Curlbearers

In the rigid kingdom of Virelle, straight hair is the norm, and those with curls are shamed.

Prince Caelan has spent his entire life hiding who he is. Born with forbidden curls that can ignite into living flame, he wears wigs, follows orders, and dreams of earning his father's love by becoming "straight" in every way that matters. When he volunteers for a dangerous pilgrimage to the Obelus Stone-a rumored cure enforced by a powerful religious order-Caelan believes he is finally choosing duty over shame.

But the journey unravels everything he thought he knew.

Instead of salvation, Caelan discovers the Curlbearers: magic-wielding outcasts whose power flows from emotion, authenticity, and self-acceptance. Among them are Ren, a fire-wreathed rebel who sees Caelan's light without fear, and Arien, a dazzling master of camp magic who turns chaos into truth. Beneath the world, in a hidden sanctuary called the Garden of Expression, Caelan encounters a life rich with color, love, and chosen family.

As the Church tightens its grip and prepares to erase the Curlbearers once and for all, Caelan must make an impossible choice: return to a crown built on control, or claim the fire within him and risk everything for freedom.

Curlbearers: Fire and Spark is a queer fantasy novel about repression, desire, found family, and the courage it takes to exist unapologetically. Lyrical, defiant, and tender, it is a story for anyone who has ever been told they were too much-and learned to burn anyway.