The Witch and the Ostrich

**2025 Small Spec Book Awards Semi-Finalist!**Never trust a necromancer ostrich.The witch Quin Schumacher ekes out a living as the crotchety colosseum combat critic for the Daily Stardust newspaper. Complicating her job is Fergus, the former Death Lord of Jocrom. Fortunately, Quin already turned him into an ostrich.On their way to the dilapidated city of Queensworth to see heads roll in the local arena, Quin finds a note in a dead man's pocket. Written in blood, it hints towards a nefarious conspiracy linking a gladiator to one of Quin's fellow witches, all of whom are compelled to serve Her Majesty Queen Siobhan the Third.Meanwhile, Fergus has his own plans to get his powers back, remove Quin's spell on him, and re-establish his empire. He just needs a little help from a local vampire…Bloody violence, proto-gonzo journalism and deadly women aplenty collide in The Witch and the Ostrich, Jordan A. Werner's debut satire.