see their newest guest (MILLÉ, who’d just saved TYRI) — and as typical of RATHE, he actually just laughs when LISTE does this to him.

In the first book, “RUNESCRIBE,” RATHE literally knocks over a man — TYRI — who’s at his wit’s end and desperately in need of work as a RUNESCRIBE.

In doing so, RATHE breaks TYRI’S glasses then, basically, kidnaps the poor man to his home to get him a new pair of glasses and clean him up from knocking him to the muddy, rain soaked ground.

RATHE ends up hiring TYRI as his own RUNESCRIBE and makes sure TYRI and his baby sister move in with him.
Then later OF COURSE, because they were attracted to each other from the very start, the two become lovers.

In this second book in this series, “TALISMAKER,” TYRI is accosted on a cold and snowy street by a knife-wielding robber while on an errand for RATHE.
When suddenly, a one-armed man named MILLÉ, drags the thief off of TYRI breaking the man’s nose, threatening further harm and serious injury if he doesn’t take off and leave TYRI alone — literally saving TYRI from being knifed by the scoundrel.

Out of gratefulness, TYRI then brings MILLÉ home to he and RATHE’S (and LISTE’S) house, so he may repay MILLÉ for saving him by inviting him for dinner and drinks.

It turns out that MILLÉ had been out looking for work and was nearly starving and only a day or two away from becoming completely homeless (just as TYRI had been in the first book) when he was sidelined by coming to TYRI’S rescue.

Unbeknownst to either of them, the man MILLÉ had been pining for turns out to have also been pining for him — and the man MILLÉ was hopelessly in love with? Is his ex army captain — LISTE.

When MILLÉ and LISTE finally meet again, at RATHE and TYRI’S (and LISTE’S) home, their long search for each other (after both were released from the military with war wounds) comes to an end.
Having found each other, both MILLÉ and LISTE are now safe, happy, (very warm and definitely well fed) and wholly complete in having found each other — as RATHE and TYRI have demonstrated they are, also.

And, GUESS WHAT?

MILLÉ, who had been out looking for work as a TALISMAKER, had RATHE marked (in the job listings) as the last person he would try to apply with for such work.

So in the end, RATHE now has in his employment a “RUNESCRIBE” — AND — a “TALISMAKER,” who BOTH now live with HE and LISTE (his best friend / servant) in their big, beautiful (and nicely warmed) home.

Even though each of these books start off a bit heartbreakingly sad — believe me — they are both HILARIOUS, ENTERTAINING, EXTREMELY SWEET and ENTIRELY HEARTWARMING stories!!!

THUS ONCE AGAIN, I MUST SINCERELY THANK YOU MEGAN DERR, FOR YOUR WITTY CREATIVITY and SOUL-FELT, UPLIFTING INGENUITY — I’M SO GLAD I’VE DISCOVERED YOU!

🌷🌷🌷MTULIPK🌷🌷🌷

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another very cute story that is actually directly tied to the book before it, Runescribe. This one involves Mille and Liste (the wizard's servant and friend in Runescribe). Mille was let loose from the army after he lost his arm and he's been trying to find a job as a Talismaker and dreaming about possibly seeking out his former captain on whom he had a huge crush, but he knows he's never going to do it because he doesn't feel worthy. But because of his heterochromia, nobody will hire him and he's quickly running out of options. He catches some guy being attacked by footpads and rescues him. Turns out it's Tyri, from the first story, and Tyri takes Mille back to his home. To Mille's surprise, that former captain, Liste, is working in the home he's now been taken to. Reunion ensues.

Like I said, super cute. Characters are very likeable and I was happy to see them reunited and getting a chance at a future together. This is a very short story and also a clean romance.

[LWM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish it as been two or even three times longer, to let us see Mille at work..

While this author writes clever short stories, the fact remains that she has been known to produce sequels to her many short tales. Even though Tyri's and Rathte's story was cuteness personified, with how Tyri was rendered blind after Rathte stomped Tyri's glasses into pieces, then basically strong-armed, along with his little sister Vessie, into being comfortably slotted into Rathte's life as his new prescribe and lover, Liste's apparent soft-spot for Mille, who had always carried a torch for his former commander, was very sweet. I wanted more, though, especially since we never saw Mille's talent and skills demonstrated. I also wanted to see karma blast Mille's former bullies and pitiful idiots who shunned or discarded him like he was worthless. That would have added zest to this sweet teaser of a story. Four stars.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first part felt sooo sad (20% mark). Like I want to ugly cry sad. Good thing this is a short read. I don't think I can manage to feel sad for a long reading session

35% mark and forward. Isn't Liste just adorably worried. And adorably cute. Hahaha too bad it took them a long time, but they ended together so I guess it was fate.

100% mark. I feel so alone and lonely 🥺 I wanna be held sooo bad. To feel that comforting warmth of home and safety. Sigh. Not all are blessed with such gifts. 😓

[E.Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice follow up to Runescribe and I loved that it actually was a companion. I loved seeing the same characters, and Millé broke my heart, poor soul.
Liste and Rathte's relationship makes a lot more sense in this one too.

I really wish those were more than novellas. They would make great prequels to a longer novel around their travel.

(also can we talk about those covers? Because holy hell are they gorgeous!)

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short read but a lovely story. The pairing that find each other again by accident once knew each other in the military and were attracted, but unable to do anything about it from their stations. Now out in the world one has fallen on hard luck, while the other has been doing well. Upon finding each other it gives a chance for a better life, both in work and in love. It was a fast story with given history, but all very sweet and lovely to read.

[Trudi Mosteller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but sweet

I enjoyed the first two books. I hope the series continues. In this short story a down on his luck, ex soldier aides a man being threatened. He’s offered a meal as a reward. His crush from his military days just happens to be the house manager of the man’s residence.

[Drach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it. I just love this sweet romances, where for a moment you think the hope is lost, but you know it isn’t because you gave your heart to the author and know the author will keep is safe and you have a tale that you can return safely. I loved the dynamic, between the characters and how over the top you-know-who was.

[Nix Buttons · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely short story! We meet the characters from Runescribe again, as they take in another poor soul who suffered in life. I do hope ther will be another instalment with the prince.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect. The main character is introduced, and we see familiarity in the world immediately in his backstory, what he finds on returning to society, and the common predicament in which he finds himself. There are unfamiliar, playful elements. There is warmth and hope and longing. And finally, a sense of home. It is a beautifully rendered story.

[Regina Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet. I liked seeing Rathe and Tali again, this time as the new friends and benefactors of Mille. The snippets of this world we get almost in passing are very interesting. I would love to see what Derr could do if she expanded this world, what with the "demon eyes" stigma on heterochromia, and the different types of magic.

[Emilye · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Little Motif...

StrayMagic2

A continuation of Runescribe, this is more a series of vignettes than a full story. As an introduction to Mille, and a deeper look at Liste, it sets up what I hope will be a larger work.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

As is fairly common, there are far more typos and editorial errors in the second half than there are in the first. Still, if you're in the mood for two short, sweet reads, pick up #1 and this one, you're welcome.

[MyDoRyS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these 2 books. They are very simple but filled with warm and fuzzies. Wish they were longer and that the author would create a follow-up series on their travels :) My heart feels cozy! On to my next adventure!!!

[Teeny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this world and I was happy to be back in it! Lovely story just wish that Megan will follow through with a 3rd book, longer this time about the trip that was talked about in it, so that Millé and Liste can get a bit more time on page together.