Aberterrene · Book 2
Social Sorcery
"The greatest invention begins with trusting the people beside you."
"The greatest invention begins with trusting the people beside you."
One retired inventor, three unlikely apprentices, and a magical internet spun from spider silk.
Zaquocorin Flickerwhizzle has the vision but not the materials. Newly retired from Mysti Messages, he finally has time to build his masterpiece: a magical messaging system better than anything his old employer ever made. All he needs is to be left alone to do it.
Then a cute, chubby young gnome interrupts his dinner to beg him to take her on as an apprentice. To Zaq's own astonishment, he says yes to her and two others.
However, mentorship is a two-way street, and opening up is hard after you’ve been betrayed. Zaq’s reckless decision to send the group out of Ryefeld on a quest to get materials may have dire consequences. Dangers may lurk in the wild woods and dark caves. There could be unimaginable horrors—or even spiders.
But if this mismatched band of fire-forged friends can learn to trust one another, they might build something none of them could have made alone—something that could change all of Aberterrene.
Social Sorcery returns to the world of Distilled Magic for a low-stakes, standalone cozy fantasy of harvest festival fun, steampunk-flavored artificery, a giant beaver, one very inconvenient black cat, and a sweet rivals-to-lovers romance. Opening your heart, it turns out, is the first step toward changing the world.
I hesitate to put content warnings on a cozy fantasy novel because something cozy shouldn't have content warnings or trigger warnings. However, I also know that everyone has different life experiences, and what may be perfectly cozy for some may send others into a dark place by surfacing bad memories.
As such, I included this statement at the beginning of the Social Sorcery novel. I errored on the side of caution and listed things I believe may impact people, even if they only have a minor appearance in the book. I personally believe most should not be negatively impacted, but you, the reader, know your life better than I do.
This novel includes a character dealing with and overcoming fat-shaming and low self-esteem. It is a minor point in the story with a positive resolution, but those triggered by such things should take care. While on an adventure, a lizard-like creature is killed, and a component is harvested from the corpse. This may be disturbing to some, but it is a brief portion of the adventure. During one scene, a cat sustains a minor injury, but I assure you, she turns out well. This novel describes the consumption of alcohol (whisky) for relaxation and, at one point, escapism. Finally, for those with arachnophobia, spiders play an essential role in the story, but they are quite friendly.
The novel's dominant tone is warm, hopeful, and joy-forward. These elements are present but are not the center of the story.
Click any character to learn more about them.
Zaq
Social Sorcery
Wyndi
Social Sorcery
Frank
Social Sorcery
Flek
Both Books
Choose the format that fits your cozy reading ritual.
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Digital
Available anywhere ebooks are sold.
Available autographed directly from the author's shop, or from major retailers. Support indie bookstores via Bookshop.org.
Also available to order through your local bookstore.
Audio
Narrated by Alexis Vandom, a transgender woman. Her performance brings warmth, wit, and genuine heart to every character.
Social Sorcery is available to libraries through standard distribution channels. If your library doesn't carry it yet, most systems have a simple online purchase request form, just ask for the book by title and author. Libraries are one of the best ways to discover indie authors, and every request matters.
★★★★★
Social Sorcery by Alex Peachy is an absolute delight — equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and wildly inventive.
★★★★★
I loved Distilled Magic, but I really loved this one! It is just the definition of a cozy fantasy.
★★★★★
This was such a great cozy comfort read! Anyone who owns a cat will giggle about the cat in this.
★★★★★
This was so cozy!! I absolutely loved how the world was very dungeons and dragons but while being low stakes.
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Meet Flek before Ryefeld — as a young goblin who finds his first real home at TQ House in Chubug, while the extraordinary Trinx is busy brewing a few potions that will change the world.
Explore Distilled Magic