Legacy of the Brightwash

Follow the law and you’ll stay safe. But what if the law is wrong?

SPFBO Finalist

Stabby Nominee—Best Debut 2021

Stabby Nominee—Best Indie Book 2021

Tashué’s faith in the law is beginning to crack. Three years ago, he stood by when the Authority condemned Jason to the brutality of the Rift for non-compliance. When Tashué’s son refused to register as tainted, the laws had to be upheld. He’d never doubted his job as a Regulation Officer before, but three years of watching your son wither away can break down even the strongest convictions.Then a dead girl washed up on the bank of the Brightwash, tattooed and mutilated. Where had she come from? Who would tattoo a child? Was it the same person who killed her? Why was he the only one who cared?Will Tashué be able to stand against everything he thought he believed in to get the answers he’s looking for?

Legacy of the Brightwash

is a grounded, realistic, and surprisingly dark book, but it’s a book with a fundamentally moral lead that keeps the darkness from feeling gratuitous.

-Ryan Howse,

Grimdark Magazine

"Krystle Matar's brilliant and cinematic gaslamp fantasy

Legacy of the Brightwash

is character-driven fantasy at its finest—a masterpiece of relationships, mystery, magic, action, and romance. With its haunting story and its unforgettable characters,

Brightwash

hits hard in all the very best ways."

-Angela Boord, author of

Fortune's Fool

Legacy of the Brightwash

covers everything from aching hearts to high-society soirees, and bullets in the brain – thankfully Matar owns and uses every single tool in the writing shed. Language is used perfectly in any given situation, in more personal moments, the physical scene is defined, but the words are brushed across like watercolour, making it feel soft and organic. Action scenes are direct, bone-sharp affairs that pull you breathlessly on, your pulse ever pounding.-

Bookends & Bagends

"...this book destroyed me in all of the best ways. It broke my heart, moved me to moments of intense anger but also hopefulness, and ultimately delivered one of the best stories I've ever read. If you skip this book you are really doing yourself a considerable disservice. Remarkable doesn't even begin to describe the depth and quality of Krystle Matar's

Legacy of the Brightwash

."

-Nick Borrelli,

Out Of This World SFF Reviews