They say you should never turn away someone in need—but they forgot to mention what happens when a visitor refuses to leave.

When a wandering bard seeks shelter at the Thessarin estate, Tavia welcomes him with open curiosity—and her brother Dorian with weary caution. But as the days stretch into weeks, strange things take root: silverware sprouts from the garden, music lingers after the last note fades, and something ancient stirs in the shadows.

Halen Cade spins tales that blur the line between truth and enchantment, and Tavia begins to see the threads of her own life woven through his stories. Yet every song has its secret, every guest has his price, and the charming bard may be far more than he appears.

A whimsical romantic fantasy of hidden identities, unruly magic, and the perilous power of being truly seen.

Unlike the earlier Tales of Tessagonia, The Unwelcome Guest was not inspired by a particular fairy tale. Its first spark came instead from fairy-tale author Hans Christian Andersen—and his famously overlong visit to Charles Dickens’s home.

That piece of literary history gave me the wandering storyteller who arrives seeking temporary shelter and then shows no inclination to leave. From there, I drew upon familiar fairy-tale elements: an isolated estate, strange transformations, dangerous hospitality, hidden identities, and stories containing more truth than anyone realizes.

I hadn’t planned for this to be a romance. Then Halen and Tavia sat down together at the breakfast table and immediately began trading banter. Their chemistry changed the direction of the entire tale. Sometimes the characters know what kind of story they belong in before the author does.

This might very well be my favorite Tessagonia tale yet.… It has the welcome familiarity of fairy-tale concepts and tropes while providing an entirely new tale.

— Elizabeth Wilcox

A dreamy tale of acceptance, love and longing for adventure in the unknown world. Made me feel warm and fuzzy on a cold, snowy day.

— Keli

Beautifully written and felt like a breath of fresh air.… An original, sweet, mysterious, cosy, and safe fantasy tale that’s also a quick read.

— AJ