Cover Art by Anna Reith

In a land formed amidst the precarious balance of Roman, Hibernian, and Gallic cultures, a young man gifted with the ancient mysteries of the senses is torn between exposure and concealment, freedom and captivity, truth and fallacy. Sensuality is both his ally and his opponent as he attempts to cut a path through the challenges of loyalty, accountability, and the demands of his own heart.

Aonghas is blessed and burdened by the gift of enhanced senses, but it is a secret he cannot share. Maon is burdened with his own secrets, and the two form a shadowed oath that keeps them hidden even as they reveal themselves to one another through a sensual bond.

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In Murmur, the names of the sabball, the demon-gods of the senses, are taken from compendiums of demons in the Anglo tradition. For more about the sabball, click here.

Gaelic Name Meanings and Glossary of terms

Aonghas – Gaelic (Angus) meaning: unique one, chosen one

Maon – Gaelic (Moon) meaning: hero

Sòlas – Gaelic (Solace) meaning: solace, one who brings solace

Doughal – Gaelic (Dougal) meaning: dark stranger

Ruairidh – Gaelic (Rory) meaning: reddish-brown (auburn hair)

Faolán – Gaelic (Faylan) meaning: little wolf

Padraig – Gaelic (Patrick) meaning: of the patrician class

Nolan – Gaelic (No-lan) meaning: noble

Eochaidh – Gaelic (O-hee) meaning: horseman, equestrian

 

Scry: A method of divination using water as window or mirror, in which one can see visions of past, present, or future events.

Sabball: The collective name for the rulers of the five senses. The senses align themselves with the elements. They are Murmur (smell/water) Gaap (sight/air) Vine (taste/fire) Ose (sound/the void) and Fig (touch/earth).

Gaul, Gallia: Latin name for the region of France.

Iberian: People of the Iberian Peninsula, which at the time of Roman occupation had Phoenician and Greek cultural influences. It is now associated with Spain and Portugal.

Pomum Adami: Latin term for Adam’s apple. The term originated from Hebrew, in which the word אדם “adam” is defined as “man” hence the meaning is “male bump” and not associated at that time with the story of Adam and Eve.

Macedonia/Macedonian: Region of Greece. It was also a Roman province. The story of the sundrops is an ancient Macedonian tale.