Facets of the Bench

F

The War changed everything.

Annice grew up wanting to carve jet. Born and raised in Whitby, on the Yorkshire coast, she learned from her father and grandfather, drawing beauty out of ancient stones. But now she’s on her own, there are customs against women carving jet, and the stone’s fallen out of fashion. It’s 1927. People want to forget their grief, not wear it for all to see. For all those reasons and more, Annice is at a crossroads in her life.

Griffin has lived in Trellech, Albion’s magical city, all his life except for his service during the Great War. He’s loved the city nearly as long, years before he made a place for himself tending the magic of the courts as a solicitor and specialist. After the War, he came home willing to use whatever tools he needed - wheelchair, crutches, canes - to keep doing what he loved. But other people don’t think he’s still capable. Griffin’s been stuck in a professional limbo that hasn’t budged for years.

When the magic and the jet of one of the courtrooms starts failing, Griffin is the one who has to figure out how to fix it. On a trip to Whitby, it becomes obvious that he needs Annice’s help to keep the inheritance court working as it should. If he can convince her to be confident in her skills - and give Trellech a try - there’s a chance for the two of them to do much more together than they could on their own.

Facets of the Bench is about loving a place and sharing it with others, competence, and making the most of an opportunity. It features an ambulatory wheelchair user, a woman whose skills just need a little encouragement to blossom, and a city full of magic. Set in 1927, it’s a romance with a happily ever after ending.

Content note details
Griffin is an ambulatory wheelchair user, dealing with bias and misunderstanding from others. Some of the plot focuses on how he answers those concerns. Annice has lost a number of family members in the last decade. Local customs limit some of her options for making a living.

Want to learn more? Check out blog posts about Facets of the Bench.

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Showing books 1-16 of 16

Period: Victorian

Romance: M/F, First relationship, Closed door

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Enchanted Net: A silhouetted man and woman in Victorian dress stand with their backs to the viewer. She is holding a glass of wine as they look toward each other. The background is a purple damask, crossed by pipes and gears and a streak of lightning, with a book inset in the top left corner.
Enchanted Net

Period: Information not available

Romance: M/F, First relationship

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Silent Circuit: A silhouetted man and woman in Victorian dress face each other. He is holding a book open for her, as her hand moves to turn a page. They’re on a background of green damask with green pipes, a streak of lightning behind them. A bee is inset on top of a gear in the top left.
Silent Circuit

Period: Victorian

Romance: M/F, First relationship

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Elemental Truth: A silhouetted man and woman in Victorian dress waltz hand in hand on a golden damask background bordered by pipes and gears with a streak of lightning behind them. A jewelled ring is set in the top left.
Elemental Truth

Period: Edwardian

Romance: F/F, Late in life romance, Closed door

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Complementary. Two women in Edwardian dress in silhouette stand talking with each other. One is taller and calmer, the other is shorter, gesturing. They are on a green background, with an artist's palette in the bottom right.
Complementary

Period: Great War

Romance: M/F, Closed door

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Carry On, a nurse and man in silhouette walking together, her arm through his on a mauve background. Yarn and knitting needles are inset in the top left.
Carry On

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F

Content notes: Click here to reveal

The cover of Bound for Perdition has a man and woman silhouetted in dark brown on a green and brown background, with the woman holding a book while the man gestures. An open blank book and pen are inset in the top right corner.
Bound for Perdition

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/M/F, Bisexual, Polyamorous

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Winter's Charms, a seasonal novella collection. Three figures are silhouetted on a blue background with snowflakes, in front of a roaring fireplace decorated with a red and green garland. One man is sitting in a chair, gesturing, a woman stands wearing a translucent shawl, and another man leans his hand on the mantlepiece. Oranges and cinnamon sticks are inset in the top left.
Casting Nasturtiums

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, First relationship

Content notes: Click here to reveal

The cover of Shoemaker's Wife has a man and woman in silhouette on a vibrant background of green shading through blue to purple. The woman is standing on one foot with one hand in the air, lifting the other and looking over her shoulder at the shoe while the man looks on. A purple 1920s shoe with a big blue ribbon bow is inset in the top right corner.
Shoemaker's Wife

Period: 1920s

Romance: Not a romance

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Ancient Trust: A man with a monocle picked out in gold stands by a table stacked with books. An owl is inset in the top left.
Ancient Trust

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, First relationship

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Outcrossing. A silhouetted man and woman in 1920s clothing standing next to each other, silhouetted on a green background. A chestnut pony's head is inset in the top right.
Outcrossing

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, First relationship

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Perfect Accord: Two silhouetted figures in 1920s casual clothing. The man is handing the woman a perfume bottle, and she is testing it on the inside of her wrist. The right upper corner has a perfume bottle inset.
Perfect Accord

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, First relationship, Closed door

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Fool's Gold. A silhouetted man and woman turn toward each other on a brilliant green and purple background. He wears a long jacket, his back to the viewer, while she faces the viewer in a 1920s dress. A pile of coins is inset in the top left.
Fool's Gold

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, First relationship, Late in life romance, Demisexual

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of On The Bias. A man and woman in 1920s clothing are silhouetted against a pale green, yellow, and purple background. A brightly coloured rooster is inset in the top right.
On The Bias

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, First relationship

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Facets of the Bench: a man and woman in silhouette. She shows him a necklace as he sits in a wheelchair with forearm crutches propped against the chair.
Facets of the Bench

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, Late in life romance, Closed door

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Weaving Hope: A man and woman in 1920s informal clothing are silhouetted on a bright pink background shading to purple. She is holding out a length of cloth to him, showing him something, with phlox flowers inset in the upper right corner.
Weaving Hope

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, Closed door

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Mistress of Birds. A man and woman in 1920s clothing silhouetted on a purple and deep blue-grey background. He holds a walking stick as tall as he is and wears a cap, she wears a hat and long sweater. Apples are inset in the top left.
Mistress of Birds

Showing books 1-16 of 16

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Showing books 1-17 of 17

Period: Victorian

Romance: M/M

Content notes: Click here to reveal

The cover of Four Walls and a Heart has a bright red background with a blue door. Two men are silhouetted against the background, one of slighter build in a Victorian wheelchair, missing his lower left leg, the other standing and talking, one hand at his side. Both are wearing hats, and they are intently focused on each other.
Four Walls and a Heart

Period: Edwardian

Romance: M/F, First relationship

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Pastiche. A man and woman in Edwardian dress silhouetted against a bright teal background, with a stained glass window in golden yellow and muted purple behind them.
Pastiche

Period: Great War

Romance: M/F, Closed door

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Carry On, a nurse and man in silhouette walking together, her arm through his on a mauve background. Yarn and knitting needles are inset in the top left.
Carry On

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F

Content notes: Click here to reveal

The cover of Bound for Perdition has a man and woman silhouetted in dark brown on a green and brown background, with the woman holding a book while the man gestures. An open blank book and pen are inset in the top right corner.
Bound for Perdition

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/M/F, Bisexual, Polyamorous

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Winter's Charms, a seasonal novella collection. Three figures are silhouetted on a blue background with snowflakes, in front of a roaring fireplace decorated with a red and green garland. One man is sitting in a chair, gesturing, a woman stands wearing a translucent shawl, and another man leans his hand on the mantlepiece. Oranges and cinnamon sticks are inset in the top left.
Casting Nasturtiums

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Wards of the Roses. A man and woman in 1920s clothing silhouetted on a red background that shades to vivid orange-peach at the bottom. A rose is inset in the top right.
Wards of the Roses

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, Established relationship, Closed door

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Winter's Charms, a seasonal novella collection. Three figures are silhouetted on a blue background with snowflakes, in front of a roaring fireplace decorated with a red and green garland. One man is sitting in a chair, gesturing, a woman stands wearing a translucent shawl, and another man leans his hand on the mantlepiece. Oranges and cinnamon sticks are inset in the top left.
Country Manners

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, First relationship, Demisexual, Bisexual

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of The Fossil Door. A man and woman in 1920s dress stand silhouetted on a bright burgundy and glowing orange background. An illuminated book is inset in the top left corner.
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Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, First relationship, Late in life romance, Closed door, Demisexual

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Seven Sisters. A thin angular woman and man in 1920s dress silhouetted on a background of lavender and grey. Bright green curling vines are inset in the top right.
Seven Sisters

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Eclipse, with a man and woman wearing academic robes in silhouette on a twilight blue and sunset orange background. She is gesturing up toward the sky. A telescope is inset in the top left.
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Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, First relationship

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of In The Cards. A man and woman in 1920s dress silhouetted on a pale purple and blue cover. She turns away from him, and they are looking at something to the right of the image. A set of divination cards are inset in the top right.
In The Cards

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, First relationship, Bisexual

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Point By Point. A man and woman in 1920s dress silhouetted on a terra-cotta and deep red background, with a Mesopotamian lion with bright blue wings inset in the top left.
Point By Point

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, First relationship

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Facets of the Bench: a man and woman in silhouette. She shows him a necklace as he sits in a wheelchair with forearm crutches propped against the chair.
Facets of the Bench

Period: 1930s

Romance: M/M, Late in life romance, Asexual, Bisexual, Polyamorous

Content notes: Click here to reveal

The cover of Best Foot Forward has a deep red background with map markings in a dull purple. Two men in silhouette stand, looking up at a point in the top left. An astrology chart with different symbols picked out takes up the left side of the image, with glowing stars curving up to the title.
Best Foot Forward

Period: Second World War

Romance: M/F, Established relationship

Content notes: Click here to reveal

The cover of Old As The Hills has a man with a cane and a woman silhouetted on a green ground with a map. She holds out her hand, he is putting something into it, forming a doorway between them. An astrological chart behind them shows the symbols for Venus, the Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn highlighted behind a splash of glowing stars.
Old As The Hills

Period: Information not available

Romance: M/F, M/M/F, Established relationship

Content notes: Click here to reveal

The cover of Upon A Summer's Day shows a man in a suit silhouetted over a map of northern Wales in a muted green. He is gesturing, holding his cane in one hand, a cap on his head. Behind him is an astrological chart, with Jupiter and Saturn highlighted in the sign of Taurus.
Upon A Summer's Day

Period: Second World War

Romance: M/F

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Illusion of a Boar: Four magical specialists are thrown together in the spring of 1944, working on a secret project in the run-up to D-Day. Solving the problem before them is one thing: sorting out their lives is an entirely different one. It’s full of chosen siblings having each other’s backs, forced proximity, and unexpected skills in play. A fantasy romance, this is also a great entry point to the series.
Illusion of a Boar

Showing books 1-17 of 17

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