A Grimm Farewell

And with that, we finish the second book of the Edmund Moulde Quadrilogy. On Monday, I will start posting the third book: Edmund Moulde and the Battle of Harmingsdown.

Among other things, Edmund’s story has always been about transition, either from orphan to heir, from shame to pride, or from peace to war. From a Meta persepctive, I myself was always interested about what the transition from Steampunk to Dieselpunk might look like. From there, it was a simple hop to an alternate World War I.

Edmund had grown as well, from 8-10 years of age to a wise old 17. Naturally, I decided to not change too much about him, because he was never really 8 years old, especially when he was 8.

This too is where some more seeded history of Edmund’s comes into play. I created the Wickes almost by accident, but once I had, they were always going to be one of Edmund’s greatest foes. Not because they were smarter — they were not — but because he was afraid of them.

Also, spoilers: I’m not sure why, but when I decided Edmund was going off to war, I knew from the start that he was responsible for the Christmastime truce. This story grew from there. While I sprinkled actual historical dates throughout the series, I had a lot of fun mucking about with world-war technologies and their inventions.

More spoilers: The Black Cat Confederacy used to be a full on team of malcontents, including the stockmaster, an explosives expert, and “the twins.” I removed them to simplify things, since their presence was more important for content outside the main story, but I like to think they’re still exist, making a mess of things in the military and beyond as a less idealistic version of Die Schwartze Hunden.

One more spoiler: Of the many revisions I have made in this story, Schtillhart has always been trans, and yet I still remain uncertain of Edmund’s own sexuality. He is certainly some kind of Ace, though to what degree I have not bothered to explore. After all, it’s not really my business, is it?

Now then…the back of the book:

The World was at War. This was not Edmund’s fault.

It was, however, his responsibility; because when War comes to Brackenburg, it is the duty of all Nine Founding Families to do their part for the war effort. But the Moulde Family had no regiments to mobilize, no money to provide, not even a third-born son eager to prove themselves on the field of battle for glory and perhaps a medal. All the Moulde Family had was Edmund; and after a grueling five years at Grimm’s, he knew that becoming a General, leading a regiment, and above all Being Noticed was not the wisest course of action.

Far wiser would be purchasing a Lieutenant’s commission and joining the Army Bureaucratic Corps, so Edmund could spend all his time safe in Filing Room B beneath the Brackenburg City Hall, and make sure he was the first person to see any reports or pieces of information that could one day help a young and enterprising Moulde rebuild his ailing family.

But War is far more complicated than Edmund originally thought. And when a childhood nightmare returns to haunt him, he realizes there is something far worse going on in the world than politics; something that will draw him deeper into a world of spying, subterfuge, betrayal, and trenches. Something he can’t fix until he travels to the front lines at Harmingsdown, and sees the whites of his real enemy’s eyes…